Google is expanding the reach of its developer-focused AI tools with the launch of Gemini CLI Extensions, a new system that lets third-party developers integrate their own services directly into the Gemini command-line interface.

The update will enable integrations with companies like Figma and Stripe, giving developers new ways to bring AI assistance into everyday coding and design workflows.

“Each extension contains a built-in ‘playbook’ that instantly teaches the AI how to use the new tools effectively,” Google said in a blog post. “This means you get meaningful results from the very first command, no complex setup required, allowing you to tailor your experience with the tools most valuable to you.”

The move highlights Google’s effort to make Gemini CLI a more adaptable and developer-driven platform, positioning it as a central hub for integrating AI into existing coding environments.

Open vs. curated approach

The launch steps up competition with OpenAI, which earlier this week introduced third-party app integrations in ChatGPT.

However, unlike OpenAI’s tightly controlled approach, Gemini CLI extensions let developers publish integrations freely, with extensions hosted publicly and installed manually by users.

“This open, uncurated approach to Gemini CLI extensions is likely to accelerate developer adoption and innovation by lowering entry barriers and enabling rapid experimentation, much like early Android or VS Code ecosystems,” said Biswajeet Mahapatra, principal analyst at Forrester. “This openness fosters diversity and unexpected breakthroughs, as developers can publish and iterate without approval bottlenecks.”

OpenAI’s more controlled approach may appeal to enterprise users but could limit the pace of ecosystem growth and independent experimentation.

“Ultimately, Google’s strategy bets on scale and speed, while OpenAI focuses on quality and brand integrity: two fundamentally different paths shaping the future of AI developer ecosystems,” Mahapatra added.

Influence on dev workflow

Command-line AI assistants like Gemini CLI could fundamentally reshape enterprise developer workflows by embedding intelligence directly into the developer’s natural environment, the terminal, where most automation and DevOps tasks occur.

“Through deep integrations with CI/CD pipelines, these assistants can automate repetitive tasks such as writing deployment scripts, generating test cases, and troubleshooting build failures in real time,” Mahapatra said. “In DevOps, they could streamline infrastructure-as-code management, optimize resource configurations, and even predict incidents before they occur using contextual insights.”

When connected to design and collaboration tools, Gemini CLI may bridge the gap between development and UX by generating design assets, validating accessibility, or converting mockups into code without leaving the CLI.

“This convergence of AI and command-line workflows promises faster iteration cycles, reduced cognitive load, and a more unified developer experience, turning the CLI into a proactive productivity hub rather than a passive execution layer,” Mahapatra added.

Strategic timing

Analysts also point out that the timing of Gemini CLI Extensions signals Google’s intent to aggressively capture developer mindshare by leaning into openness and speed at a moment when AI tooling is becoming central to enterprise workflows.

By launching extensions early in the lifecycle of AI assistants, i.e., before the ecosystem norms are fully established, Google positions Gemini as a flexible, developer-first platform.

“This move suggests a strategy to replicate the success of Android’s open ecosystem: prioritize scale, experimentation, and grassroots adoption to create lock-in through developer familiarity and tooling ubiquity,” Mahapatra said. “In essence, Google is betting that winning the command-line and automation layer now will pay dividends as enterprises standardize AI-driven DevOps and CI/CD pipelines.”