Google introduces AI-powered proxy mode in Android Studio
Google's Android Studio has launched a groundbreaking experimental feature that integrates its flagship Gemini AI model into the development workflow. This new capability, dubbed Agent Mode, allows developers to communicate with Gemini in natural language to accomplish complex coding tasks through conversational interactions.
As the primary development environment for Android application creation, Android Studio now incorporates Gemini AI-powered assistance across code generation, resource discovery, and documentation conversion. The Agent Mode innovation enables developers to articulate intricate objectives using plain language, such as generating unit tests or executing sophisticated code refactoring operations. The system automatically formulates multi-file execution plans guided by developer input.
This advanced feature was first demonstrated at the 2025 Google I/O conference, showcasing its ability to leverage native editor tools for code analysis, project manipulation, and codebase navigation while minimizing manual supervision. Importantly, Google maintains developer control through strategic pause points in the execution process - allowing users to refine outputs or choose between manual approval or automated "auto-approve" functionality.
The base Gemini model provides generous free quotas for daily use with standard context windows, while Pro subscribers can access the 1M-token context window of Gemini 2.5 Pro via API keys. This expanded capacity enables handling large-scale codebases with enhanced precision, particularly beneficial for complex or extended development tasks.
Android Studio's Gemini integration also supports Model Context Protocol - an open standard pioneered by Anthropic PBC. This implementation establishes standardized tool interaction and inter-agent communication capabilities, significantly expanding the AI's functional potential. Developers can access the latest experimental preview through the Narwhal canary channel to test these agent-based capabilities firsthand.