Google is pushing the boundaries of AI assistance with the introduction of Agent Mode for Gemini, representing a fundamental shift from reactive query-response systems to proactive agents capable of autonomous task completion.
Agent Mode, announced at Google I/O 2025, allows users to simply state their objectives and have Gemini intelligently orchestrate the necessary steps to achieve them. The feature combines advanced capabilities including live web browsing, in-depth research, and smart integrations with Google apps to manage complex, multi-step tasks with minimal user oversight.
"Imagine simply stating your objective, and Gemini intelligently orchestrates the steps to achieve it," Google explained during the announcement. The technology builds upon Project Mariner, Google's experimental AI agent that can understand and reason across information on browser screens, including text, images, forms, and other web elements.
Google is also bringing Project Mariner's computer use capabilities to the Gemini API and Vertex AI, enabling developers to build applications powered by these agentic features. Companies including Automation Anywhere, UiPath, Browserbase, Autotab, The Interaction Company, and Cartwheel are already exploring its potential, with broader developer access planned for this summer.
The technology demonstrates impressive capabilities, including a "teach and repeat" function where users can demonstrate a task once, allowing the AI to learn and replicate similar tasks in the future. In practical applications, Agent Mode can help with apartment hunting by searching listings on sites like Zillow, adjusting filters, and even scheduling tours based on user criteria.
This advancement represents a significant evolution in how users interact with AI assistants. Rather than requiring specific commands for each step, users can now delegate entire goals to Gemini, which autonomously determines and executes the necessary actions. An experimental version of Agent Mode will be available soon to Google AI Ultra subscribers, with the company emphasizing user control, transparency, and security safeguards throughout the experience.