Set Up Gemini 4 Argon in Antigravity for Android

Android developers can now use Gemini 4 Argon through Google Antigravity for complex coding tasks. The model handles long-horizon work such as self-healing build loops and production-ready Jetpack Compose code with AGSL shaders. This guide shows how to set it up on desktop or via the CLI so you can start building.

Google made Gemini 4 Argon available in Antigravity for Google AI Ultra subscribers (and in some cases Pro), plus via the paid Gemini API tier. The official Android CLI plugin connects the agent to local Android tools including Gradle and the emulator.

What you need before starting

Confirm you have an active Google AI Ultra subscription if you plan to use the Antigravity desktop app or CLI path. Developers on the paid Gemini API tier can access the model in Android Studio without Ultra. Download the latest Antigravity desktop app from the official site or install the CLI.

You also need Android Studio Canary for the integrated path, or a standard Android SDK setup for terminal work. The plugin does not install the SDK or emulator for you.

Install Google Antigravity

Download the Antigravity desktop app for macOS, Windows, or Linux from antigravity.google. Run the installer and sign in with the Google account that has Ultra access. Choose a theme and accept the terms.

For the CLI route, run the install script:

curl -fsSL https://antigravity.google/cli/install.sh | bash

On Windows PowerShell use:

irm https://antigravity.google/cli/install.ps1 | iex

The binary lands in ~/.local/bin/agy on macOS/Linux. Restart your terminal and verify with agy --version. On first launch, select a color scheme, rendering mode, and confirm you trust the workspace folder.

Enable the Android CLI plugin

The android-cli-plugin is the bridge that lets the agent run Android commands and skills. In the Antigravity desktop app, open Settings > Customizations > Build With Google Plugins (or the plugin marketplace). Locate android-cli-plugin and toggle it to Enabled.

In Android Studio Canary, open the agent tool window and log in with your Antigravity account. This enables agentic workflows next to the editor.

From the terminal, run:

agy plugin install android-cli-plugin

Then initialize Android tooling in your project directory:

android init

Follow the prompts. The agent can now inspect layouts, run builds, and interact with the emulator.

Switch to Gemini 4 Argon

In the Antigravity desktop app or CLI, open the model picker and select Gemini 4 Argon. Google AI Ultra subscribers see it listed. If it does not appear, sign out and back in, then update the app or CLI to the latest version.

For the Gemini API path in Android Studio, add your paid API key under Settings > Tools > AI > Model Providers > Gemini and enable the model. Introductory pricing is available through November 30, 2026.

Gemini 4 Argon ranks fifth on the latest Android Bench results with a 21.3% pass rate on long-horizon tasks. Compare costs and performance against Claude Sonnet 5.5 or GPT-6.1 Sol in the Android Bench guide.

Run your first Android task

Open a project workspace. Give the agent a clear prompt such as “Add a Picture-in-Picture feature to the existing media player screen using CameraX and Jetpack Compose.” The agent plans, edits files, runs Gradle builds, and self-corrects on errors using compiler and daemon logs.

Review the generated diffs before accepting. The model produces AGSL shaders for effects like frosted glass inside Compose modifiers. Test the result on an emulator or physical device.

Tips for better results

Keep the workspace trusted and grant only the permissions the task needs. Start with smaller features before multi-day migrations. Use the reasoning level controls when available to balance speed and depth.

Pair the setup with Firebase AI Logic if you want client-side Gemini 4 Argon calls in your finished app. Check the official changelog on developer.android.com/bench for updated rankings after the October 26 release.

If the plugin fails to load, reinstall it with the agy command and restart the CLI session. Confirm Android Studio and the SDK are on your PATH for terminal agents.

Watch the setup in action

The official demo shows the agent pulling designs, generating Compose UI, verifying in the emulator, and deploying to a real phone using the Android CLI plugin.

Conclusion

Setting up Gemini 4 Argon in Antigravity takes a few minutes once you have the right subscription and the Android CLI plugin enabled. You gain an agent that can handle multi-step Android tasks, fix build failures, and generate production-ready Compose code.

Start with a small feature in an existing project, review every change, and expand from there. The same workflow works across the desktop app, CLI, and Android Studio Canary.

Sources

• Android Developers Blog: Bringing our latest frontier model to Android Developers
• Google Antigravity documentation and download page
• Android Bench leaderboard (October 26, 2026 update)
• YouTube: How to Build an Android App on Antigravity