Google Antigravity Review: The New AI Coding Agent

In the rapidly evolving landscape of web development, the tools we use are becoming as intelligent as the code we write. At Sprite Genix, we are constantly testing the latest innovations to keep our community ahead of the curve. Today, we are diving deep into Google’s latest entry into the developer ecosystem: Google Antigravity.

Is it a VS Code killer? Is it the end of Cursor? Or is it simply another tool in the growing arsenal of AI-assisted development? Based on early access and deep research, we are breaking down everything you need to know about this agentic AI coding IDE.

Google Antigravity is not just a text editor; it is described as an "Agentic AI coding IDE". Built on the familiar foundation of a VS Code-like interface, it distinguishes itself by integrating deep AI autonomy directly into the development workflow.

Unlike standard copilots that suggest code line-by-line, Antigravity is designed to handle entire workflows. Upon installation, users are greeted with setup options that define how intrusive or autonomous the AI agent should be. You are offered four distinct modes:

1. Agent Driven Development: The AI takes the wheel and drives the project without constantly asking for reviews.

2. Agent Assistant Development: The agent requests reviews occasionally.

3. Review Driven Development: A more manual approach where the agent frequently asks for permission.

4. Custom Configuration: You decide the specific level of autonomy.

The engine under the hood is what makes Antigravity a serious contender. The IDE utilizes Gemini 3 Pro, a model that has shown impressive benchmarks, reportedly outperforming major competitors in coding tasks.

The tool also introduces features like "Nano Banana Pro" and an "Agent Manager". Perhaps the most enticing aspect for developers right now is the price point: Google Antigravity is currently absolutely free. While this is likely a strategy to gain market share—similar to how ChatGPT started—it offers a tremendous opportunity for developers to experiment with high-end AI models without a subscription fee.

One of the standout features of Antigravity is the distinction between planning and execution. When you input a prompt, you are given two execution paths:

• Fast Execution: Best for quick tasks where you want immediate action, though accuracy may vary.

• Planning: The recommended approach for complex prompts. The agent "thinks," creates a plan, and executes it step-by-step.

By pressing Control + E, developers can access the Agent Manager. This isn't just a chat window; it is a command center where you can assign multiple tasks simultaneously. For example, you can task the agent with creating a React app while simultaneously asking it to generate high-quality food images for an img folder. The agent handles these asynchronously, visualizing the "Implementation Plan" and "Design Phase" in real-time.

Where Google Antigravity truly differentiates itself from tools like Cursor or standard VS Code is its integration with Google Chrome.

When you launch a project, the IDE opens a specific instance of the Chrome browser and installs a dedicated Antigravity extension. This allows the agent to essentially "see" what the user sees. It can take screenshots, analyze the DOM, and—crucially—access both frontend and backend logs simultaneously.

In traditional development, a frontend error might require a developer to cross-reference browser console logs with terminal server logs. Antigravity collects both. It uses insights from the frontend and backend to diagnose issues and implement fixes autonomously. If a page fails to render or the DOM is empty, the agent detects this, takes a screenshot to understand the visual context, and attempts to fix the padding or layout errors automatically.

In our analysis of the tool's performance in a real-world scenario—building a restaurant website—the results were mixed but promising.

The Wins:

• Asset Generation: The agent successfully generated high-quality images (pasta, pizza, burgers) and placed them correctly in the project folder.

• Context Awareness: You can set global "Rules," such as a color guide (e.g., "Use purple as much as possible"), which the agent respects during generation.

• Autonomy: It can initialize a Next.js or React app, install dependencies (like Tailwind), and set up the folder structure with minimal human intervention.

The "V1" Flaws:

• Browser Profile Issues: Currently, Antigravity opens a new, isolated Chrome profile rather than using your existing profile with your saved passwords and extensions. This creates a disjointed experience.

• UI/UX Bugs: There are moments where the "Execute" button is missing from the interface, forcing users to type commands manually.

• Design Inconsistencies: In our test case, the agent made design errors, such as placing white text on a white background, making the content invisible. It also struggled to identify some console errors without explicit user prompting.

So, is Google Antigravity a "VS Code Killer"? No. Is it a "Cursor Killer"? Also no. As noted in our research, "Killer" is the wrong terminology; it is a competitor.

Tools like Cursor have years of user data and refinement that Google is currently playing catch-up on. However, the introduction of Antigravity forces the entire industry to innovate. Microsoft has Copilot, Cursor has its AI integration, and now Google has a native agentic IDE.

For the average developer, this tool will not steal your job. It will not replace the need for human oversight. As long as clients require unique, complex, and emotionally resonant digital experiences, the "human developer" remains essential. However, developers who ignore these tools risk falling behind those who learn to wield them.

At Sprite Genix, we recommend downloading it while it is free. Test the "Agent Driven" mode, experiment with the Chrome integration, but keep your primary workflow intact until the "V1" bugs are ironed out.

Yes, as of its launch, Google Antigravity is absolutely free. However, given industry trends, it is predicted to become a paid service or part of a subscription model in the future.

It utilizes Gemini 3 Pro. This model is highly capable and has reportedly set new benchmarks in coding performance, surpassing many current OpenAI models in development tasks.

Not necessarily. While it is a standalone IDE that functions similarly to VS Code (and likely forks parts of it), it is currently a competitor rather than a replacement. It offers unique AI-native features but lacks the years of extension ecosystem maturity of VS Code.

Antigravity installs a browser extension that allows the AI to "see" your web page. It collects both frontend console logs and backend server logs to diagnose errors, and can even take screenshots to understand visual bugs.

No. It is a productivity tool designed to automate repetitive tasks and boilerplate code. Human oversight is still required to review code, fix design flaws, and manage complex logic.