This is a submission for the Google I/O Writing Challenge
I have been using coding agents heavily. Right now my main ones are Copilot CLI and Claude Code. I went deep with both and I still get frustrated by rate limits, especially as a paying user. Other agents handle limits better than Google in my experience though.
When Google announced Antigravity CLI at I/O 2026, I decided to test it on an existing project I started with Gemini CLI (it's predecessor). The native integration between Gemini and the Antigravity agent gives it a clear edge in certain workflows that Copilot or Claude do not match yet.
My Background with Antigravity
I used Antigravity IDE from the beginning until April 2026. As a Pro user I canceled because the rate limits became too restrictive for how I work.
The new Antigravity CLI caught my attention because it is built in Go probably. Even the new product Antigravity SDK which is a Python package is relying on pre-compiled binaries as mentioned in the package page. It is fast, lightweight, and runs well in my setup.
The Project: Smart Video Clip Extractor
The project takes long videos or podcasts and extracts short, engaging clips optimized for platforms like LinkedIn and YouTube Shorts.
I started by writing a detailed requirements document (RDP). Then I had the agent implement specialized skills:
- yt-dlp for downloads.
- ffmpeg for editing.
- YouTube auto generated transcription or Whisper and Gemini for other platforms.
- Revideo/Remotion for video editing when needed (still not there yet).
The agent manages the full pipeline: download, transcribe, analyze for viral potential based on rules I set, and cut the clips.
Real Test: Algerian Podcasts
I focused first on Algerian content. These podcasts mix Modern Standard Arabic, Algerian dialect, Amazigh, French, and English. This combination is difficult for most AI systems in my experience and it's hard even for native Arabic speakers.
The results were solid. The agent picked up cultural context and strong moments effectively.
One 32-second clip I extracted performed well on LinkedIn:
View the post
Stats:
- 9288 impressions
- 5425 people reached
- 3285 video views
- 20h 27m 41s watch time
- 22s average watch time on a 32s clip
- 60 reactions, 8 comments, 1 repost, 10 saves, 5 sends
- 23 profile views and 22 new followers
This clip noticeably boosted engagement on my later posts.
I am focusing on this Algerian and North African niche for now because I see a clear path to making it profitable. The broader idea works for any long-form content, but starting narrow makes the most sense.
How I Am Using Antigravity CLI
I am using the CLI directly to rapidly test the core business logic with Gemini 3.5 Flash. This approach lets me validate the full pipeline (planning, tool use, analysis, and clipping) quickly before investing time in building a full UI. The results have been strong enough that I now plan to move forward with building the UI interface, adding proper harnesses, and polishing the tool for my own daily usage, with the goal of eventually offering it as a service.
What Stands Out About Antigravity CLI
The native integration with Gemini makes a real difference for this kind of multi-tool, context-heavy task. I run it with Ghost terminal and the output aesthetics are excellent. It feels like actually working with AI instead of just watching code chunks dumped on screen. The speed is noticeably better and it stays light on system resources.
That said, rate limits are still an issue. I hit a 7-day wait when I asked it to build a web UI for selecting and exporting clips. This is a personal side project so I can wait, but it shows the same quota problems I left Antigravity for earlier.
Next Steps and Concerns
Once the limits reset, I will test the same logic using Gemma (much cheaper) through providers like OpenRouter, Cloudflare, and others. I will also try direct Gemini API calls, which have better rate limits than the coding agent.
My main concern is whether the strong performance comes mainly from Antigravity’s agent orchestration rather than the model itself. Meaning, I have to implement my own orchestration would it work like it did through the Antigravity CLI? That is what I need to validate next. But, since they have the Antigravity SDK, I think I have hope even if the first try fails.
Closing Thoughts
Antigravity CLI is not going to replace Copilot CLI or Claude Code for everything I do. But for specific agentic workflows that benefit from deep Gemini integration, fast terminal performance, and clean output, it has real advantages.
If you work with multimedia, content repurposing, or complex tool-using agents, it is worth testing.
Have you tried the new Antigravity CLI? What use cases are you exploring?
