We know that when enough people start adopting a Google product, the product will be canceled. This doesn't always happen, of course — Google Docs and Gmail have been around forever — but it happens quite often. So you should be careful not to become dependent on anything Google.
Google has done it again. It's discontinuing Gemini CLI, the open-source, AI-powered command-line assistant it launched last summer. Shortly after its release, we tested it out and liked it enough to add it to our arsenal.
“On June 18, 2026, the Gemini CLI and Gemini Code Assist IDE extensions will stop serving requests for Google AI Pro and Ultra, as well as for those using it for free using Gemini Code Assist for individuals,” they reported on Tuesday Google team product manager Dmitry Lyalin and principal engineer Taylor Mullen wrote on the Google developer blog. It is being replaced by a similar — Google says, more advanced — but proprietary project called Antigravity CLI, which was officially unveiled this week at Google I/O.
This will affect a lot of people.
Since its launch last June, a community has formed around the project and written software to support it. These have mostly been extensions, integrations, and contributions to the CLI, although some developers have already integrated it into open source toolchains. In addition, release partners such as Dynatrace, Elastic, Figma, Shopify, Stripe, and dozens of others are working to integrate the software into their workflows.
The way Google is handling the issue feels like a new version of a game that has become all too common in recent years. Google's move essentially removes only the open source part of the equation. In this case, instead of changing the license to a license available on the source code, Google is forcing a transition to a new proprietary platform.
The move is not being enforced on all Gemini CLI users. The removal of Gemini CLI only affects open source users. It does not affect those who pay for the product.
“If your organization uses Gemini CLI or our IDE extensions through a Gemini Code Assist Standard or Enterprise license, or if your organization uses Gemini Code Assist for GitHub through Google Cloud, your access remains unchanged,” Lyalin and Mullen explain. “We will continue to support Gemini CLI and Gemini Code Assist with access to the latest Gemini models and other updates. Gemini CLI will remain accessible through Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform API keys. And if you like Antigravity CLI, you can use it now with your projects on Google Cloud.”
Google of course doesn't want to lose free users, so there will be a free version of Antigravity CLI, it just won't be open source.
Why is Google doing this?
In this case, Google is talking about the importance of having a unified platform, which would make sense if there wasn't the part about customers paying to maintain the Gemini CLI.
“We can serve you better by focusing our energy on a single product built for today’s multi-agent reality,” said Lyalin and Mullen. “To deliver the single platform you need to build the future, we’re joining forces with Google Antigravity, the leading agent-first development platform that includes a powerful server-side presence and a brand-new terminal experience: the Antigravity CLI.”
But they seem to forget – or want you to forget – that Antigravity is not open source.
“We look forward to seeing what you build next with Antigravity 2.0 and the Antigravity CLI,” they said, failing to mention that whatever it is won’t be well-integrated — or integrated at all — without the source code.
Although the press releases will range from very select to rare, I said I'd pass...because sometimes the editors hide.
