- An APK teardown reveals Gemini for Mac could become an agentic assistant
- The tool could control your Mac, just like Claude Cowork and OpenAI's planned superapp
- Claude still leads the way, with OpenAI going quiet and Google not yet confirming details
Only weeks after Google launched a dedicated macOS app for Gemini to keep up with competition from OpenAI, the company is also reportedly now looking into adding even more new agentic capabilities.
A Gemini-powered 'computer use' agent could be in the works to control parts of your Mac, just like Anthropic's Claude Cowork feature.
Though the company has not yet indicated such plans, an Android Package Kit (APK) teardown by 9to5Google indicates Gemini could organize files and take other actions via the Mac app.
Is Google working to make the Gemini app more like Claude Cowork?
The app, which is still in its infancy, mostly just serves as a chat interface with an Option + Space shortcut for quick access, in a similar vein to the ChatGPT app. A window sharing functionality also allows Gemini to see what's on the screen for additional copy-and-paste-free context.
macOS' Screen Access and Accessibility permissions would likely grant Gemini access to view what's on the screen, control the mouse and keyboard, and interact with files directly on the machine. 9to5Google also implied that ties to Google Workspace apps could have Gemini converting unstructured files into Docs, Sheets and Slides files.
Such an app would not be such a surprise, with Google having opened up its Gemini 2.5 Computer Use model to developers last October and rival companies also experimenting in the same space.
While this would put Gemini at a temporary advantage over ChatGPT, which is still a pretty basic app nearly two years after launching, it might not give Google the upper hand for too long.
OpenAI is said to be working on a superapp that puts ChatGPT, Atlas and Codex powers into one interface. Chief Revenue Officer Denise Dresser described the proposed superapp as "the primary experience where employees get things done," but no further announcements have been made regarding progress on that project.
