11 new features unveiled together
Google on Oct. 30 (Oct. 31 Japan time) released on its official X account the October edition of "Gemini Drops," a roundup of new features in its conversational AI app "Gemini." It listed 11 items, including a Windows app, "skills" that save and recall frequently used instructions, and a button in the Mac app that opens the development environment "Antigravity." They also include the addition of a new model, "Gemini 4 Argon," integration with Google Maps, and editing PDFs and documents within chats.
Whether you’re tackling complex projects with Gemini 4 Argon, connecting your favorite apps to Gemini, or…
Gemini Drops is a monthly announcement summarizing new features in the Gemini app. Many of the 11 items this time had already been announced individually in September and October. The music-generation model "Lyria 3.5" became available on Sept. 4, the Windows app on Sept. 10, and Gemini 4 Argon and skills on Oct. 13.
7 of 11 features available in Japan
According to Jetstream, which compiled availability in Japan, 7 of the 11 features can be used in Japan. The other four, the Antigravity integration in the Mac app, additional "connectors" that link to outside services, a learning feature for students and avatar sharing, are either unavailable in Japan or not confirmed to be offered.
File editing became available to all users on Oct. 29. PDFs can be handled on the web, Android and iOS, but Google Docs, Sheets and Slides formats and code are handled only on the web version.
| Feature | Description | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Gemini 4 Argon | New model for paid "AI Pro" and "AI Ultra" subscribers, added as an option alongside "3.1 Pro" | Available |
| Windows app | Supports Windows 10 and 11. Alt+Space brings it up over the current screen | Available |
| Skills | Saves repeatedly used instructions and recalls them with "/" and a name | Available |
| Google Maps integration | Answers by referring to Maps search history and saved places | Available |
| Gemini Notebook integration | Adds to a notebook and asks questions with "@Gemini Notebook" | Available |
| File creation and editing | Creates documents, PDFs, slides, spreadsheets and code, and revises them within chats | Available |
| Lyria 3.5 | Music-generation model that creates songs with vocals or instrumentals only | Available |
| Antigravity integration in Mac app | Opens the development environment from a button in the app and has AI build apps | Not available (English only) |
| Additional connectors | Adobe, Strava and Peloton added, bringing the total to more than 40 | Not confirmed |
| Immersive learning | Creates materials for students to explore the world of a subject | Japanese not supported |
| Avatar sharing | Lets friends use your appearance and voice to feature you in images and videos | Not available |
Skills to replace Gems from Nov. 17
Skills is a feature that saves repeatedly used instructions, such as summary formats or writing rules, and recalls them in a chat by typing "/" followed by a name. Multiple skills can be combined.
According to Google, skills in the Gemini app have been rolling out gradually since Oct. 13 and are expected to reach everyone by mid-November. They are available to personal Google accounts and all customers of "Google Workspace" for businesses. However, skills for use in Workspace apps such as Gmail and Docs have been delayed, and no date has been set for resuming the rollout.
"Gems," which had served the role of saving instructions, are scheduled to move to skills from Nov. 17.
Launching the development environment from the Mac app limited to English and the top plan
The Mac app gained an "Antigravity" button at the top. Pressing it opens Google's development environment "Antigravity," and when users describe what they want to build, the AI presents a plan. Once the user approves the plan, the AI works in the background to write the code and even run tests. In the meantime, users can return to their conversation with Gemini.
It is available only in English, to users 18 and older in supported regions. According to 9to5Google, using it through this route requires a subscription to the top paid plan, "AI Ultra."
ChatGPT and Claude got there first with a Windows app and skills
The way the Windows app is brought up is the same as OpenAI's ChatGPT Windows app. When the ChatGPT Windows app expanded to free users in November 2024, it could already be brought up beside the current screen with the default Alt+Space. Google has set up the same entry point on Windows about two years later.
For saving and recalling instructions, Anthropic released "Skills" for paid users on Oct. 16, 2025. Claude loads folders containing instructions and scripts when needed, using them for tasks such as creating Excel and PowerPoint files. Google's skills came about a year after Anthropic's but are available to all users, including free users.
In the Windows app, users can also hand off multistep tasks to "Gemini Spark," a personal AI agent that runs 24 hours a day. The image-generation "Nano Banana" and video-generation "Gemini Omni" are also available, but some require a paid Google AI plan.
Gemini app surpasses 1 billion users
Parent company Alphabet said in its July-September quarter results on Oct. 28 (Oct. 29 Japan time) that the Gemini app had surpassed 1 billion monthly users. CEO Sundar Pichai called it the fastest-growing product in Google's history. The company did not disclose the number of paid subscribers.
Gap with ChatGPT narrows in share of U.S. input volume
According to a report released by research firm Comscore on Sept. 22 (Sept. 23 Japan time), Gemini's share of the volume entered into seven AI chat services in the United States rose from 17% in January to 30% in June. ChatGPT's share fell from 70% to 50%. Comscore did not disclose the size of the survey sample or its margin of error.
- January
- June
- GeminiGoogle17 → 30
- ChatGPTOpenAI70 → 50
Capital spending balloons, shares fall 12% after earnings
Capital spending in the July-September quarter rose 114% to $51.4 billion from $24 billion a year earlier, and also increased from $44.9 billion in the April-June quarter. Free cash flow (cash available for discretionary use) was negative by about $9.1 billion, the second straight quarter in the red.
Cloud business revenue roughly doubled from a year earlier to $30.7 billion, but Class A shares closed down 12.64% from the previous day at $283.82 on Oct. 29. According to CNBC, Alphabet kept its 2026 capital spending plan unchanged and indicated a significant increase in 2027.
