Google brings Opal into Gemini: 'vibe-coding' mini-app builder now ships as a visual, step-based Gem generator

## What Google announced Google is bringing Opal, its 'vibe-coding' tool, into the Gemini web app. Opal builds small AI-powered apps from a prompt. Inside Gemini, those apps become Gems you can run again. This shifts Gemini from chat to reusable workflows. ### Key takeaways - Opal is now available inside Gemini's `Gems manager`. - A Gem can be a multi-step mini-app, not only an instruction preset. - Workflows are visual and inspectable: input → generate → output. - Outputs can be formatted pages or exports to Google Drive spreadsheets. - Moroccan teams can use this for bilingual operations, faster prototyping, and process standardization. ## How Opal shows up inside Gemini In Gemini on the web, Opal appears in the `Gems manager`. You describe the mini-app you want in natural language. Gemini converts that request into a step list. You can review the flow before running it. A prompt can be very specific. For example: `Take a French supplier email, extract prices and deadlines, draft an English reply, then log a summary to Drive.` Opal turns that intent into connected steps you can edit. ## Gems, before and after Opal Gems started as named, reusable versions of Gemini. You give a Gem instructions for recurring jobs, like editing or tutoring. With Opal, a Gem can include multiple structured steps. That makes the Gem behave more like a mini-application. This matters for repeatable work. Many teams do not need a full product build. They need a reliable workflow that runs the same way each time. ## Opal builds workflows, not source code Opal translates plain English into an app-like pipeline. A typical flow collects input, runs one or more `Generate` steps, then presents results. Each step is visible and editable. That visibility helps you debug and improve outputs. This approach mirrors real business automation. Work is often a chain of small transforms. Opal packages that pattern in a no-code format. ## Two ways to edit: visual steps and natural language Opal offers a visual editor. You add steps, connect them, and rearrange the sequence. You see the logic as a clear, step-by-step flow. It also offers a natural-language editor. You request changes like, `add a summary step` or `rewrite this prompt in French`. Opal applies those changes to the workflow. That keeps iteration accessible for non-developers. ## Step types you can assemble Opal mini-apps use three step categories. You combine them to match a real process. - **User Input steps**: ask users for text or images. These steps define what the workflow can accept. - **Generate steps**: pick a Gemini model and write a prompt. The step can reference earlier inputs and outputs. - **Output steps**: control presentation and exports. Outputs can be a dynamic web layout or a Google Drive spreadsheet. Generate steps can produce different media. Google notes text, images, or video outputs, depending on the chosen model. Most business flows still start with text outputs. ## The Gemini helper view makes iteration easier Google says the integration adds a helper view inside Gemini. It converts your prompt into a step-by-step plan. You can scan the steps and spot missing inputs or weak prompts. That makes early experiments less fragile. For teams, this improves handoffs. A workflow is easier to review than a long chat log. It also supports basic internal QA. ## Quick builds in Gemini, deeper control in Opal Advanced Editor Gemini is positioned as the on-ramp. You start in the `Gems manager`, generate a workflow, and run it. When you need more control, you move to the Advanced Editor at `opal.google.com`. Google is creating a two-tier path for casual and power users. That split maps well to how pilots happen in Morocco. A small team tests a workflow in days. If it sticks, they harden prompts and outputs in a richer editor. ## Remixing, sharing, and reuse as Drive assets Opal encourages remixing instead of starting from scratch. Google's docs describe a Gallery of demo Opals you can view and remix. Remixing creates an editable copy, so you can adapt a working pattern. Sharing is built into the model. You can publish a link so others can run the mini-app. You can also share with view or edit permissions, like other Google files. Opal keeps version history and stores apps as files in Google Drive. Over time, this creates compounding value. The best internal Gems become standard tools. Teams can build a small library of workflows for common tasks. ## Why Google is doing this now 'Vibe-coding' has moved fast over the last two years. Users want software built from intent, not syntax. Startups like Lovable and Cursor have popularized AI-assisted building. Large model providers like Anthropic and OpenAI also keep raising expectations. Google's move aims to keep building inside Gemini. Gemini becomes the place where your custom tools live. That shifts the product from a chat interface to a work surface. Media coverage, including TechCrunch, has framed the move in this competitive context. ## What this could unlock in Morocco Morocco's AI opportunity is often practical. Many organizations need workflow automation more than new apps. They operate across Arabic, Darija, French, and English. They also face tight budgets for product engineering. A step-based Gem generator matches these constraints. A business user can sketch a process in words. The result is a reusable mini-app that lives where the team already chats with Gemini. ### Morocco's AI ecosystem in brief Several forces shape adoption in Morocco. They affect how fast teams can experiment, and how safely they can deploy. - **Startup support**: Hubs like Technopark help early teams test products with local customers. - **Talent pipelines**: Universities such as UM6P, INPT, and ENSIAS train engineers in software, data, and AI. - **Government digitization**: The Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform and the Agency for Digital Development support public digital transformation. - **Data protection**: The CNDP oversees personal data protection under Law 09-08. This shapes what data can be processed and shared. These conditions favor tools that are fast to prototype, but easy to govern. Opal's explicit steps make review simpler. Drive-based storage helps with access control and internal sharing. ### Mini-app ideas tailored to Moroccan needs Below are examples of Gems you could build with Opal. Each uses a simple input → generate → output pattern. Start with one workflow and add steps later. #### 1) Bilingual customer support triage (e-commerce, telecom, BPO) - **User Input**: a customer message, plus an optional screenshot. - **Generate**: - detect language and intent - extract key fields like order numbers and dates - draft a reply in the customer's language, with a French fallback - **Output**: - show a response draft and an agent checklist - export a row to a Drive spreadsheet for tracking This supports mixed-language inboxes. It also standardizes how agents capture case details. #### 2) Tourism itinerary and messaging assistant (riads, agencies, guides) - **User Input**: dates, cities, interests, budget range, and language. - **Generate**: - propose a day-by-day plan with options - generate WhatsApp-ready confirmations and reminders - create a packing list and basic etiquette notes - **Output**: present a clean itinerary layout for copy-paste into email or chat. Tourism teams repeat the same planning tasks. A Gem makes that process consistent across staff. #### 3) Procurement and supplier email copilot (manufacturing and export SMEs) - **User Input**: an incoming supplier email and product codes. - **Generate**: - summarize the request and highlight deadlines - draft a reply in French and English - list missing specs and terms to confirm - **Output**: - show the reply draft with a short checklist - export action items to a Drive spreadsheet This fits how many SMEs run procurement today. It adds structure without forcing a new system. #### 4) HR screening helper for multilingual CVs (startups and growing SMEs) - **User Input**: a CV, a job description, and must-have criteria. - **Generate**: - extract skills and experience into a structured profile - score against criteria, with reasons - draft interview questions in French, with an Arabic option - **Output**: generate a candidate summary and a shortlist table in Drive. This can reduce time on first-pass screening. It still needs human decision-making. #### 5) Citizen request triage for local services (public sector front desks) - **User Input**: a request text, plus an optional photo of a document. - **Generate**: - classify the request type and urgency - suggest the responsible office and required documents - draft a polite response in Arabic and French - **Output**: - show the response draft and next steps - export a simple ticket log to Drive Even without system integration, a triage Gem can standardize responses. It can reduce repeat visits caused by missing paperwork. #### 6) Classroom practice generator (teachers, training centers, students) - **User Input**: a lesson outline or excerpt and a target level. - **Generate**: - create a short quiz and an answer key - generate extra practice for weak topics - draft feedback tips for common mistakes - **Output**: display a worksheet layout plus a teacher key. This is useful for bilingual classrooms. A Gem can keep terminology consistent from lesson to lesson. #### 7) Field report analyzer for agribusiness and co-ops (text + photo) - **User Input**: a field note and a crop photo, when available. - **Generate**: - describe visible issues, if an image-capable model is selected - ask follow-up questions for better context - draft recommended next steps and escalation guidance - **Output**: show a structured report and export a log to Drive. Use this for early triage and documentation. Do not treat it as professional agronomy advice. ## How to adopt Opal-built Gems safely in Morocco Speed is helpful, but governance matters. Morocco's language mix and privacy rules raise the bar. A few habits reduce risk and rework. - **Start narrow**: one team, one workflow, one output format. - **Add clarifying questions**: use a step that checks missing inputs before generation. - **Standardize bilingual output**: define tone and key terms in both Arabic and French. - **Protect personal data**: avoid sensitive identifiers unless you have a clear policy. - **Use Drive permissions**: limit editors, and keep a shared read-only version for runners. - **Require review for external messages**: keep a human checkpoint in the flow. Also watch availability. Gemini features and model options can vary by plan and region. Validate access before you build a process around it. ## Bottom line By folding Opal into Gemini's Gems, Google is turning customization into app building. The key shift is the visible step list. It makes workflows reusable and easier to audit. For Morocco, the value is pragmatic. Startups and SMEs can prototype internal tools without a full engineering cycle. Public teams can standardize recurring tasks with clearer steps and versioned workflows. If your team already uses Gemini, Opal can turn strong prompts into durable, shared assets.