Google Expands 'Jules' AI Coding Agent with New CLI and API
Executive Summary
Google has announced new ways for developers to interact with Jules, its AI-powered coding agent. The company has launched Jules Tools, a new command-line interface (CLI) for using the agent directly in the terminal, and is opening access to the Jules API, which allows for direct integration into custom systems and workflows. These updates are designed to give developers more control and flexibility by embedding Jules' capabilities—such as code generation, bug fixing, and testing—more deeply into their existing development environments.
Key Takeaways
* Jules Tools (CLI): A new lightweight command-line interface is now available, allowing developers to start, stop, and verify Jules tasks directly from their terminal.
* Jules API: Access is now opening for an API that enables the integration of Jules into custom systems, CI/CD pipelines, and other developer tools like Slack.
* Target Audience: The new tools are aimed at software developers seeking to integrate AI assistance more seamlessly into their workflows.
* Recent Platform Improvements: Google has also recently shipped updates to improve Jules' reliability and performance, adding features like a file selector for better context, memory for user preferences, and structured management of environment variables.
* Availability: Jules Tools is available now, while access to the Jules API is opening this week.
Strategic Importance
This announcement positions Jules as a more integrated and flexible platform rather than just a standalone assistant, allowing it to be embedded directly into established developer workflows and infrastructure. This increases its utility and competitiveness against other AI coding tools by prioritizing developer control and system integration.