Simon Willison’s Weblog: Gemini Chat App

Source URL: https://simonwillison.net/2024/Aug/27/gemini-chat-app/#atom-everything
Source: Simon Willison’s Weblog
Title: Gemini Chat App

Feedly Summary: Gemini Chat App
Google released three new Gemini models today: improved versions of Gemini 1.5 Pro and Gemini 1.5 Flash plus a new model, Gemini 1.5 Flash-8B, which is significantly faster (and will presumably be cheaper) than the regular Flash model.
They’re available in AI Studio, but since I built my own custom prompting tool against the Gemini CORS-enabled API the other day I figured I’d build a quick UI for these new models as well.

Building this with Claude 3.5 Sonnet took literally ten from start to finish minutes – you can see that from the timestamps in the conversation.
The feature I really wanted to build was streaming support. I started with this example code showing how to run streaming prompts in a Node.js application, then told Claude to figure out what the client-side code for that should look like based on a snippet from my bounding box interface hack.

Build me a JavaScript app (no react) that I can use to chat with the Gemini model, using the above strategy for API key usage

I still keep hearing from people who are skeptical that AI-assisted programming like this is worth leaning into. It’s honestly getting a little frustrating at this point – the gains for things like rapid prototyping are so self-evident now.
Tags: claude-3-5-sonnet, gemini, ai-assisted-programming, javascript, generative-ai, ai, llms

AI Summary and Description: Yes

**Summary:** The text discusses the launch of updated models for the Gemini Chat App, emphasizing the performance improvements and capabilities for rapid prototyping using AI-assisted programming methods. The integration of AI models like Claude shows practical applications for developers, highlighting the evolving landscape of generative AI tools.

**Detailed Description:**

The content reveals significant advancements in AI capabilities through the introduction of new Gemini models, representing a notable development in generative AI technologies that can impact various fields, including software development and infrastructure security.

Key points include:

– **Release of New Models:**
– Google introduced three new Gemini models: Gemini 1.5 Pro, Gemini 1.5 Flash, and the groundbreaking Gemini 1.5 Flash-8B.
– The Flash-8B model is designed to be faster and more cost-effective than its predecessor.

– **Custom Tool Development:**
– The author created a custom tool using the Gemini CORS-enabled API, which highlights the flexibility and usability of the API in developing bespoke applications.

– **Rapid Prototyping:**
– The writing underscores the efficiency with which developers can build applications using AI-assisted programming. The author mentions completing a chat UI for these models in just ten minutes, showcasing the rapid development capabilities.

– **Streaming Support:**
– There is a focus on enhancing user experience through the implementation of streaming prompts in a Node.js application, which is essential for real-time interactions in chat applications.

– **Call for Acceptance of AI in Programming:**
– The author expresses frustration regarding persistent skepticism about AI-assisted programming’s value, advocating for its undeniable benefits in speeding up development processes and improving prototype creation.

In conclusion, the content reflects ongoing advancements in generative AI and AI-assisted programming, presenting notable implications for software security and development workflows. The growing use of such tools points to a shift toward integrating AI more extensively in various technical domains, which could necessitate new security measures and compliance considerations as these technologies evolve.