Also: I tested ChatGPT Plus vs. Gemini Pro to see which is better - and if it's worth switching

With this new Mac app, Gemini is also playing catch-up with ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Claude AI, and Perplexity, all of which already exist as desktop apps. The key difference is that the apps for the other AIs are available for both Windows and the Mac. For now, at least, the Gemini app is only found on the Mac.

To get started, you'll need a Mac with an Apple chip (M1 or higher) and MacOS Sequoia 15 or higher. Just head to the Gemini Mac app page and click the Download button. As the Gemini app opens, you should be prompted to sign in with your Google account. You can then use the app just as you would the Gemini website.

To launch the app in the future, you can certainly access it from the Applications folder or add it to the Dock. But why not try a keyboard shortcut? By default, pressing Option + Shift + Space opens the app in a full window. Pressing just Option + Space launches it in a mini chat window. You can change both shortcuts through Settings.