Google Experiments with a Vibe-Coding App Called Opal

Recently, AI-driven coding tools have surged in popularity, leading nearly every major tech company to either incorporate or create their own version. The developers of these sophisticated “vibe-coding” tools are now in high demand, with startups like Lovable and Cursor turning away prospective buyers and investors keen on tapping into this booming market.

Now, Google is entering the scene: the company is currently testing a vibe-coding tool named Opal, which is being trialed by users in the U.S. via Google Labs—a platform dedicated to tech experimentation.

Opal allows users to create mini web applications using text prompts or to edit existing applications from a gallery. Users simply articulate the application they want to build, and the tool utilizes several Google models to realize it.

Once the application is generated, users can access an editor panel that showcases a visual workflow outlining input, output, and generation phases. Each segment of the workflow is interactive, allowing users to review and modify the prompt that guides the process. Users can also manually add additional steps from Opal’s toolbar.

Furthermore, Opal allows users to publish their newly created applications online and share links for others to explore using their Google accounts.

While Google’s AI studio already facilitates application creation through prompts, Opal’s visual workflow indicates an aim to attract a wider audience.

The company is stepping into a competitive landscape that includes platforms like Canva, Figma, and Replit, all of which are developing tools that empower non-technical users to prototype applications without requiring coding skills.