Google is testing a new artificial intelligence tool called Opal that lets users create web apps using simple text prompts. The tool is currently available to users in the U.S. through Google Labs, a platform where the company experiments with new technology.
Opal is part of a growing trend known as “vibe-coding” — a way of building apps without writing traditional code. With Opal, users describe the kind of app they want, and Google’s AI models generate a working version. Users can then view and adjust the app’s visual workflow, which shows how inputs and outputs are connected.
Users can also remix existing apps from a shared gallery or manually add new steps using a toolbar. Once complete, the apps can be published online and shared with others, who can try them out using their own Google accounts.
While Google already offers an AI studio for developers to create apps using prompts, Opal’s visual and user-friendly design suggests it is aimed at a wider audience, including people with little or no coding experience.
The tech giant now joins a growing group of companies like Canva, Figma, and Replit, which are building tools to help users create apps and prototypes without traditional programming skills.
This move comes amid increasing interest in AI-powered development tools, with startups like Lovable and Cursor also attracting attention from investors and buyers eager to be part of the trend.
