Google unifies Gemini tools
Google expanded the Gemini API so developers can combine built-in and custom tools into unified workflows, and it redesigned Stitch AI with an infinite canvas, voice, and coding-assistant features aimed at design/dev teams. Those moves accelerate the platform arms race for developer mindshare and could change hiring signals for engineers who master these stacks. (testingcatalog.com) (winbuzzer.com)
Google recorded the Gemini API change in its release notes on March 18, 2026, adding a "Built-in Tools and Function Calling Combination" feature that officially supports using built-in tools alongside custom function calls in one request. (ai.google.dev)) The developer blog explains cross-tool context circulation preserves every tool call and response across turns so later steps can reason over prior outputs, and the API now emits unique tool-call IDs to map asynchronous tool executions. (blog.google)) The public docs include a runnable example that mixes google_search (built-in) with a custom getWeather function on the gemini-3-flash-preview model and requires include_server_side_tool_invocations=True to circulate tool context. (ai.google.dev)) Release notes also state Grounding with Google Maps is now extended to the Gemini 3 model family, and the changelog lists model lifecycle updates including gemini-3.1 Pro/Flash variants and deprecations with specific shutdown dates. (ai.google.dev)) Google Labs published the Stitch redesign on March 18, 2026, introducing an "AI-native, infinite canvas," a new design agent that reasons across a project's evolution, an Agent Manager for branching creative directions, and a DESIGN.md export/import format for design systems. (blog.google)) The Stitch announcement and coverage detail voice-driven "vibe design," real-time critique via spoken commands, clickable prototype exports to developer tools, and an SDK/MCP server to link Stitch to coding assistants like Claude Code and Cursor. (blog.google)) Market coverage reported immediate market reaction and positioning: third-party coverage said Figma shares moved after the update and WinBuzzer reported an 8% decline tied to Stitch's Figma-format exports and Google offering 350 free monthly generations. (winbuzzer.com))
