Google Drops Free 'Super Gems' AI App Generator

The new generator is powered by an experimental Google Labs tool called Opal, which is now integrated directly into the Gemini web and mobile apps. This allows users to create visual, multi-step workflows that can connect to Google services like Calendar and Gmail, and utilize multimodal inputs like images or PDFs. Existing workflows built with the standalone Opal tool have been migrated into a "Gems from Labs" section for users. This move places Google in direct competition with other no-code and low-code AI app builders like Glide, Bubble, and Mocha, which are popular for quickly turning ideas into working applications without extensive coding. The core value proposition for these platforms is rapid prototyping, allowing a solo builder to create and test a minimum viable product (MVP) for a side project efficiently. For instance, some users have built AI-led functions in as little as eight weeks using these tools. In the NYC startup scene, venture capital firms are actively funding AI-native companies, particularly those with an enterprise focus. Funds like Lux Capital, IA Ventures, and Two Sigma Ventures have backed AI companies focused on specific industries, while Insight Partners has heavily invested in AI automation. In 2025, AI companies accounted for 22% of the $42.3 billion in venture capital raised across more than 1,800 deals in New York. This funding has created a strong demand for technical talent, with NYC-based AI companies consistently hiring for roles like Machine Learning Engineer and AI Engineer. Companies like Hebbia, an AI-powered analysis platform for finance, and Northslope Technologies, founded by Palantir alumni, are actively recruiting for these positions. OpenAI itself is hiring AI Deployment Engineers in its NYC headquarters to work directly with strategic startup customers. A significant area of opportunity lies in Vertical SaaS, where AI is being embedded to automate industry-specific workflows in sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, and legal. This approach provides tailored solutions that address niche operational problems, leading to higher customer retention compared to general-purpose software. For engineers considering building a side project into a business, the "indie hacker" path offers a blueprint. Communities like Indie Hackers showcase stories of founders bootstrapping profitable online businesses, with some reaching over $20k in monthly recurring revenue from AI-powered tools built in their spare time. These stories often emphasize shipping a simple MVP quickly and focusing on marketing and distribution early. For those looking to build more complex AI agents beyond no-code platforms, frameworks like LangChain, AutoGen, and CrewAI provide the necessary tools for development. These frameworks help structure the core components of an AI agent, which include a memory module, agent tools for interacting with external APIs, and a planning module to break down complex tasks. When it comes to fundraising in New York, investors in the AI space often want to see revenue and real customer deployments, not just demos. The average seed round for an AI company in NYC is between $2.5M and $4M, a figure that accounts for the high compute costs associated with training and running models. Pre-seed and seed investments often come from specialized micro VCs and angel groups like AI.NYC and the NYAngels AI Group.