Google just shipped a native Gemini app for macOS. It's free, works on macOS 15 Sequoia and up on Apple Silicon, and you can download it at gemini.google/mac. The core pitch is simple: hit Option+Space from anywhere and Gemini pops up without switching windows. You can share your screen with the AI for help with whatever you're looking at, including local files, which Apple's on-device model handles. The app bundles Google's creative tools too. Nano Banana generates images and Veo handles video. Your chat history syncs across devices tied to the same Google account. Michael Friedman, Group Product Manager for the Gemini App, called it a way to get "AI assistance right where your work happens." Early user feedback paints a messier picture. Hacker News commenters report launch delays of 800+ milliseconds compared to just opening the web version. The text layout stretches too wide in full screen. Several users ask whether the native app actually gives them anything the browser doesn't, especially since accessing past conversations still requires separate data sharing permissions. Google is racing OpenAI here. ChatGPT's Mac app launched in May 2024 with similar screen awareness and keyboard shortcuts. Google counters with Android sync and built-in creative generation. But OpenAI supports macOS 14 and 15 while Gemini requires Sequoia, giving ChatGPT a broader potential audience. Both companies are scrambling to establish desktop beachheads before Apple Intelligence ships with deeper system hooks and an upgraded Siri.