A research and writing interface for Google Antigravity

Available to personal Google accounts, Antigravity’s Knowledge Work layout puts documents front and center and simplifies permission prompts.

The same launch-planning conversation appears twice in Google’s Antigravity announcement. In the Software Engineering layout, the conversation shows tool calls, code changes, and the terminal. In Knowledge Work, the replies and documents take center stage. The choice changes what users see while the agent works.

Both layouts use the same agent, models, and permission rules. The agent can work in local folders, use installed plugins, and access connected tools through MCP, a protocol that links the app to external services. The new layout is designed for tasks where users mainly want to see the result, such as a draft document, a presentation, or an analysis. What the agent shows while it works

In Knowledge Work, a single progress line replaces the groups of tool calls and subagent cards in the conversation. It disappears when the response is ready. If an action requires approval, the prompt describes it in plain language. The detailed rules that determine when approval is required are in Advanced Settings.

The side panel appears once the conversation produces a result. It brings together documents, generated and uploaded files, links, and background tasks. The Software Engineering layout gives users direct access to the terminal and a panel for reviewing code changes. From project folders to first-time setup

When users start a new conversation in a project, the Knowledge Work layout has the agent work directly in the associated folders. In Software Engineering, a project that uses Git can also offer a separate worktree. Users can also start a standalone conversation from the home screen, outside a project.

The setting is available in version 2.30.0 and later of the desktop app. According to the settings documentation, users signed in with a personal Google account can switch layouts under Settings > General > Interface Layout. The change takes effect immediately in open conversations. Business and Gemini Enterprise accounts use the Software Engineering layout.

The first-time setup also takes the user’s role into account. Choosing Design or Science opens Knowledge Work by default, while Data & Analytics opens Software Engineering. The home screen can then suggest up to three starter tasks. Selecting one may install the associated plugin and fill in a prompt that the user can edit before sending.