At Google’s I/O developer conference, Android Studio is receiving a boost of AI with the introduction of Android Studio Hedgehog. This upcoming version of Android Studio, currently in the canary release channel, brings a new conversational experience to developers in the form of a coding bot. Designed to assist developers with code writing, bug fixing, and general coding inquiries, the Studio Bot utilizes Codey, Google’s advanced foundation model based on PaLM 2 specifically trained for coding.
Initially launching in the U.S., the Studio Bot prioritizes privacy by ensuring that none of the source code is shared with Google. However, the conversations between developers and the bot are recorded for improvement purposes.
Google acknowledges that the Studio Bot is still in its early stages and ongoing training is being conducted to enhance its ability to answer developers’ questions accurately. One advantage for Google is the limited scope of questions asked within Android Studio, enabling the bot to focus on specific programming languages and provide tailored responses.
Additionally, Google is introducing a Codey-based code completion and generation service that rivals offerings like GitHub’s Copilot and Amazon’s CodeWhisperer. This service can be seamlessly integrated into popular development environments such as VSCode, JetBrains’ IDEs, and Google’s Cloud shell. While it may seem peculiar for Google to assign a distinct brand to this version of Android Studio, it aligns with the company’s branding strategies.
As Google continues to invest in AI-driven tools for developers, Android Studio Hedgehog aims to empower programmers with an intelligent coding assistant and streamline the development process. With ongoing refinements and expanded availability in the future, this AI-powered bot is poised to become an indispensable resource within the Android development ecosystem.
