Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET
AI has finally started to trickle into the Linux command line. Thanks to the likes of Ollama, this reality is no longer avoidable: it's here, and it's not going anywhere. That's not to say you have to use AI in your Linux terminal, but you can. For those who benefit from AI and often use the Linux Command Line Interface (CLI), the combination of the two can be a very powerful productivity boost.
Yes, you can get the power of Gemini AI directly in your Linux terminal.
Also: My two favorite AI apps on Linux - and how I use them to get more done
Gemini CLI is a locally installed tool that can be used for a wide range of tasks, such as content generation, problem solving, deep research, and even task management. Although the original focus of Gemini CLI was on developers, it can also be used by end users who want to access AI without having to use a web browser or a third-party GUI.
The problem with Gemini CLI is that it's a bit tricky to install. Fortunately, I'm here to help you with that.
How to install Gemini CLI on Ubuntu
What you'll need: The only things you'll need are a running instance of Ubuntu Linux (or a distribution based on Ubuntu), a user with sudo privileges, and a working Google account. Make sure you've already signed in to your Google account with your default web browser before running Gemini CLI for the first time.
1. Open a terminal window The first thing to do is open your default terminal window app. Also: 5 surprisingly productive things you can do with the Linux terminal Show more
2. Install Node.js Next, we're going to install Node.js (because Gemini CLI is installed with the Node.js package manager, npm). To install Node.js, issue the command: Show more
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