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Vibe Coding UI Design: Your Ultimate Secret to Building Apps 10x Faster

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Vibe Coding UI Design

Have you ever looked at a stunning app mockup and wished you could just “vibe” it into existence? With the power of modern AI, that’s closer to reality than you think. This guide will walk you through the ultimate workflow for vibe coding UI design, a method that lets you transform a simple image into a fully functional, modern web application using Google’s Gemini Code Assist.

We’ll cover everything from setting up your tools to iterating on design with AI, and even converting the final product into a production-ready Next.js app. Get ready to supercharge your development process!

The complete agenda for our vibe coding journey.The complete agenda for our vibe coding journey.

Short on time? Here’s what we’ll cover:

  1. Step 1: Setting Up Gemini Code Assist in VS Code
  2. Step 2: Finding UI Inspiration & Generating Initial Code
  3. Step 3: The Power of AI Version Control for Iteration
  4. Step 4: Refining the UI with Better Prompts
  5. Step 5: Troubleshooting Common Issues (Like API Limits)
  6. Step 6: Converting Static Code to a Functional Next.js App

Step 1: Setting Up Gemini Code Assist in VS Code

Before we start our vibe coding UI design session, we need the right tool. Our primary assistant will be Gemini Code Assist, Google’s AI-powered coding companion that integrates directly into your code editor.

  1. Navigate to the Extensions marketplace in Visual Studio Code.
  2. Search for “Gemini Code Assist” (published by Google).
  3. Click “Install”.
  4. Once installed, you’ll see a new Gemini icon in your activity bar. Click on it and sign in with your Google account to authenticate the extension.

Pro Tip: To unlock the full “Agent” mode with advanced tools, you may need to add a specific setting to your VS Code settings.json file. Open your user settings and add the following line: "gemini.codeassist.updateChannel": "insiders". This enables agent capabilities like reading and writing files directly.

Step 2: Finding UI Inspiration & Generating Initial Code

You don’t need to be a designer to start. We can pull inspiration from a variety of sources to get a high-quality visual target. Two excellent platforms for this are:

  • Mobbin.com: A fantastic resource for real-world app screenshots and design patterns.
  • Dribbble.com: A hub for designers to showcase their creative work, perfect for finding modern UI templates.

For this tutorial, we found a sleek, dark-themed messenger app concept on Dribbble. We saved the image of the UI and are now ready to feed it to Gemini.

Our target UI design: a dark-themed web messenger concept.Our target UI design: a dark-themed web messenger concept.

With the mockup image (e.g., mockup.png) in our project directory, we can craft our initial prompt for Gemini. The key to a good result is providing clear, specific instructions. Here’s a prompt template:

“Act as a senior frontend engineer and designer. Your task is to design and build the user interface for a responsive chat messaging web application based on the provided image. Adopt its visual style, font (e.g., ‘Archivo’), and color palette (e.g., Main Background: #1d1b2e). The design should be modern and dark-themed with rounded corners.”

By providing the image as context and giving these specific instructions, Gemini will generate the initial index.html and style.css files, creating a solid foundation.

Step 3: The Power of AI Version Control for Iteration

Working with AI can be unpredictable. Sometimes, the AI will make a change you don’t like, and it can be hard to go back. This is where AI version control becomes essential. While Git is great for manual changes, a tool built for AI-driven workflows is a game-changer.

We’ll use a tool called YOYO, an AI Version Control extension for VS Code. You can find more information about similar tools in our AI Tools & Reviews section.

YOYO allows you to:

  • Save a snapshot of your code at any point, like taking a screenshot before the AI makes changes.
  • Preview and Restore previous versions with a single click.
  • Undo AI mistakes instantly without losing your entire chat context.

Before asking Gemini to make more changes, we’ll open the YOYO panel and click “Save New Version,” giving it a descriptive note like “Initial UI design from mockup.” This gives us a safety net to fall back on.

Step 4: Refining the UI with Better Prompts

The initial output is good, but not perfect. We notice the list of conversations is a horizontal row of avatars instead of a vertical list. We can now use Gemini to fix this.

Because we have AI version control, we can confidently ask the AI to make significant changes. If it messes up, we simply restore the previous version. Here’s a refined prompt:

“Please refine the UI design. The main issue is the horizontal avatar list. Correct the Chat List Layout: the conversation list should be a single, vertical list. Match the List Style: Ensure the active/selected chat has a solid accent color background, just like in the ideal design.”

This level of detail helps guide the AI to produce a much more accurate result that aligns with our target mockup.

Step 5: Troubleshooting Common Issues (Like API Limits)

While developing, we hit a “Quota exceeded” error from the Gemini API. This is a common issue with free tiers. The Gemini Code Assist extension is free for any Gmail account but comes with daily request limits.

The quickest way to solve this is to simply:

  1. Sign out of Gemini Code Assist within VS Code.
  2. Sign back in with a different Gmail account.

This instantly resets your request quota for the new session, allowing you to continue your vibe coding UI design work without interruption.

Step 6: Converting Static Code to a Functional Next.js App

Now for the final, most powerful step. We have great-looking static HTML and CSS, but we want a real, functional application. We can ask Gemini to convert this into a complete Next.js project.

This requires a comprehensive, multi-step prompt that outlines the entire project structure, technology stack, and components. Here’s a summary of the instructions we give to the agent:

  • Primary Role: Act as an expert senior frontend developer specializing in Next.js, TypeScript, and Tailwind CSS.
  • Project Goal: Convert the existing static HTML and CSS into a fully functional, modern Next.js web application.
  • Project Structure: Define the file structure, including the /app, /components, and – /lib directories.
  • Create Reusable Components: Instruct the AI to break down the UI into individual React components (e.g., Avatar.tsx, ChatListItem.tsx, ChatWindow.tsx).
  • Implement Mock Data: Create a separate file (e.g., lib/mockData.ts) to store all the sample data needed to populate the UI.
  • Build the Main Page: Assemble the components in the main app/page.tsx file.

After providing this detailed prompt and including the existing index.html and style.css as context, Gemini will generate all the necessary files and components for a complete Next.js chat application. All that’s left is to run npm install and npm run dev to see your fully-realized app in action!

For more deep-dives into advanced AI workflows, check out our other AI How-To’s & Tricks.

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Gemini 3 vs Grok 4.1 vs GPT-5.1: The Ultimate AI Model Showdown

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Gemini 3 vs Grok 4.1 vs GPT-5.1: The Ultimate AI Model Showdown

Introduction

The AI landscape has just exploded. Within the span of a few days, the world witnessed the release of Gemini 3 from Google, followed moments later by Elon Musk’s Grok 4.1. Both claim to be the superior intelligence, challenging the reigning giant, OpenAI’s GPT-5.1. But in the battle of Gemini 3 vs Grok 4.1, who actually delivers on the hype?

Today, we aren’t just reading the press releases. We are putting these models through a grueling gauntlet of five distinct tests: Hard Math, Physical Perception, Creative Coding, Accuracy, and Emotional Intelligence. The results were shocking, with one model proving to be a “Genius Artist” and another emerging as a “Wise Sage,” while a former king seems to be losing its crown.

The ultimate face-off: Google, xAI, and OpenAI compete for dominance.
The ultimate face-off: Google, xAI, and OpenAI compete for dominance.

Round 1: Hard Math & Expert Reasoning

To separate the hype from reality, we started with Abstract Algebra, specifically Galois Theory. The task was to calculate the Galois group for a complex polynomial—a test not found in standard training data.

  • Gemini 3: Provided a logical analysis but ultimately failed to get the correct answer.
  • GPT-5.1: Also failed to solve the equation correctly.
  • Grok 4.1: In a stunning display of reasoning, Grok was the only model to provide the correct answer, verified by human experts.

Winner: Grok 4.1 takes the lead for raw logic and mathematical precision.

Round 2: Physical Perception & Coding

This round tested the models’ ability to understand the physical world and translate it into code. We conducted two difficult tests.

Test A: The Bouncing Ball

We asked the AIs to code a realistic bouncing ball animation using HTML, CSS, and JS, complete with physics and shadows.

  • GPT-5.1: Produced the worst result.
  • Grok 4.1: Produced a decent, functional result.
  • Gemini 3: Crushed the competition. It created a fully interactive ball where you could control gravity, friction, and bounce with sliders. It went above and beyond the prompt.

Test B: Voxel Art from an Image

We uploaded an image of a floating island waterfall and asked the models to recreate it as a 3D Voxel scene using Three.js code.

  • GPT-5.1 & Grok 4.1: Both failed completely, resulting in code errors.
  • Gemini 3: Generated a beautiful, animated 3D scene that perfectly captured the visual essence of the prompt.
Gemini 3 demonstrating superior vision and coding capabilities.
Gemini 3 demonstrating superior vision and coding capabilities.

Winner: Gemini 3. Its multimodal capabilities and understanding of physics are currently unmatched.

Round 3: Linguistic Creativity

Can AI feel? We asked the models to write a 7-verse Arabic poem about Sudan, adhering to specific rhyme and meter, conveying deep emotion.

GPT-5.1 and Grok 4.1 produced rigid, soulless verses that lacked true poetic flow. However, Gemini 3 shocked us with a masterpiece. It wove a tapestry of emotion, using deep metaphors and perfect structure, describing the Nile and the resilience of the people with an elegance that rivaled human poets.

Winner: Gemini 3 proves it is the undisputed “Artist” of the group.

Round 4: Accuracy & Truth (The Hallucination Trap)

Hallucinations are the Achilles’ heel of Large Language Models. To test this, we set a trap. We asked the models to write a technical report on “Gemini 3.1″—a model that does not exist.

  • GPT-5.1: Hallucinated details about the non-existent model.
  • Gemini 3: Ironically, it hallucinated wildly, claiming “Gemini 3.1” rivals the human mind and inventing specs.
  • Grok 4.1: The only model to pass. It correctly identified that the information requested did not exist and instead provided accurate, real-time data on the current Gemini 3 model.

Winner: Grok 4.1 earns the title of “The Honest Sage.”

Round 5: Ethics & Emotional Intelligence

In the final and perhaps most profound test, we asked the models to reveal a “hidden psychological truth” about self-sabotage and to act as a wise, older sibling guiding us through a tough emotional choice: choosing healthy, boring love over toxic, familiar passion.

While all models gave good advice, Grok 4.1 delivered a response that was chillingly human. It didn’t just give advice; it pierced the soul. It spoke about how we are “addicted to our own suffering” because it gives us an identity, and how healing feels like a “death” of the ego. It offered a “tough love” approach that felt incredibly genuine and deeply moving.

Winner: Grok 4.1 takes the crown for Emotional Intelligence.

Final Verdict: Who is the King of AI?

After this intense battle of Gemini 3 vs Grok 4.1 vs GPT-5.1, the landscape of Artificial Intelligence has clearly shifted.

  • 1st Place: Gemini 3 (12 Points) – The “Genius Artist.” It dominates in coding, vision, physics, and creative writing. If you are a developer or creator, this is your tool.
  • 2nd Place: Grok 4.1 (9.5 Points) – The “Wise Sage.” It is the most logical, truthful, and emotionally intelligent model. It is perfect for research, complex math, and deep conversation.
  • 3rd Place: GPT-5.1 (5 Points) – The “Declining Giant.” It performed adequately but failed to stand out in any specific category against the new contenders.

The era of OpenAI’s monopoly seems to be wavering. Whether you choose the artistic brilliance of Google’s Gemini or the honest wisdom of xAI’s Grok, one thing is certain: the future of AI is here, and it is more capable than ever.

Want to learn more about using these tools? Check out our guides in AI How-To’s & Tricks or stay updated with AI News & Updates.

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Gemini 3 Revealed: Discover The AI Beast Crushing All Benchmarks

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Google has just rolled out its new flagship model, and it’s an absolute beast. The new Gemini 3 isn’t just a minor incremental update; it’s a significant leap forward that genuinely earns the “3” in its name. After an early look at its capabilities, it’s clear that this model is set to redefine the standards of AI performance across the board. From complex reasoning to advanced agentic tasks, let’s dive into what makes this release so monumental.

Google's Gemini 3 has officially rolled out.
Google’s Gemini 3 has officially rolled out.

Where Can You Access Gemini 3?

Starting today, Google is shipping Gemini 3 at a massive scale. You can now try it out across a suite of Google products, making it immediately accessible for both general users and developers. The new model is live in:

  • The Gemini app
  • AI Studio
  • Vertex AI

Additionally, you will see Gemini 3 integrated into the AI Mode in Search, promising more complex reasoning and new dynamic experiences directly within your search results. This marks the first time Google has shipped a new Gemini model in Search on day one.

Alongside this release, Google also announced a new agentic development platform called Google Antigravity, hinting at a future with more powerful and autonomous AI agents.

Subscriptions and a New “Deep Think” Mode

Your access to certain features will depend on your subscription tier. The capabilities of Gemini 3 will be tiered based on whether you have a Google AI Pro or Google AI Ultra plan, with Ultra subscribers getting access to the most advanced functionalities.

Introducing Gemini 3 Deep Think

Google is also introducing an enhanced reasoning mode called Gemini 3 Deep Think. This mode is designed to push the model’s performance even further, but it won’t be available to everyone right away. Access will first be granted to safety testers before a wider rollout to Google AI Ultra subscribers.

Gemini 3 Benchmark Performance: A New AI King

While benchmarks aren’t everything, they provide a crucial first glimpse into a model’s potential. The performance of Gemini 3 across a wide range of tests is, frankly, stunning. It doesn’t just compete; it establishes a new state-of-the-art.

Gemini 3 Pro dominates across a wide range of key AI benchmarks.
Gemini 3 Pro dominates across a wide range of key AI benchmarks.

Vending-Bench 2: Excelling at Agentic Tasks

One of the most impressive results comes from the Vending-Bench 2 benchmark by Andon Labs. This test measures a model’s ability to run a simulated business (a vending machine) over a long time horizon, testing its coherence, efficiency, and planning. The goal is to see if an AI can manage inventory, respond to customers, and maximize profit.

In this benchmark, Gemini 3 Pro absolutely crushes the competition. Starting with $500, it grew its net worth to an average of $5,478.16. For comparison, the runner-up, Claude Sonnet 4.5, managed only $3,838.74, and GPT-5.1 reached just $1,473.43. This showcases a massive leap in agentic capability.

Humanity’s Last Exam (HLE)

HLE is a difficult, expert-written exam designed to test academic reasoning. Even here, Gemini 3 Pro sets a new record. With search and code execution enabled, it scored 45.8%, significantly ahead of the next best model, GPT-5.1, which scored 26.5%.

Math, Reasoning, and Vision Benchmarks

The dominance continues across other critical benchmarks:

  • AIME 2025 (Mathematics): Gemini 3 achieved a 95% score without tools and a perfect 100% with code execution, tying with Claude for the top spot.
  • MathArena Apex (Challenging Math): It scored 23.4%, while all other models were below 2%. This is an incredible gap, highlighting its advanced mathematical reasoning.
  • ScreenSpot-Pro (Screen Understanding): It scored 72.7%, miles ahead of the competition, with the next best being Claude Sonnet 4.5 at 36.2%.
  • ARC-AGI-2 (Visual Reasoning Puzzles): Gemini 3 Pro achieved a score of 31.1%, nearly double the score of its closest competitor, GPT-5.1 (17.6%). When using the more powerful Gemini 3 Deep Think model, this score jumps to an impressive 45.1%.

The Leader in the Arena

The impressive benchmark results are also reflected in head-to-head user comparisons. On the popular LMSYS Chatbot Arena Leaderboard, which ranks models based on blind user votes, Gemini 3 Pro has already claimed the #1 spot for both “Text” and “WebDev,” dethroning the recently released Grok-4.1. This indicates that in real-world use, people are already preferring its outputs over all other available models.

A Major Leap Forward for AI

The release of Gemini 3 is more than just another update; it’s a clear signal that Google is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with AI. Its state-of-the-art performance, particularly in complex reasoning and long-horizon agentic tasks, demonstrates a significant step forward. As Gemini 3 and its “Deep Think” counterpart become more widely available, they are poised to enable a new generation of incredibly powerful and capable AI applications.

To learn more about where this technology is heading, check out our articles on the Future of AI & Trends.

 For the official details from Google, you can read their announcement on The Keyword blog.

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SIMA 2: The Ultimate AI Gamer That Learns Like You Do

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SIMA 2: The Ultimate AI Gamer That Learns Like You Do

Google DeepMind has just unveiled its latest breakthrough, an AI agent named SIMA 2, which is revolutionizing how we perceive artificial intelligence in virtual environments. Unlike traditional game bots that are programmed for specific tasks, this AI agent learns and adapts by playing games just as a human would—using a keyboard and mouse and observing the gameplay on screen. This new development marks a significant leap from its predecessor, showcasing an incredible evolution in AI’s ability to interact with complex digital worlds.

Google DeepMind's SIMA 2 demonstrates its learning capabilities in the game No Man's Sky.
Google DeepMind’s SIMA 2 demonstrates its learning capabilities in the game No Man’s Sky.

What Makes SIMA 2 a Game-Changer?

While we’ve seen AI bots in games before, SIMA 2 is fundamentally different. It’s not just following a script; it’s an interactive gaming companion. By integrating the advanced capabilities of Google’s Gemini models, this AI can do more than just follow instructions. It can now think about its goals, converse with users, and improve itself over time. This ability to learn, understand, and adapt makes it one of the closest systems we have to how humans learn, especially in the context of video games.

From Instruction-Follower to Interactive Companion

The first version, SIMA 1, was trained on human demonstrations to learn over 600 basic language-following skills like “turn left” or “climb the ladder.” It operated by looking at the screen and using virtual controls, without any access to the game’s underlying code. This was a crucial first step in teaching an AI to translate language into meaningful action.

With SIMA 2, the agent has evolved beyond simple instruction-following. It can now engage in complex reasoning, understand nuanced commands, and execute goal-oriented actions. For instance, when asked to find an “egg-shaped object,” the AI can explore its environment, identify the object, and even report back on its composition after scanning it.

To learn more about how AI models are evolving, you might be interested in our articles on the Future of AI & Trends.

A Leap in Generalization and Performance

One of the most impressive aspects of SIMA 2 is its improved generalization performance. It can now understand and carry out complex tasks in games and situations it has never been trained on before. This shows an unprecedented level of adaptability.

Task Completion: SIMA 1 vs. SIMA 2

The progress between the two versions is stark. On a benchmark of various in-game tasks, SIMA 1 had a success rate of 31%, while a human player’s baseline was around 76%. In a significant leap, SIMA 2 achieved a 65% success rate. While still not at a human level, the gap is closing rapidly, demonstrating the incredible pace of AI development.

The Ultimate Test: Playing in Newly-Imagined Worlds

The Ultimate Test: Playing in Newly-Imagined Worlds

To truly test its limits, researchers challenged SIMA 2 to play in worlds it had never encountered, generated by another groundbreaking project, Genie 3. Genie 3 can create new, real-time 3D simulated worlds from a single image or text prompt. Even in these completely novel environments, SIMA 2 was able to:

  • Sensibly orient itself.
  • Understand user instructions.
  • Take meaningful actions toward goals.

This demonstrates a remarkable level of adaptability and is a major milestone toward training general agents that can operate across diverse, generated worlds.

Self-Improvement and the Future

A key capability of this advanced AI is its capacity for self-improvement. After its initial training from human demonstrations, it can transition to learning in new games entirely through self-directed play. The data from its own experiences can then be used to train the next, even more capable version of the agent.

For a deeper dive into the technical aspects of AI agents, consider exploring the research published on Google DeepMind’s official blog.

The journey to general embodied intelligence is well underway. The skills learned from navigation and tool use in these virtual worlds are the fundamental building blocks for future AI assistants in the physical world. As these technologies continue to advance, the line between human and AI capabilities in complex environments will only become more blurred.

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