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Google AI Gemini

https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs

Maven Dependency​


<dependency>
    <groupId>dev.langchain4j</groupId>
    <artifactId>langchain4j-google-ai-gemini</artifactId>
    <version>1.8.0</version>
</dependency>

API Key​

Get an API key for free here: https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/api-key .

Models available​

Check the list of available models in the documentation.

  • gemini-2.0-flash
  • gemini-1.5-flash
  • gemini-1.5-pro
  • gemini-1.0-pro

GoogleAiGeminiChatModel​

The usual chat(...) methods are available:

ChatModel gemini = GoogleAiGeminiChatModel.builder()
    .apiKey(System.getenv("GEMINI_AI_KEY"))
    .modelName("gemini-1.5-flash")
    ...
    .build();

String response = gemini.chat("Hello Gemini!");

As well, as the ChatResponse chat(ChatRequest req) method:

ChatModel gemini = GoogleAiGeminiChatModel.builder()
    .apiKey(System.getenv("GEMINI_AI_KEY"))
    .modelName("gemini-1.5-flash")
    .build();

ChatResponse chatResponse = gemini.chat(ChatRequest.builder()
    .messages(UserMessage.from(
        "How many R's are there in the word 'strawberry'?"))
    .build());

String response = chatResponse.aiMessage().text();

Configuring​

ChatModel gemini = GoogleAiGeminiChatModel.builder()
    .httpClientBuilder(...)
    .defaultRequestParameters(...)
    .apiKey(System.getenv("GEMINI_AI_KEY"))
    .baseUrl(...)
    .modelName("gemini-1.5-flash")
    .maxRetries(...)
    .temperature(1.0)
    .topP(0.95)
    .topK(64)
    .seed(42)
    .frequencyPenalty(...)
    .presencePenalty(...)
    .maxOutputTokens(8192)
    .timeout(Duration.ofSeconds(60))
    .responseFormat(ResponseFormat.JSON) // or .responseFormat(ResponseFormat.builder()...build()) 
    .stopSequences(List.of(...))
    .toolConfig(GeminiFunctionCallingConfig.builder()...build()) // or below
    .toolConfig(GeminiMode.ANY, List.of("fnOne", "fnTwo"))
    .allowCodeExecution(true)
    .includeCodeExecution(true)
    .logRequestsAndResponses(true)
    .safetySettings(List<GeminiSafetySetting> or Map<GeminiHarmCategory, GeminiHarmBlockThreshold>)
    .thinkingConfig(...)
    .returnThinking(true)
    .sendThinking(true)
    .responseLogprobs(...)
    .logprobs(...)
    .enableEnhancedCivicAnswers(...)
    .listeners(...)
    .supportedCapabilities(...)
    .build();

GoogleAiGeminiStreamingChatModel​

The GoogleAiGeminiStreamingChatModel allows streaming the text of a response token by token. The response must be handled by a StreamingChatResponseHandler.

StreamingChatModel gemini = GoogleAiGeminiStreamingChatModel.builder()
        .apiKey(System.getenv("GEMINI_AI_KEY"))
        .modelName("gemini-1.5-flash")
        .build();

CompletableFuture<ChatResponse> futureResponse = new CompletableFuture<>();

gemini.chat("Tell me a joke about Java", new StreamingChatResponseHandler() {

    @Override
    public void onPartialResponse(String partialResponse) {
        System.out.print(partialResponse);
    }

    @Override
    public void onCompleteResponse(ChatResponse completeResponse) {
        futureResponse.complete(completeResponse);
    }

    @Override
    public void onError(Throwable error) {
        futureResponse.completeExceptionally(error);
    }
});

        futureResponse.join();

Tools​

Tools (aka Function Calling) is supported, including parallel calls. You can either use the chat(ChatRequest) method that accepts a ChatRequest that can be configured with one or more ToolSpecifications to let Gemini know it can request a function to be called. Or you can use LangChain4j's AiServices to define them.

Here is an example of a weather tool, using AiServices:

record WeatherForecast(
    String location,
    String forecast,
    int temperature) {}

class WeatherForecastService {
    @Tool("Get the weather forecast for a location")
    WeatherForecast getForecast(
        @P("Location to get the forecast for") String location) {
        if (location.equals("Paris")) {
            return new WeatherForecast("Paris", "sunny", 20);
        } else if (location.equals("London")) {
            return new WeatherForecast("London", "rainy", 15);
        } else if (location.equals("Tokyo")) {
            return new WeatherForecast("Tokyo", "warm", 32);
        } else {
            return new WeatherForecast("Unknown", "unknown", 0);
        }
    }
}

interface WeatherAssistant {
    String chat(String userMessage);
}

WeatherForecastService weatherForecastService =
    new WeatherForecastService();

ChatModel gemini = GoogleAiGeminiChatModel.builder()
    .apiKey(System.getenv("GEMINI_AI_KEY"))
    .modelName("gemini-1.5-flash")
    .temperature(0.0)
    .build();

WeatherAssistant weatherAssistant =
    AiServices.builder(WeatherAssistant.class)
        .chatModel(gemini)
        .tools(weatherForecastService)
        .build();

String tokyoWeather = weatherAssistant.chat(
        "What is the weather forecast for Tokyo?");

System.out.println("Gemini> " + tokyoWeather);
// Gemini> The weather forecast for Tokyo is warm
//         with a temperature of 32 degrees.

Structured Outputs​

See more info on Structured Outputs here.

Type-safe data extraction from free form text​

Large Language Models are great at extracting structured information out of unstructured text. In the following example, we retrieve a type-safe WeatherForecast object from a weather forecast text, thanks to AiServices:

// A type-safe / strongly-typed object 
// representing the weather forecast

record WeatherForecast(
    @Description("minimum temperature")
    Integer minTemperature,
    @Description("maximum temperature")
    Integer maxTemperature,
    @Description("chances of rain")
    boolean rain
) { }

// An interface contract, to interact with Gemini

interface WeatherForecastAssistant {
    WeatherForecast extract(String forecast);
}

// Let's extract the data:

ChatModel gemini = GoogleAiGeminiChatModel.builder()
    .apiKey(System.getenv("GEMINI_AI_KEY"))
    .modelName("gemini-1.5-flash")
    .supportedCapabilities(RESPONSE_FORMAT_JSON_SCHEMA) // this is required to enable structured outputs feature
    .build();

WeatherForecastAssistant forecastAssistant =
    AiServices.builder(WeatherForecastAssistant.class)
        .chatModel(gemini)
        .build();

WeatherForecast forecast = forecastAssistant.extract("""
    Morning: The day dawns bright and clear in Osaka, with crisp
    autumn air and sunny skies. Expect temperatures to hover
    around 18°C (64°F) as you head out for your morning stroll
    through Namba.
    Afternoon: The sun continues to shine as the city buzzes with
    activity. Temperatures climb to a comfortable 22°C (72°F).
    Enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of Osaka's many outdoor cafes,
    or take a boat ride on the Okawa River to soak in the beautiful
    scenery.
    Evening: As the day fades, expect clear skies and a slight chill
    in the air. Temperatures drop to 15°C (59°F). A cozy dinner at a
    traditional Izakaya will be the perfect way to end your day in
    Osaka.
    Overall: A beautiful autumn day in Osaka awaits, perfect for
    exploring the city's vibrant streets, enjoying the local cuisine,
    and soaking in the sights.
    Don't forget: Pack a light jacket for the evening and wear
    comfortable shoes for all the walking you'll be doing.
    """);

Response Format / Response Schema​

You can specify a ResponseFormat either when creating a GoogleAiGeminiChatModel or when calling it. Let's have a look at an example to define a JSON schema for a recipe when creating the GoogleAiGeminiChatModel:

ResponseFormat responseFormat = ResponseFormat.builder()
        .type(ResponseFormatType.JSON)
        .jsonSchema(JsonSchema.builder() // see [1] below
                .rootElement(JsonObjectSchema.builder()
                        .addStringProperty("title")
                        .addIntegerProperty("preparationTimeMinutes")
                        .addProperty("ingredients", JsonArraySchema.builder()
                                .items(new JsonStringSchema())
                                .build())
                        .addProperty("steps", JsonArraySchema.builder()
                                .items(new JsonStringSchema())
                                .build())
                        .build())
                .build())
        .build();

ChatModel gemini = GoogleAiGeminiChatModel.builder()
        .apiKey(System.getenv("GEMINI_AI_KEY"))
        .modelName("gemini-1.5-flash")
        .responseFormat(responseFormat)
        .build();

String recipeResponse = gemini.chat("Suggest a dessert recipe with strawberries");

System.out.println(recipeResponse);

Notes:

  • [1] - The JsonSchema can be generated automatically from your class using JsonSchemas.jsonSchemaFrom() helper method.
JsonSchema jsonSchema = JsonSchemas.jsonSchemaFrom(TripItinerary.class).get();

Let's have a look at an example to define a JSON schema for a recipe when calling the GoogleAiGeminiChatModel:

ChatModel gemini = GoogleAiGeminiChatModel.builder()
        .apiKey(System.getenv("GEMINI_AI_KEY"))
        .modelName("gemini-1.5-flash")
        .build();

ResponseFormat responseFormat = ...;

ChatRequest chatRequest = ChatRequest.builder()
        .messages(UserMessage.from("Suggest a dessert recipe with strawberries"))
        .responseFormat(responseFormat)
        .build();

ChatResponse chatResponse = gemini.chat(chatRequest);

System.out.println(chatResponse.aiMessage().text());

JSON Mode​

You can force Gemini to reply in JSON:

ChatModel gemini = GoogleAiGeminiChatModel.builder()
    .apiKey(System.getenv("GEMINI_AI_KEY"))
    .modelName("gemini-1.5-flash")
    .responseFormat(ResponseFormat.JSON)
    .build();

String roll = gemini.chat("Roll a 6-sided dice");

System.out.println(roll);
// {"roll": "3"}

A system prompt can further describe what the JSON output should look like. Gemini normally follows the suggested schema, but it is not guaranteed. If you want a guaranteed application of a JSON schema, you should define a response format, as explained in the previous section.

Python code execution​

Beyond function calling, Google AI Gemini allows to create and execute Python code in a sandboxed environment. This is particularly interesting for situations where more advanced calculations or logic is needed.

ChatModel gemini = GoogleAiGeminiChatModel.builder()
    .apiKey(System.getenv("GEMINI_AI_KEY"))
    .modelName("gemini-1.5-flash")
    .allowCodeExecution(true)
    .includeCodeExecutionOutput(true)
    .build();

There are 2 builder methods:

  • allowCodeExecution(true): to let Gemini know it can do some Python coding
  • includeCodeExecutionOutput(true): if you want to see the actual Python script it came up with, and the output of its execution
ChatResponse mathQuizz = gemini.chat(
    SystemMessage.from("""
        You are an expert mathematician.
        When asked a math problem or logic problem,
        you can solve it by creating a Python program,
        and execute it to return the result.
        """),
    UserMessage.from("""
        Implement the Fibonacci and Ackermann functions.
        What is the result of `fibonacci(22)` - ackermann(3, 4)?
        """)
);

Gemini will craft a Python script, execute it on its server, and return the result. Since we asked to see the code and output of the execution, the answer will look as follows:

Code executed:
```python
def fibonacci(n):
    if n <= 1:
        return n
    else:
        return fibonacci(n-1) + fibonacci(n-2)

def ackermann(m, n):
    if m == 0:
        return n + 1
    elif n == 0:
        return ackermann(m - 1, 1)
    else:
        return ackermann(m - 1, ackermann(m, n - 1))

print(fibonacci(22) - ackermann(3, 4))
```
Output:
```
17586
```
The result of `fibonacci(22) - ackermann(3, 4)` is **17586**.

I implemented the Fibonacci and Ackermann functions in Python.
Then I called `fibonacci(22) - ackermann(3, 4)` and printed the result.

If we hadn't asked for the code / output, we would have received only the following text:

The result of `fibonacci(22) - ackermann(3, 4)` is **17586**.

I implemented the Fibonacci and Ackermann functions in Python.
Then I called `fibonacci(22) - ackermann(3, 4)` and printed the result.

Multimodality​

Gemini is a multimodal model, which means it can both accept and generate different modalities besides text.

Input Modalities​

In input, Gemini accepts:

  • pictures (ImageContent)
  • videos (VideoContent)
  • audio files (AudioContent)
  • PDF files (PdfFileContent)

The example below shows how to mix a text prompt with an image:

// PNG of the cute colorful parrot mascot of the LangChain4j project
String base64Img = b64encoder.encodeToString(readBytes(
  "https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/132277850?v=4"));

ChatModel gemini = GoogleAiGeminiChatModel.builder()
    .apiKey(System.getenv("GEMINI_AI_KEY"))
    .modelName("gemini-1.5-flash")
    .build();

ChatResponse response = gemini.chat(
    UserMessage.from(
        ImageContent.from(base64Img, "image/png"),
        TextContent.from("""
            Do you think this logo fits well
            with the project description?
            """)
    )
);

Image Generation Output​

Some Gemini models (such as gemini-2.5-flash-image-preview) can generate images as part of their response. When images are generated, they are stored in the AiMessage attributes and can be accessed using the GeneratedImageHelper utility class.

ChatModel gemini = GoogleAiGeminiChatModel.builder()
    .apiKey("Your API Key")
    .modelName("gemini-2.5-flash-image-preview")
    .build();

ChatResponse response = gemini.chat(UserMessage.from("A high-resolution, studio-lit product photograph of a minimalist ceramic coffee mug in matte black"));

// Extract generated images from the response
AiMessage aiMessage = response.aiMessage();
List<Image> generatedImages = GeneratedImageHelper.getGeneratedImages(aiMessage);

if (GeneratedImageHelper.hasGeneratedImages(aiMessage)) {
    System.out.println("Generated " + generatedImages.size() + " image(s)");
    System.out.println("Text response: " + aiMessage.text());

    for (Image image : generatedImages) {
        String base64Data = image.base64Data();
        String mimeType = image.mimeType();
        
        // You can now save the image, display it, or process it further
        // For example, save to file:
        byte[] imageBytes = Base64.getDecoder().decode(base64Data);
        Files.write(Paths.get("generated_image.png"), imageBytes);
    }
} else {
    System.out.println("Text response: " + aiMessage.text());
}

Thinking​

Both GoogleAiGeminiChatModel and GoogleAiGeminiStreamingChatModel support thinking.

The following parameters also control thinking behaviour:

  • GeminiThinkingConfig.includeThoughts and thinkingBudget: enables thinking, see more details here.
  • returnThinking: controls whether to return thinking (if available) inside AiMessage.thinking() and whether to invoke StreamingChatResponseHandler.onPartialThinking() and TokenStream.onPartialThinking() callbacks when using GoogleAiGeminiStreamingChatModel. Disabled by default. If enabled, tinking signatures will also be stored and returned inside the AiMessage.attributes().
  • sendThinking: controls whether to send thinking and signatures stored in AiMessage to the LLM in follow-up requests. Disabled by default.
note

Please note that when returnThinking is not set (is null) and thinkingConfig is set, thinking text will be prepended to the actual response inside the AiMessage.text() field and StreamingChatResponseHandler.onPartialResponse() will be invoked instead of StreamingChatResponseHandler.onPartialThinking().

Here is an example of how to configure thinking:

GeminiThinkingConfig thinkingConfig = GeminiThinkingConfig.builder()
        .includeThoughts(true)
        .thinkingBudget(250)
        .build();

ChatModel model = GoogleAiGeminiChatModel.builder()
        .apiKey(System.getenv("GOOGLE_AI_GEMINI_API_KEY"))
        .modelName("gemini-2.5-flash")
        .thinkingConfig(thinkingConfig)
        .returnThinking(true)
        .sendThinking(true)
        .build();

Learn more​

If you're interested in learning more about the Google AI Gemini model, please have a look at its documentation.