Unlock New Possibilities: Google’s Gemma Model Revolutionizes Function Calling on Chrome

Key Points

• The Gemma family of models has experienced significant growth, with downloads increasing from 100 million to over 300 million in 2025.
• The new FunctionGemma model enables native function calling capabilities, allowing it to automate complex workflows and interact with devices in a more meaningful way.
• FunctionGemma is designed to be a strong base for further training into custom, fast, private, local agents that can translate natural language into executable API actions.

As a tech journalist reporting on ChromeOS news, I am excited to share insights on the latest development in the Gemma family of models. The Gemma family has seen tremendous growth, with downloads increasing from 100 million to over 300 million in 2025. This growth is a testament to the transformative potential of open models, which have been used to advance various fields, including cancer research.

One of the most significant requests from developers has been for native function calling capabilities. This feature allows models to do more than just respond to user input – they can take action. On-device automation is a key area where this capability can be leveraged, enabling models to automate complex workflows, such as setting reminders or toggling system settings. This is particularly useful on devices like Chromebooks, where local processing can improve performance and reduce latency.

To address this need, the new FunctionGemma model has been released. This specialized version of the Gemma 3 270M model is tuned for function calling, making it an ideal base for further training into custom, fast, private, local agents. FunctionGemma can act as a fully independent agent for private, offline tasks, or as an intelligent traffic controller for larger connected systems. In this role, it can handle common commands instantly at the edge, while routing more complex tasks to more powerful models.

The implications of FunctionGemma are significant, particularly for ChromeOS devices. With the ability to run locally and reliably, FunctionGemma can enable a new generation of private, offline applications that can interact with devices in a more meaningful way. As the industry shifts towards more active agents, models like FunctionGemma will play a critical role in enabling devices to automate complex workflows and improve overall user experience.

As we look to the future, it will be exciting to see how FunctionGemma is used to create new and innovative applications for ChromeOS devices. With its ability to translate natural language into executable API actions, the possibilities are endless. Whether you are a developer looking to create custom agents or a user looking to automate complex workflows, FunctionGemma is definitely worth exploring. The future of on-device automation is looking brighter than ever, and it will be interesting to see how FunctionGemma contributes to this growing trend.

Read the rest of the article

You can also check out our list of the best Gmail Extensions, TikTok Extensions & the best Ai Extensions for Chrome.