According to our current understanding of physics, gravity has existed since the very early stages of the universe. Gravity is one of the fundamental forces of nature and plays a crucial role in shaping the structure and behavior of the cosmos.
In the framework of the Big Bang theory, which is the prevailing model for the origin and evolution of the universe, gravity is thought to have emerged along with the other fundamental forces (such as electromagnetism and the strong and weak nuclear forces) as the universe began to expand and cool down from an extremely hot and dense state.
As the universe expanded and cooled, matter and energy started to form, and gravity played a vital role in the process. It caused particles and matter to clump together under its influence, leading to the formation of galaxies, stars, and other cosmic structures. The gravitational force continues to shape the large-scale structure of the universe and govern the motion of celestial bodies.
However, our understanding of the very early moments of the universe, particularly during the Planck epoch (the earliest known phase, occurring less than a second after the Big Bang), is still an active area of research. At such extreme conditions, where quantum effects become significant, our current understanding of gravity breaks down, and a complete theory of quantum gravity is needed to fully comprehend those early moments.
In summary, while our knowledge of the earliest moments of the universe is still evolving, gravity is considered to be one of the fundamental forces that has existed since the early stages of the universe's evolution.