Google Colab introduces Learn Mode to turn Gemini into your personal coding tutor

Introducing Learn Mode: your personal coding tutor in Google Colab

Google Colab is expanding its Gemini integration with two new improvements that will help you customize your Gemini agent in Colab. Custom Instructions and Learn Mode give you more control over how Gemini in Colab works and how it helps you learn. Custom Instructions, stored at the notebook level, allow notebook authors to tailor their Colab Gemini AI assistant and share their personalized assistants with the Colab community. Learn Mode turns Gemini into a personal coding tutor that provides step-by-step guidance instead of writing code for you. Whether you're a seasoned developer brushing up on a new framework, an educator designing coursework or a student who's new to coding, Custom Instructions and Learn Mode make Gemini a more flexible, one-of-a-kind assistant. Add context to fit your personal workflow, class or project needs with Custom Instructions. Do you have a preferred coding style? Do you want your agent to be aware of your class syllabus when making recommendations? Do you want Gemini to always use a specific library when teaching you? Add those preferences as Custom Instructions. Toggle them directly from the Gemini chat box and save them to your notebook.

Google expands Gemini in Colab with Learn Mode and Custom Instructions

Google Colab is expanding its integration with Google Gemini by introducing Custom Instructions and Learn Mode. These new features give users more control over how the Gemini assistant behaves within notebooks and how it supports both coding and learning. Custom Instructions allow users to personalize the AI at the notebook level, while Learn Mode transforms Gemini into a guided coding tutor. Together, they make the assistant more flexible for developers, educators, and students. Custom Instructions let users define how Gemini should respond based on their workflow, project, or learning needs. These settings are saved at the notebook level and can be reused across sessions. Learn Mode shifts Gemini from a code generator to a teaching assistant. Instead of providing ready-to-use code, it focuses on helping users understand concepts through guided explanations. Learn Mode is especially useful for beginners, educators, and developers exploring new tools or frameworks. Google Colab includes example notebooks where Gemini is preconfigured with Learn Mode. Users can start a chat with the assistant and follow guided exercises, including Python-based tasks such as list and string exercises. Custom Instructions are stored within each notebook in Google Colab and are automatically applied to future Gemini chats in that notebook. When a notebook is shared, these instructions are included, ensuring collaborators get the same personalized AI experience. Learn Mode can be toggled directly from the Gemini chat interface in Colab and is available in supported notebooks, including guided learning environments.