Google Gemini: Revolutionizing Daily Tasks with AI-Powered Assistance

Google Gemini: 5 ways to use Google's AI-powered assistant day-to-day

Since I started using the Google Pixel 9 Pro, I have incorporated Gemini into my life more and more. Calling the assistant on my Pixel smartphone is easy. I hold down the power button, a box appears at the bottom of the screen, and the assistant listens automatically. I chat with Gemini every day, if not multiple times a day. What's great is that you can ask single questions or have a free-flowing two-way conversation using the Gemini Live button. You can ask about what's on the screen, so you can run a Google search on a pair of shoes you spotted on Instagram or find out more about a news story. Long story short, there are countless ways to use Gemini, and here are my favorites. Related Google Gemini: Everything you need to know about Google's next-gen multimodal AI Google Gemini is here, with a whole new approach to multimodal AI Posts 5 Writing emails and texts The speediest way to send messages Close Gemini is great for drafting and sending emails and messages to your contacts. Tell the assistant what you want to say and to whom, and it will do the rest. If I'm not sure how to word an email, it makes useful suggestions. When I reply to text messages, it speeds things up. Sometimes, I need to edit the message a fair amount, but I find it helpful when I'm stuck or in a hurry. You don't need to unlock your phone to send a quick text or WhatsApp or to make a phone call. This feature isn't switched on by default, so to make sure you can use it, go to the Gemini on the lock screen section of Gemini's settings and toggle on Make calls and send messages without unlocking. 4 Summarizing web pages and explaining topics Easy breakdowns of complicated topics Close Gemini is a great way to summarize and explain web pages. You don't need to read the entire article to find out if it has what you want. You can get a short summary of it instead. I find this helpful when I Google topics like investing in stocks. At the moment, you'll only see an explanation of what's included in the text, but hopefully, in the future, you'll get a list of the key points. I also use Gemini to explain complex topics in a digestible way. Recently, I asked it to "explain black holes to me like I'm a child," and Gemini thoroughly described what they are in a way that the most science-adverse person could understand. Related 5 best Google Gemini smart home tips and tricks you should try Supercharge your home with Gemini Posts 1 3 Finding documents and information in Google Workspace An easy way to find lost files and emails Close There's no need to search for a file or document in your Google Drive. You can ask Gemini. For example, I asked Gemini to find a payslip. It brought up a list of relevant documents I had stored. How well this works will depend on how well you name your files and folders. You can use this same command to search your Gmail. I asked Gemini to find a discount code an online retailer sent me, and there it was! It took seconds rather than the minutes I would have spent looking for it. 2 Planning for the week ahead Inspiration, ingredients, and instructions Close I regularly use Gemini to plan my week, whether that's meals or weekend activities. If I'm not sure what to have for dinner but have a bunch of food in my refrigerator, I ask Gemini for recipe ideas using those ingredients. The assistant offers a few options and briefly explains how to make them. You can do the same for making cocktails. Similarly, if you're making meal plans for the week, you can ask Gemini to help. It gives you a sample plan for each day. If you use Gemini Live, you can take out anything you don't like. Not all of it will suit, but it's great for inspiration. Another way I use Gemini is to find activities, restaurants, and bars to visit on the weekend. Having a two-way conversation means you can narrow things down to exactly what you're looking for, allowing Gemini to describe a few options, including information on the menu, location, and vibe. 1 Creating checklists Don't forget anything important Close Gemini can help create checklists, whether it's a to-do list from your spouse's text message or a packing list before you go on holiday. I use this feature when I'm in a rush so that I won't forget anything important. The last time I went on a weekend getaway, I asked Gemini to help me pack. It came up with a comprehensive list of items split into sections like clothing, electronics, toiletries, and more. It also made clever suggestions I wouldn't have thought of, like earplugs and an eye mask. Are there limitations to Gemini? Gemini is a new tool, so it's not always accurate. It occasionally misunderstands you, and there is a risk that some of its answers aren't entirely true, which is worth remembering if you use it for anything serious like studying or working. Still, it works well most of the time, and this AI chatbot is improving and learning all the time. Google has access to Gemini user data for three years after its input. While it's not associated with specific individuals, avoid sharing sensitive or confidential information with the chatbot. Get to know Gemini a little better If you have an Android phone, you should use Google's Gemini chatbot. It's a clever tool with loads of uses. Find answers to your questions, create images, compose messages, summarize documents and web pages, translate text, plan your week, get recommendations, organize your schedule, and more. When you get to know Gemini, you'll find your own way of incorporating it into your life. Gemini is available for any smartphone running Android 10 or later. It's available in the Google Play Store and you can download it for iOS from the Apple App Store. If you use a PC, there's a browser version of Gemini. Plus, a Google One membership gives you access to Gemini across the entire Google Workspace, including Google Docs, Slides, and Gmail, and unlocks Gemini Advanced and 2TB of Google Drive storage. The subscription costs $19.99 per month in the US, and students can get it for $9.99 per month. Related 6 things I had no idea Gemini could do Google Gemini just got even more useful for me Posts 29

The 5 Best Google Gemini Features You Must Try

This Browser Will Soon Feature an AI Agent That Can Accomplish Tasks for You Google Gemini is packed with powerful AI features, and some of them feel almost magical. From shopping recommendations and summarizing YouTube videos to planning your next trip, Gemini can be a great help with many of your daily tasks. 5 Add Images to Your Prompt While Google Gemini excels at answering text-based queries, sometimes words alone aren't enough to convey what you're looking for. If you're trying to identify an object, analyze a complex diagram, or find design inspiration, adding an image to your prompt can help provide valuable context and lead to a more precise and relevant response. You can add an image from your camera or gallery along with your query, and Gemini will analyze it to generate useful insights. For example, you can upload a picture of a product to identify it, share a photo of a math problem for step-by-step solutions, or submit an image of a product to receive shopping recommendations. Close 4 Ask About What's on Your Screen With Gemini on Android, you can ask the AI assistant to check what's on your screen and ask questions about it. For instance, if you're reading an article in Chrome, you can ask Gemini to summarize key points, provide additional context, or even verify facts. Gemini can also analyze images on your screen. So when viewing a photo, it can identify objects and landmarks instantly. This is much more convenient than using Google Lens, as Gemini provides direct answers and even allows you to ask follow-up questions. Close Further, if you're watching a long YouTube video, you can ask Gemini to summarize it for you or even ask specific questions. This is great for quickly understanding lengthy content without having to watch the entire video. Close 3 Access Information From Your Google Apps One of Google Gemini's standout features is its seamless integration with Google Workspace apps. By enabling Gemini extensions, you can ask Gemini to retrieve information from apps like Gmail, Docs, Drive, Calendar, and more. This way, you can interact with your Google apps without opening them. Need a quick summary of your unread emails? Just ask Gemini. Want to know when your next meeting is? Gemini can check your calendar and provide the details instantly. You can even ask Gemini to proofread a Google Docs document or find information from your notes in Google Keep -- all with a simple text prompt. If you're into Google's suite of apps, this feature alone is the reason to use Gemini over ChatGPT. Close 2 Use Gemini to Plan Your Next Trip Gemini's integration with Google apps extends beyond Workspace tools -- it also works seamlessly with Google Maps, Google Hotels, and Google Flights, making travel planning effortless. To get started, you need to enable Google Flights, Google Hotels, and Google Maps toggles in the Gemini Extensions menu. Once activated, you can ask Gemini to find flight prices, check hotel availability, or determine the best route from the airport to your destination. If you're exploring a new city, you can use its Google Maps integration to find the nearest restaurants, must-visit attractions, or scenic routes for a road trip. One major advantage of using Gemini for trip planning is that you can ask other related questions while doing all this. For example, you can check the weather at your destination and even get packing suggestions based on the forecast. Close 1 Talk With Gemini Gemini Live is one of the best AI chatbot voice modes that allows you to have natural, free-flowing conversations instead of typing your queries. All you have to do is tap the Live button in the Gemini app and start talking. You can then ask about a recent football game, get anniversary gift ideas, or even brainstorm creative projects -- all without lifting a finger. It's almost like chatting with a helpful friend who always has the right answer. The best part? Gemini keeps the conversation going even in the background, so you can continue talking to it while using other apps. You can even lock your phone and continue talking without interruption, making it a truly hands-free and seamless experience. Close All in all, Gemini offers several useful features that can genuinely enhance your daily life. Plus, all these features are available for free -- so why not make the most of them? Try these tools out and see how they can boost your productivity.

Having Google Gemini on my phone is a game-changer -- 9 prompts to try first

Having an AI assistant like Google Gemini in your pocket transforms how you approach everyday challenges and questions. While many people use AI for simple searches, its real power comes from understanding how to craft prompts that deliver exactly what you need. After experimenting with Gemini on my phone, I've discovered it can handle everything from travel planning to home repairs, often providing better results than traditional Google searches. Whether you're troubleshooting a plant problem, planning a trip, or simply curious about something obscure, the right prompt can save you significant time and effort. Here are nine practical prompts to try first when using Gemini on your phone. As you explore these Gemini prompts, you might want to try other AI tools. Check out How to use NotebookLM -- Google's AI research assistant for research projects, or see how I used Claude's new AI model to design my dream home for creative inspiration. And if you're considering browser alternatives, explore how to replace Google with ChatGPT -- try these 5 easy steps.

How to create Google Gemini Gems

AI Chatbots are widely adopted tools available on platforms ranging from small smartphones to high-performance workstations. Despite being general-purpose, large language models can be customized for specific applications. Gemini Gems come into play here. This guide details how to set up a custom Gemini chatbot and outlines the best practices for instructing it. Step-by-step guide to building a custom Gemini chatbot You can create custom Gemini Gems using the Gemini web app, but you'll need to upgrade your personal Google Accounts to Gemini Advanced. Contact your Google Workspace administrator to set up Gemini Advanced for work or school accounts. When you have access, follow this framework to build a Gemini gem: Open gemini.google.com. Click Gem manager in the lower-left corner. Select New Gem. Name your Gem and write clear, structured instructions for it to follow. Enter a prompt on the right side to preview how Gem responds. Click Save and finalize your Gem. How to write clear and structured instructions for Gemini Gems Well-structured Gemini Gem instructions customize responses to your preferences. Define the persona, task, context, and format to generate relevant outputs. The following breakdown details each component and its effective use. Choosing the right persona and tone for your Gemini Gem Persona defines Gemini's response style. Specify whether it acts as a professional expert, friendly assistant, or creative writer. This choice sets the tone: formal, conversational, technical, or entertaining. For example, instruct Gemini to explain complex topics as a mentor or offer engaging explanations as a blogger. Setting up clear objectives for your Gemini chatbot Outline your objective to guide Gemini's response. Specify whether you need a summarization, rewrite, analysis, step-by-step guidance, or creative content generation. Adding relevant context to improve Gemini's accuracy Provide context so Gemini understands your request. Include background details such as audience type, industry specifics, technical constraints, or style guides. Format Gemini's responses for better readability Define the format to structure responses as expected. To improve readability, specify bullet points, numbered lists, tables, short paragraphs, or word limits. Related Google Gemini vs. Gemini Advanced: All the key differences explained What can Gemini Advanced do better and is it worth the price? Posts How to improve Gemini's responses with document uploads Upload files to give Gemini Gem access to documents and refine its responses. When uploaded, Gemini can summarize reports, PDFs, and research papers; analyze spreadsheets and tabular data; extract details from legal documents, contracts, or technical papers; and generate content based on provided guidelines. You can upload up to 10 files at a time, each up to 100 MB, or a code folder with up to 1,000 files totaling 100 MB. Ensure files are in a compatible format before uploading. Plain text files .txt Code files .c, .cpp, .py, .java, .php, .sql, .html Document files .doc, .docx, .pdf, .rtf, .dot, .dotx, .hwp, .hwpx Google Docs & Sheets Documents and spreadsheets in Google Drive Tabular data files .csv, .tsv Spreadsheet files .xls, .xlsx Follow these steps to add files from your device or Google Drive. Click Upload files in the Gemini interface. Select up to 10 files from your local storage. Confirm the upload. To add files from Google Drive: Click Drive in the Gemini interface. Turn on Gemini Apps Activity for integration. Select and confirm the document. If Google Workspace is not connected, activate it when prompted for file access. How Gemini can improve your chatbot instructions If you need to improve Gem instructions, use Gemini. When creating a new Gem or duplicating an existing one, click the magic wand icon at the bottom of the text box to rewrite and expand your instructions. According to Deven Tokuno, the product lead for Gemini Gems: Not only does it craft comprehensive instructions, but it also helps them learn how to write like a prompt engineer, showcasing what good instructions look like. It's a great way to get inspiration -- and if you don't like it, you can undo it or edit it. For example, if the draft instruction is "Help me write a blog post," the magic wand can turn it into the following: Purpose and goals: Create engaging, well-structured blog posts on diverse topics. Guide users through brainstorming, drafting, and editing. Provide suggestions to improve style and structure. Initial inquiry: Greet the user and express readiness to help. Ask for the blog post topic. Offer topic suggestions if the user is uncertain. Inquire about the target audience and purpose (for example, inform, entertain, persuade). Brainstorming and outlining: Assist with idea generation and outline development. Recommend relevant subtopics, supporting points, or anecdotes. Drafting and editing: Help draft the initial blog post. Provide tips on grammar, style, and sentence structure. Identify and correct errors or inconsistencies. Prompt revisions until the final product is complete. Overall tone: Maintain a supportive tone. Offer constructive feedback to improve writing skills. Related How to use Google Gemini to create home automations Turn your home automation ideas into reality with a few words Posts 2 Modifying existing Gemini Gems to meet your needs If you're new to the platform, begin with pre-made Gemini Gems instead of creating one from scratch. If a pre-made Gem nearly meets your needs but requires adjustments, copy it and customize the instructions. Explore pre-built Gemini Gems designed for everyday tasks, such as Brainstormer, Career Guide, Coding Partner, Learning Coach, and Writing Editor. Access these Gems in Gemini's left panel under Gems or in the Gem manager. Experiment and refine your Gemini Gems over time Your Gemini Gems can be refined over time. Update them based on your experience. Experiment with different instructions and provide feedback to improve performance. This iterative approach reveals new features you had no idea were possible. Related How to remove your recent activity from Google Gemini Wipe it from the app and website Posts