These 7 Simple Tech Adjustments Drastically Improved My Quality of Life Quick LinksWriting Formulas Creating Tables Conditional Formatting Data Analysis Image Generation The Bottom Line
Gemini's integration with Google Sheets promises to revolutionize how we use spreadsheets, especially when dealing with formulas, calculations, and all that math-heavy stuff. You'd think that having AI at your disposal would change the game for good. No more tedious manual entries, endless formula adjustments, or explaining what's in your cells.
Since Gemini in Google Sheets provides a text box, you can ask it to do just about anything. But what can it actually do, and where does it fall short?
1 Writing Formulas
Formulas are the heartbeat of any spreadsheet, and the first question I had was whether Gemini could handle the complexity of real-world formula building. The answer: it can, and it's surprisingly good at it. Nested IF formulas, for example, can quickly turn into a nightmare, but Gemini takes the wheel like a pro.
I had a scenario with multiple conditions, where I needed a formula to output specific results based on those conditions. Instead of writing the formula myself, I simply asked Gemini.
Seconds later, it delivered an accurate formula that accounted for my rows and columns perfectly. No tweaks, no manual adjustments -- just a straightforward copy-and-paste job. Gemini's formula skills are so reliable that, honestly, you might as well retire from writing formulas yourself and leave it all to Gemini.
2 Creating Tables
Data tables in Google Sheets offer an efficient way to organize and display information, bundling rows and columns with headers for clarity. But could Gemini assist in building them? Yes, and it does so effortlessly.
Let's say I'm planning an event and need a table to organize guest names, accommodations, and drink preferences. Instead of manually entering each detail, I asked Gemini to generate it.
Within moments, I had a fully populated table. All I had to do was click Insert, and it was done. This saves a lot of time, especially when you're just creating proof-of-concept tables. While not revolutionary, it makes a traditionally boring task a lot more bearable.
3 Conditional Formatting
Google Sheets' conditional formatting can make or break a good spreadsheet, helping you highlight key data points automatically. But here's where Gemini stumbles. While it can understand and suggest what needs to be done, it can't execute the setup for you.
The task still falls on your shoulders -- clicking through menus, defining rules, and specifying ranges. In this case, Gemini's help is more theoretical than practical, leaving you to do the bulk of the work.
4 Data Analysis
The ultimate goal of any spreadsheet is to help with data analysis, so I had high hopes for Gemini in this department. In an ideal world, it would analyze your data, point out trends, and make insightful suggestions.
Gemini already gives you a summary of the spreadsheet you're looking at, but what I'm really interested in are specific answers about the data. I want Gemini to provide direct insights, not just instructions on how to find those insights myself.
When I asked a pointed question -- "Which content type has the highest fee?" -- the AI only provided a formula rather than the result. It seems Gemini can guide you toward analysis, but it won't do the actual heavy lifting. You're still in charge of running the numbers.
5 Image Generation
Strangely, Gemini also offers image generation within Google Sheets, a feature that feels like a head-scratcher in this context. Sure, it works as intended -- you type in a prompt, and Gemini gives you an image -- but it's hard to imagine a real use case.
For example, I asked it to generate an image of "a cat presenting a product proposal," and while the result was amusing, I couldn't figure out why anyone would need this in a spreadsheet.
Google Sheets even encourages you to try this out (there's a tip telling you to), but unless you're spicing up your charts with random images, it's more gimmick than game-changer.
6 The Bottom Line
So, is Gemini in Google Sheets more than just a gimmick? Kind of. It excels in formula generation, can create tables quickly, and offers quirky, albeit unnecessary, image generation. However, it's far from a fully integrated AI assistant, falling short when it comes to conditional formatting and meaningful data analysis. In its current form, Gemini feels like a promising first step toward smarter spreadsheets -- but for now, it's more of a handy tool than a total transformation.
