What is Google Gemini and what can it do?

Gemini is the name Google uses for both its family of AI models and the AI assistant built on them. It replaced Bard as Google's main chatbot and has gradually taken over many of the jobs Google Assistant used to do on Android phones.

As an assistant, Gemini does what you would expect from a modern AI chatbot. It can answer questions, write and edit text, summarise documents, explain concepts, help with code, analyse images and generate pictures. Gemini was designed from the start to be multimodal, meaning it can work with text, images, audio and video together. You can show it a photo of a broken appliance part or a maths problem and ask what to do.

Gemini's real advantage is its connection to Google's ecosystem. With your permission, it can work with Gmail, Google Docs, Drive, Calendar, Maps and YouTube. That allows requests such as "summarise the emails from my child's school this week," "find the invoice PDF a client sent last month" or "plan a route to these three places." For people who already use Google services every day, this integration can save a lot of time.

You can use Gemini in several places:

1. The website gemini.google.com and the Gemini app on Android and iPhone.
2. On many Android phones, as the default assistant you call up with a button press or voice.
3. Inside Google Workspace apps such as Gmail, Docs and Sheets, depending on your plan.
4. Through Google Search, where AI-generated overviews are powered by Gemini models.
5. For developers, through Google AI Studio and Google Cloud.

Gemini has a free version, and Google sells paid AI plans that bundle more capable models, higher limits, extra features and additional cloud storage. Business users can get Gemini through Google Workspace plans. Plans change, so check Google's site for current options.

A few cautions apply. Like any AI, Gemini can make mistakes, so verify important details. Also review your Gemini activity settings, which control whether your chats are saved and used to improve Google's products. If you connect Gmail or Drive, be thoughtful about what you ask it to search.

If you are a heavy Google user, Gemini is probably the most convenient assistant for you because it works right where your emails and files already live.