We are firmly in the artificial intelligence (AI) era. What began as a niche field of research is quickly transforming how we live and work every day. Today’s AI tools can create images, transcribe calls, summarize articles, code programs, or even compose music—and that’s just scratching the surface.
The world’s biggest tech companies—and a slew of newer competitors—are pouring tens of billions of dollars into an AI arms race expected to top $1.8 trillion by 2030. One example is Google parent Alphabet, which has pivoted much of its investments toward generative AI and asserts it will continue to be an AI-first company. Enter Google Gemini.
Google applies the Gemini branding widely on chatbots, AI models, Google Assistant, mobile apps, and AI features across Google services.This article covers the Gemini chatbot feature, which the company first rolled out as Google Bard in March 2023.
What is Google Gemini?
Gemini (formerly Google Bard) is Google’s conversational AI chatbot. It’s Google’s answer to popular competitors like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Claude.
Gemini runs on Google’s family of multimodal AI models. Unlike earlier iterations of large language models (LLMs) that could only understand and generate text, multimodal models work across other mediums like images, audio, and video.
For example, say you’re out for a walk and pass unfamiliar flowers you’d like to plant in your garden. To identify the flowers, you take a picture and ask Gemini, “What kind of flowers are these?” and get a precise answer with helpful links.
Why was Bard renamed Gemini?
Google renamed its Bard chatbot Gemini in February 2024, citing a desire to bring its AI offerings under a singular brand identity rather than a disparate mix of names and projects. Gemini was already the name of Bard’s underlying LLM.
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai explains why Google aligned the user-facing chatbot with the underlying AI modelin an interview with CNBC:
“Gemini is our approach overall in terms of how we are building our most capable and safe and responsible AI models; it’s the frontier of the technology we are pushing along. Bard was the most direct way people could interact with our models. So, it made sense to evolve it to be Gemini, because they’re actually talking directly to the underlying Gemini model when using it.”
The Gemini rebranding was also a response to ChatGPT’s rise in popularity and a brand perception reset after Bard’s notable hallucination error resulted in a $100 billion drop in Alphabet’s market value.
The name Gemini itself refers to the constellation, whose associated zodiac sign signifies the ability to quickly adapt, connect with people, and see multiple perspectives, according to Google.
How does Google Gemini work?
Google DeepMind, an AI research lab within Google, designed Gemini LLMs using a machine learning technique called mixture of experts (MoE). Gemini was trained on extensive multimodal data—text, images, audio, and more—and uses natural language processing to respond to multiformat prompts in naturalistic, human ways.
Google’s approach to multimodality gives Gemini better conceptual and complex reasoning than traditional multimodal programming, the company claims. This brings it closer to the ultimate goal of AI research: simulating human-like intelligence.
Gemini has a free tier for entry-level users and an advanced subscription for $20 per month that provides access to advanced models and features. As with any AI tool, use Gemini as a starting point and fact-check all output, because it may contain errors, inconsistencies, or outdated information.
Ways to use Google Gemini
- Product research
- Manage tasks
- Generate images and copy
- Answer questions
- Market research
- Analyze data
- Optimize inventory
- Customer support
Google Gemini can boost personal productivity, research business questions, or create effective marketing ideas. Here are some practical ways to use Gemini for your business:
Product research
Gemini is a powerful tool for product research, whether starting a small business or exploring new product lines. Ask Gemini to analyze Google Trends data to understand consumer interest, pain points, and search volume in your industry to help you define your ideal customer profile and find new product opportunities.
Manage tasks
Gemini can manage your day-to-day administrative work through integrations with Google Workspace apps like Gmail and Google Calendar. It can understand and adjust your inbox and schedule, and write a to-do list for your needs. For example, Gemini can follow up on emails, reschedule meetings, or prioritize your agenda.
Generate images and copy
Use Gemini as the content creation engine for your business. Not only can Gemini generate content ideas, it can also quickly produce both text and images to execute on those ideas. Ask Gemini to write product descriptions or use its image-generationcapabilities to drive your content marketing campaigns.
Answer questions
Gemini adds to Google Search capabilities by remembering what you’ve already asked, building context around your questions, and providing depth to its answers. Google appusers can also use a “Talk Live with Gemini” feature to have real-time, natural voice conversations—no repeated “Hey, Google” voice prompts needed. Ask Gemini common entrepreneurial questions about how to start a business, ways to measure success, and what EBITDA is.
Market research
Recently, Google introduced a Deep Research feature for its paid Gemini Advanced subscription tier. Deep Research browses all available online information, continuously refines its analysis, starts new searches based on what it learns, and then summarizes key findings in a comprehensive report. Use Deep Research to conduct market research like competitive audits, consumer sentiment surveys, and industry analyses.
Analyze data
Gemini’s integration with Google Sheets lets it understand your spreadsheet data and helps you draw conclusions on everything from product inventory to expense reports and invoices. Similarly, use Gemini to analyze raw data from Google Analytics and generate high-level marketing reports and data visualizations in multiple formats.
Optimize inventory
Gemini can analyze data to forecast customer demand, seasonality, or market trends. Use these clear, data-informed projections to optimize your inventory management—preventing dead stock and improving order fulfillment.
Customer support
Use the Gemini app to answer questions from your customers and provide comprehensive customer support. It can proactively develop relevant FAQ answers, transcribe customer service calls, spot trends, summarize common issues, and help you quickly draft responses to multiple inquiries.
Google Gemini FAQ
What is Gemini AI best for?
Because of its native integrations, Google Gemini is best for users and organizations that run on Googleapps like Gmail and Google Docs, Sheets, and Drive.
What is the difference between Google Bard and Gemini?
Google Bard rebranded as Gemini in February 2024, retaining and expanding Bard’s capabilities.
What is Gemini Nano?
Different versions of Gemini run on different devices and tiers. Gemini Nano is a comparatively smaller model built into newer Android devices. Gemini Pro and Google’s newest experimental AI, Gemini 2.0 Flash, are available via Google AI Studio and Google Cloud Vertex AI.
What is the difference between Gemini and ChatGPT?
Gemini and ChatGPT run on comparable multimodal AI models, and their overall capabilities are similar. ChatGPT favors conversational, creative responses, while Gemini aims for more informative output.
