How to Master Gemini: Your Step-by-Step Setup Guide

Editor's Note: Google announced on February 8, 2024 that Duet AI and Bard will be moved under the Gemini product umbrella. This blog has been updated to reflect the new branding. 

Generative AI is transforming how we interact with technology. As a pioneer in the artificial intelligence space, Google's latest product, Gemini for Google Workspace (formerly Duet AI) and for Google Cloud, injects generative AI into your existing Workspace and Cloud products seamlessly and intuitively.

With language capabilities and deep integration across Google services, Gemini acts as a helpful AI companion for work and life. With Gemini's help, you can quickly draft emails, generate summaries of documents, and create presentations, freeing up your time to focus on more strategic tasks.

Introduction to Gemini

As mentioned, Google Gemini is a powerful AI-powered collaborator available within Google Workspace and across Google Cloud. This generative AI is designed to help you work more efficiently and get more done, faster. Here's a breakdown of its functionalities.

For Google Workspace

• Drafts and refines emails: Gemini can help you write emails more quickly and effectively by suggesting words and phrases, completing sentences, and summarizing information.
• Generates plans for projects: Create project plans directly within Google Sheets. Gemini can analyze your data and suggest actions, timelines, and resources needed to complete your project.
• Creates images: Generate unique and relevant images directly within Google Slides to enhance your presentations.
• Summarizes emails and documents: Get a quick overview of the important information in your emails and documents without having to read them all the way through.

For Google Cloud

• Completes code while you write: Gemini can suggest code snippets and automatically complete your code based on your input.
• Generates code blocks from comments: Simply write a comment explaining what you want your code to do, and Gemini will generate the code for you.
• Helps you call APIs: Get documentation and examples for APIs you're using and easily call them from within your IDE.
• Answers your technical questions: Gemini can answer your questions about Google Cloud products and services, helping you learn and troubleshoot issues more quickly.

Overall Benefits

• Increased Productivity: Get more done in less time by automating repetitive tasks and getting help with projects.
• Improved Accuracy: Reduce errors and typos with AI-powered suggestions and corrections.
• Enhanced Creativity: Generate new ideas and explore different possibilities with AI-powered assistance.
• Personalized Experience: Gemini adapts to your individual workflow and preferences to provide the most helpful assistance possible.

With its wide range of capabilities, Gemini can help us be more productive, learn new things, and stay connected.

Let's look at how to get started.

Setting Up Google Gemini

Setting up Google Gemini depends on whether you want to use it with Google Workspace or Google Cloud:

For Google Workspace

1. Ensure you have an eligible Google Workspace plan. Currently, Gemini is available for Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, and Teaching & Learning Upgrade plans.
2. Check if Gemini is enabled for your domain. You can contact your Google Workspace administrator to confirm if Gemini has been enabled for your domain.
3. Update your Google Workspace apps. Make sure you have the latest versions of Gmail, Google Docs, Google Slides, and Google Sheets installed to access Gemini features.
4. Start using Gemini features. You'll find Gemini features within the respective Google Workspace apps. For example, in Gmail, you'll find suggestions for email drafts and replies.
5. If Gemini is not enabled for your domain, contact the Promevo team to discuss next steps and ensure your Google Workspace plan has the Gemini add-on.

For Google Cloud

Gemini for Google Cloud is currently only available in Preview, but if you're curious about Gemini and want to talk to a Google expert, contact the Promevo team.

Explore resources like Gemini documentation and introducing Gemini for Workspace to learn more. Remember, Gemini is still in beta, so some features and functionality may be limited or under development.

Integrating Gemini with Your Google Account

Linking Gemini with your Google account and services enables deeper integration for a more personalized experience. Let's explore how Gemini integrates with popular Workspace applications.

Gmail

• Draft and refine emails: Gemini can suggest words and phrases, complete sentences, and summarize information to help you write emails faster and more effectively.
• Create new versions of text: If you want Gemini to rewrite text it provided, you can use commands like "Shorten" and "Elaborate" to do so.

Google Meet

• Create background images: In Google Meet, you can use Gemini's "generate a background" prompt to create background images, such as a forest or beach.
• Use translated captions: Gemini can translate captions in real-time in Meet if you have meetings where multiple languages are being spoken.
• Look your best: Gemini helps you look your best with studio look, which turns low-quality images into studio quality.

Google Docs

• Get writing help: You can prompt Gemini to help you write by giving it a prompt using the "help me write" feature. You can also use it to rewrite existing text to be more detailed or concise.
• Improve writing style and clarity: This generative AI can suggest corrections and improvements to your writing style and clarity.

Google Sheets

• Organize tables: You can enable Gemini to create tables based on prompts. For example, you can use the "help me organize" feature to draft a task tracker.
• Use enhanced smart fill: In Sheets, you can use the "Smart Fill" suggestions to make manual text processing tasks easier by using Gemini to predict the remaining values of incomplete columns. This allows them to be instantly filled.

Google Slides

• Create original images from text descriptions: Generate unique and relevant images directly within Slides to enhance your presentations.
• Provide feedback: You can give Gemini feedback to let it know if it provided a good or bad suggestion, and then you can adjust prompts to get the image you want.
• Suggest layouts and design elements: Gemini can suggest layouts and design elements for your slides, saving you time and effort.

These are just a few examples of how Gemini integrates with various Google Workspace apps to help enhance productivity and streamline your workflow. The specific features and functionalities available may vary depending on the app and your Google Workspace plan.

Troubleshooting Google Gemini

In rare cases, Gemini may malfunction. If this happens, here are some troubleshooting tips:

• Error Messages: Carefully read any error messages and follow prompts to resolve them.
• Slow Responses: This usually indicates a bad connection. Try switching networks.
• Unavailable Servers: During downtime, be patient as engineers work to restore operations.
• Resetting Gemini: As a last resort, reset Gemini in your account settings if incorrectly configured.

Fortunately, Gemini rarely has major issues. But if problems arise, these steps can get the assistant working again smoothly. Remember, you can always count on Google experts, like the team at Promevo, to get the Google help you need.

Get the Most from Google with Promevo

Whether you're looking to harness Gemini for improved security management or you want to get more out of your existing Google subscription, Promevo can help.

As a certified Google partner, we provide end-to-end support with all things Google, from setting up Workspace to integrating tools like Gemini. Our team helps you fully leverage Google's capabilities to reinvent the way you operate and drive business growth.

With Promevo as your partner, you can tap into our deep expertise across the Google platform to tailor solutions for your specific needs. We can assist with setup, integration, and ongoing optimization to help you maximize the value of products like Gemini.

Promevo's sole focus is on Google solutions, and we provide specialized expertise to help clients maximize success at every stage of their Google journey. Contact us today to get started.

FAQs: Mastering Gemini

What if I don't have the supported Workspace subscription for Gemini?

If your current Workspace subscription does not support Gemini, you'll need to switch to a version that does. The team at Promevo can help you complete this process.

What is the primary focus of Google Gemini?

The primary focus of Google Gemini is to amplify human capabilities and increase productivity across various tasks and workflows. It does this by automating repetitive tasks, offering personalized assistance, enhancing creativity with generative suggestions, and more.

What is the difference between Bard and Duet AI?

Both Bard and Duet AI were large language models (LLMs) developed by Google AI, but they have different primary focuses and functionalities. As of February 8, 2024, Google has announced that the two products will be moved under the Gemini product umbrella. 

Bard was a conversational AI focused on engaging in open-ended, informative conversations with users. It was primarily aimed at individual users who want to access the benefits of AI-powered conversation and content generation.

Duet AI was a generative AI for Workspace. This AI model focused on automating tasks and supporting users within the Google Workspace environment. 

It helped with drafting emails, generating summaries, translating documents, creating presentations, and more. It was designed for businesses and organizations that use Google Workspace to collaborate and work efficiently.