Gemini
Ask a research question and get an answer with real sources.
~15 min read + 10 min hands-on1 Why this tool matters
Gemini is Google's answer to ChatGPT, and it has two advantages that matter in practice: it is connected to live Google Search (so it handles current events competently), and it integrates directly into Gmail, Docs, and Sheets if you use Workspace. For anything where you need recent information, Gemini will often beat the pre-trained competition.
2 Walkthrough
- Go to gemini.google.com and sign in with your Google account.
- Ask: What are the three most important developments in solar panel efficiency in the past 12 months? Cite the sources inline.
- Notice the linked sources at the bottom of the response.
- Click one source to verify the claim. This is the “trust but verify” habit.
- Follow up with: Rewrite that as a two-paragraph briefing I could forward to my boss.
3 Your turn
Today’s exercise
Think of a question a colleague asked you recently where you had to say “let me get back to you.” Ask Gemini. Check the sources. Send the answer with citations — and with credit to yourself for knowing which tool to reach for.
4 Pro tip
In Google Docs, Help me write now uses Gemini under the hood. The most-overlooked command is “tone · make it more formal” — a two-second fix for any draft.