How To Use Gemini

Getting Started (1 minute)

Go to gemini.google.com and sign in with your Google account. That's it - no separate signup needed.
You're in a chat window. Type your question or request in the message box.
Try asking about something in your Google world: "Summarize my last 5 emails about [topic]" (this works if you have Google Workspace connected).
Click the image icon to upload a photo for analysis, or ask Gemini to generate an image for you.

Copy, paste, and fill in the brackets.

Draft an email reply: "Draft a reply to this email that declines the meeting but suggests an alternative time next week. Keep it polite and short: [paste email]"
Plan a trip: "Plan a 3-day trip to [city] for a couple who likes food and architecture. Include specific restaurant names and addresses. Budget: $200/day total."
Research a topic: "I need to understand [topic]. Give me a clear overview: what it is, why it matters, where things stand now, and what's coming next. Include sources where you can."
Analyze a photo: "What's in this image? Describe everything you see, then tell me [your specific question about the image]."
Help me study: "I'm studying for [exam or topic]. Create 10 flashcard-style questions with answers. Make them progressively harder."

Google integration is the real draw. Gemini can access your Gmail, Google Docs, Drive, and Calendar. Ask it to "find that document I wrote last month about marketing" and it searches your Drive. If you live in the Google ecosystem, this is huge.
Try Deep Research mode. Ask Gemini to do "deep research" on any topic - it creates a multi-page report with sources, way more thorough than a regular chat response. Great for making informed decisions.
Use it with NotebookLM. Upload sources to Google NotebookLM, and Gemini can create interactive study guides, FAQs, and even podcast-style audio summaries from your documents.

Accuracy on specific facts. Like every AI tool, Gemini can state incorrect information with confidence. Always cross-reference important claims - especially statistics and dates.
Non-Google users. The best features (Gmail search, Drive integration, Calendar access) only work if you're in the Google ecosystem. If you're a Microsoft or Apple household, you'll miss the best parts.