How it works
Users can type, speak, or upload photos (e.g. a maths problem) to get an explanation and the app can read answers aloud. It can be used as a coach to talk about a problem. However, AI chatbots can confidently present false, inaccurate or incomplete information or advice as it were factual.
A user can:
• Ask Gemini to research and summarise a topic or a long article
• Use ‘Guided Learning’ mode to work towards an answer rather than being given it
• Use ‘Gems’ to chat about specific topics
• Voice chat in real-time using the Gemini Live function
• Share their chat with others by creating a public link
Users can save instructions for Gemini to use in all chats e.g. use plain English. Gemini can be connected to other apps, to draft an email, manage a calendar, play music, find a video or a location on a map. Only creating images when necessary helps reduce the environmental impact of AI models.
Parental controls or safety settings available
Gemini has no built-in parental controls and it cannot be used by under 13’s or children with supervised Google Accounts in the UK. Children with an unsupervised Google account aged 13-17 can use Gemini, which automatically applies some safety settings such as blocking identified harmful content. A user can report harmful content on the app. They can either store their chats for later reference, or prevent Google from using these chats to train its AI models, but can’t do both unless they have a paid business account. A user can start a temporary chat which is not used for training or saved.
Anyone can access a guest browser version of Gemini without logging in. This includes standard filters for explicit content.
