Introduction

Google’s Gemini app is an AI assistant that can help you with a variety of tasks. It’s similar to tools like ChatGPT and Claude. You can use it to brainstorm ideas, get help with planning, create engaging images, and ask questions to speed up time-consuming tasks.

You interact with Gemini through chat conversations. You give Gemini prompts (messages or instructions), and it will respond. Writing prompts that get good responses can take a little practice. See the prompting guide for techniques and tips.

Gemini app vs Gemini in Workspace

You’ll encounter Gemini in two places:

• The Gemini app (gemini.google.com): a standalone AI assistant where you have a full conversation interface, choose from different tools and models, and can work on any topic freely. This is what this guide covers.
• Gemini in Workspace apps: Gemini is built directly into Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive. It appears as a side panel or “Help me write” button, and works in the context of the document or email you already have open.

Use the Gemini app for open-ended tasks: brainstorming, researching a topic, or generating a first draft from scratch. Use Gemini inside a Workspace app when you’re already working on something and want help with it.

Get to know Gemini

Go to gemini.google.com and sign in with your school Google account to get started.

The most important part of the Gemini app is the prompt input area. That’s where you type your instructions, followed by Enter to submit them to Gemini.

Add files

Click on the “+” to add files to your chat, including straight from Google Drive. You can also drag and drop files from your computer onto the prompt input area.

Gemini will examine files you add, and you can reference them in your prompt.

Choose a model

The model you select affects both the quality and speed of responses and the available tools. In general:

• Fast is the default, with quick responses making it great for everyday tasks.
• Thinking can be better at solving complex problems and may generate higher-quality content, but it will respond more slowly.
• Pro spends the most time thinking, making it great for working on complex problems. You’ll get the highest quality, but you’ll have to wait a little longer.

Use tools

You can select a tool to tell Gemini you’d like to use one of its specialised capabilities.

Guided Learning

The guided learning tool turns Gemini into an online tutor. Give it a topic or concept you’d like to learn about.

Learn how to use learning tools with Gemini.

Create image

Gemini can generate images from text descriptions, edit existing images, or combine elements from multiple images.

Learn how to create and edit images with Gemini

Canvas

Canvas provides a side-by-side workspace for you and Gemini to collaborate on drafting and refining documents and presentations.

After using Canvas to create a document, you can import it straight into Docs or Slides.

Learn about using Gemini with Canvas.

Deep research

Deep Research enables Gemini to explore a topic in depth, producing a structured report that draws on multiple sources.

Learn how to use Deep Research.

Create music

Gemini can create custom music tracks for you; just describe what you’d like to hear. The “Fast” model creates short clips (around 30 seconds); “Thinking” and “Pro” can create longer tracks (up to three minutes).

Learn how to generate music with Gemini.

Additional features

Gemini has additional capabilities beyond the tools menu.

Audio overviews

Gemini can turn text or documents into spoken audio summaries—useful for reviewing content on the go. To create an audio summary, ask! For example:

Create an audio overview of this document

Learn about creating audio overviews with Gemini.

Create illustrated storybooks

Gemini can write and illustrate short storybooks—great for engaging younger pupils or creating custom reading material.

Learn how to create storybooks with Gemini.

Connect Gemini to Workspace

You can connect Gemini to Google Workspace.

1. Go to Settings > Apps
2. Toggle “Google Workspace” on

Step-by-step guide

Once connected, Gemini can interact with your Gmail, Drive, Docs, Calendar, Keep, and Tasks.

• “Summarise the emails I received today”
• “Add a task to review my notes at 15:35 tomorrow”

Gems

Gems are custom versions of Gemini. You give each Gem a set of instructions and optional reference documents, so every new chat with that Gem starts with that context already loaded.

Once you’ve made a Gem, you can share it with colleagues so they can use it too.

If you find yourself using similar prompts over and over again, consider creating a Gem. They’re also a great way to “package” a complex prompt, or prompts that rely on files for reference information, so you can easily reuse them.

Google has some pre-made Gems you can copy to see how they work—for example, the “Career guide” Gem.

Learn how to create custom Gems.

When to use other tools

Gemini is a strong starting point for most tasks, but some tasks are better handled by more specialist tools:

• NotebookLM: when you need answers grounded in a fixed set of documents (e.g. policies, sets of resources, a unit of work). NotebookLM cites its responses against the sources you provide, making it more reliable than Gemini for detailed factual queries about specific content.
• Google Vids: when you need to create or edit a video. Vids is purpose-built for video production and includes AI voiceover, clip generation, and recording tools.