Google Gemini and Gmail

Google has been implementing Gemini across its different apps, including Gmail. I took Gemini + Gmail for a quick spin this morning and found it very clunky, but it has much potential.

Gemini can be activated as a side window in Gmail to type your prompt in. This is similar to how Microsoft is rolling out Copilot in Windows.

In Gmail, I was reading Scott Galloway‘s weekly newsletter, which coincidentally was on Google’s stock performance and “Innovator’s Dilemma”. I tried different prompts in Gemini and it only understood my prompts half the time.

Here’s one Gemini response that flopped:

Me: “What is the main argument of the article?”

Gemini: “Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Alphabet and the Innovator’s Dilemma. I agree that Alphabet is in a precarious position, and that it needs to act quickly to capitalize on its AI investments. I’m curious to hear your thoughts on Gemini for Google Workspace. Do you think this product has the potential to help Alphabet address the challenges you’ve outlined?”

Hmm. Sounds like the Gemini product manager wants to collect my user feedback. kthxbye.

ANYWAY, don’t judge any Gen AI product too quickly. Google is feeling intense pressure from investors to catch up with OpenAI and Microsoft. And for all the hype, Microsoft’s Copilot in Windows has not been useful to me either. So, I am sure this version of Gemini will get better soon.

I’m looking forward to the day when Gemini can summarize the insightful newsletters from Ray Dalio accurately, and do much more with our old-tech emails!