Newsletter
The latest generation of Google’s AI is here, as the company launched Gemini. It, in many ways, succeeds Bard, and it’s meant to be a proper competitor to OpenAI’s GPT-4. If you’ve been following this model’s development, then you should be excited to sink your teeth into it. Well, if you don’t know how, then here’s how to access Gemini.
[Update: As of May 2024, the most powerful version of Gemini is Gemini 1.5 Pro, and it’s available to most users.]
At this stage, there’s more than one way to try out this model, but not all of them are available. As of December 2023, the most advanced version of Gemini isn’t available to the public. This article will be updated when it’s available. For the time being, two of the three versions of the model are accessible for you to use.
Also, at the time of writing this article, Gemini is still new. Google will most likely make the model accessible from more sources as time goes on. Be sure to check back to see if there are any additional ways to access it.
How to access Google Gemini
It’s time to take your AI to the next level, and you think that Gemini is the way to do so. It’s a leap over Bard, and it could be just what your business needs to become more streamlined. So, how do you gain access to this powerful model? There are a few ways that you can access it right now.
Before we get started, it’s important to know that there are three versions of Gemini. The largest and most capable version is called Gemini Ultra. This is the high-octane enterprise-level AI solution that major companies are going to be using.
Below that, there’s Gemini Pro, which is a great middle ground. It’s powerful (more powerful than Bard), and it should be perfect for startups and independent users.
Lastly, the smallest version is called Gemini Nano. This version is perfect for on-device computations, so it’s much smaller in scale compared to the others.
Through the Pixel 8 Pro
This might surprise you, but one way that you can access Gemini is through the Google Pixel 8 Pro. If you have this phone, then you have access to a version of the model called Gemini Nano. It’s the most compact version of the model, and it’s optimized to fit on a phone. Gemini Nano is designed for on-device computations.
Because it was added to the Pixel 8 Pro, this makes it essentially one of the smartest phones on the market if not the smartest. It runs the Google Tensor G3 chip, which is a chip that’s designed around AI. It already ran some insane AI before Gemini. Now, the company boosted its AI prowess with the new model.
Summarize in Recorder
Now, Gemini Nano will manifest in two key features in the phone right now. Starting off, there’s Summarize in Recorder. When you’re using Google’s voice recorder app, you’ll be able to use the AI on your chip to transcribe your audio recordings. Then, it will use generative AI to create a short and sweet summary of those recordings.
Say, you record a conversation with your friend about a story idea, and it goes on for some time. You can use the tool to give you a quick summary of your conversation and pick up on what ideas you discussed.
Smart Replies
Next, there’s the Smart Reply function. This feature goes through Gboard, and it will suggest replies that you can send to people you’re talking to in your conversations. While a feature like this isn’t entirely new, it will use conversation awareness to get an idea of what you’re talking about. Then, it will suggest the replies based on the conversation.
A list of only two features might sound disappointing, but Gemini just launched. As time goes on, we expect Google to roll out more features that leverage Gemini Nano. If you plan to pick up a Pixel 8, you’ll be able to see these features first-hand.
One thing to note is that more chips are being built with more powerful on-device AI capabilities. There’s no telling if we’ll see Gemini Nano make it to other phones using other chips.
Through the Galaxy S24 series
The Samsung Galaxy S24 phones all come with Gemini Nano loaded onto them. This means that they can all benefit from on-device AI powered by Gemini. Samsung’s over flavor of AI is called Galaxy AI.
These features include real-time text translation and Interpreter mode which lets you have real-time conversations with people who speak different languages.
There are also text generation tools that can help you achieve the proper tone you want when typing with the Samsung keyboard.
At the time of writing this, we can expect more features to come to Galaxy AI as time goes on.
Other Android phones
At the time of writing this article, other OEMs are partnering with Google to implement Gemini Nano into their devices. So, we can expect Gemini to be powering the AI in other phones as time goes on.
Through Google Messages
[Update: As of March 22, 2024, Google is currently rolling this feature out to the beta version of Google Messages. At launch, it will be limited to select Pixel and Galaxy phones. So, availability will vary.]
Another way that you can access Gemini is through Google Messages. Similar to Snapchat’s My AI, you’ll access Gemini through its own dedicated chat conversation. Just like any other chatbot, you’ll type your query into the text field and get your answer in a chat bubble.
With Gemini in Google Messages, you’re able to generate images, generate code, ask for advice, upload images (JPG, PNG, and WebP only), ask for information on nearby locations, etc.
One thing to note is that you will not be able to use Gemini in group chats. If you add Gemini to a group chat, it will just leave the chat.
Through the Gemini app
Google released an official Gemini app for Android and iOS. Just like the service, it’s free to use. The app will be tied to your Google account. So, if you’re signed up for Gemini Advanced on the web, you’ll have access to all of the premium features on the app.
The app also gives you similar settings to what you get on the web. So, you’ll be able to customize your experience.
For Android users, if you have the app, you’re able to use Gemini as a voice assistant. You’ll be able to summon it like you would the Google Assistant and ask it to perform certain actions. At the time of writing this, Gemini isn’t as fully featured as Assistant, so your experience won’t be as integrated.
Through the Google app
Every Android phone comes with the Google app installed, and most people can access Gemini through the app. Some people will have to enable it. When you access Gemini through the Google app, you’ll be taken to an interface that’s identical to the one in the dedicated Gemini app.
Just like in the Gemini app, you’ll be able to ask it questions and generate content.