Google's Gemini: Your Personal AI Sidekick?

Google has cooked up something special with their AI chatbot, Gemini. They want it to become your personal assistant, knowing your likes and dislikes. This isn't just about answering questions anymore; it's about giving you tailored responses based on your online habits. Google's new personalization feature lets Gemini peek into your Google activities, like your search history and other apps, to give you recommendations that feel just right for you. This isn't something that happens automatically, though. Google is making sure users have a say in this. You'll need to give Gemini permission to access your data. Plus, if you're under 18, you're out of luck—this feature isn't for you. Google is also being careful about privacy. It will show you exactly which data sources were used to customize the bot’s responses. You can disconnect your search history with a single click if you change your mind. Gemini with personalization is rolling out to web users first, and then it will hit mobile devices. It will be available in over 40 languages in most countries, but not in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and the U. K. Google hasn't said if it will always be free, though. They might have plans to limit usage in the future. But wait, there's more! Google is also rolling out some new features for Gemini. The premium subscription, Gemini Advanced, now includes a standalone version of the 2. 0 Flash Thinking Experimental model. This model can handle multiple apps at once and has a massive context window—think 750, 000 words! It can even look up a recipe, add ingredients to your shopping list, and find nearby grocery stores that are still open. Google is also boosting its Deep Research feature. This tool searches the web to compile detailed reports on any topic. Now, it shows its "thinking" steps and uses the 2. 0 Flash Thinking Experimental model by default. This should make the reports more insightful and detailed. Deep Research is now free for all Gemini users, and usage limits have been increased for Gemini Advanced customers. Even free Gemini users are getting some perks. They'll have access to Gems, which are customizable chatbots focused on specific topics. And soon, all Gemini users will be able to interact with Google Photos. This means you can ask Gemini to find photos from your last vacation, making it even more useful in your daily life.