We obtained a glimpse at lots of new options coming to Gemini at Google IO and one of the attention-grabbing is rolling out proper now. The brand new Scheduled Actions characteristic allows you to inform Gemini to run prompts at sure instances sooner or later, and even recur frequently. It sounds small, however it opens fairly a couple of new prospects.
This scheduling characteristic is designed to work seamlessly with atypical Gemini prompts. Ask the chatbot to carry out or repeat a job sooner or later and it’ll routinely schedule the duties. You possibly can even convert an current chat right into a scheduled motion. This is the way it works, and some concepts of what you are able to do with it.
How Scheduled Actions work in Gemini
Whereas the scheduling characteristic ought to simply work, in principle, there are a few nuances in follow. In my testing, Gemini sometimes obtained confused and informed me that it could not carry out a job now based mostly on data sooner or later. Nevertheless, a clarifying observe up often did the trick.
There are additionally a few key limitations:
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You will want a subscription. For now, this characteristic is just out there to paid customers. You will want both Google AI Professional or the ludicrously costly Google AI Extremely.
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You possibly can solely have 10 scheduled actions at a time. Gemini solely has 10 slots for scheduled actions, although these might be one-off or recurring ones.
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You should utilize your location for an motion, however you possibly can’t change it. Gemini helps recurring scheduled actions which are based mostly on location, like “Each morning, suggest a espresso store close to me.” The one hitch is, the placement for that motion will use the identical location you used whenever you created the motion. It will not replace based mostly on wherever you might be.
After getting an motion scheduled, you possibly can see it and all of your different saved actions by tapping your profile icon within the Gemini app or heading to Settings on the internet and choosing “Scheduled actions.” You possibly can’t do a lot right here apart from pause or delete the exercise, however if you wish to cancel the directions, you might have the choice.
Get a abstract of your e-mail every single day
I am going to admit, after I hear the inventory AI use case instance of “get a abstract of your e-mail!” I get skeptical. Is it actually extra environment friendly to ask a chatbot to summarize your emails than to only scan them your self? Properly, it’s if you happen to solely should ask as soon as. Ask Gemini one thing like “Give me a abstract of my new unread emails each morning” and you will get a notification every day.
You possibly can additional refine this strategy by giving Gemini particular directions to your wants. For instance, you might instruct Gemini to focus on any emails out of your boss, or filter out promotional emails, gross sales, or newsletters.
Needless to say this method has the identical error price as anything in Gemini (or any AI chatbot for that matter). It is helpful for getting a fast overview of the messages ready for you, however it’s nonetheless in all probability a good suggestion to look at your inbox earlier than telling your boss you did not get that e-mail.
Create weekly itineraries based mostly on calendar occasions
By way of the Workspace connection, you possibly can ask Gemini to present you a rundown of all of your occasions all through the week which are in your calendar. Since Gemini can even question Google Maps, you possibly can even ask advanced questions like how far your physician’s appointment is from your own home.
As soon as once more, the facility on this method is available in how one can ask Gemini for particular varieties of data or learn how to format the itinerary it presents. For instance, on a day after I had two appointments in several components of city, I requested Gemini how lengthy I might spend driving. It was ready so as to add the varied estimated driving instances and provides me a grand whole.
It might take somewhat finagling to get the wording proper. It took a few tries earlier than I settled on explicitly telling Gemini to “assume I am beginning and ending my day at dwelling,” however as soon as I discovered a immediate that labored, the scheduled motion meant I solely needed to write it as soon as.
Schedule queries for particular occasions
Generally some data you are going to wish to have, however it simply would not exist but. For instance, say you wish to know who gained the Oscars, however do not plan to observe the present. You possibly can schedule a question forward of time and, as soon as the massive day arrives, Gemini will summarize the data for you.
Personally, I discover it a bit extra helpful for issues the place the search is extra advanced than a easy “who gained?” For instance, Dying Stranding 2 is popping out very quickly. And whereas nothing might cease me from enjoying it myself, I might nonetheless wish to learn a choice of critiques.
So, I’ve a immediate scheduled subsequent week to deliver me a choice of critiques from a few of my favourite websites. I do not personally have a necessity for a generic abstract (I learn the people’ writing for a motive), however you might ask Gemini for questions on a specific subject, like what reviewers consider the sport mechanics, or how bafflingly convoluted they discovered the story.
Sooner or later, do extra with Agent Mode
For now, there are already a couple of cool makes use of for this characteristic, however it’s price mentioning that Google demoed fairly much more. As a part of its demo of Agent Mode, the corporate confirmed an instance of asking Gemini to search out new flats each week and ship the person a abstract.
That form of job requires much more autonomy than the general public model of Gemini is presently able to, however it does spotlight how helpful scheduled actions can develop into sooner or later. We might have to guage how effectively Agent Mode is at performing advanced duties, however for now Gemini is able to easy web queries, collating your emails and calendar, and performing some advanced planning.
