We obtained a glimpse at a whole lot of new options coming to Gemini at Google IO and probably the most fascinating is rolling out proper now. The brand new Scheduled Actions function helps you to inform Gemini to run prompts at sure instances sooner or later, and even recur regularly. It sounds small, however it opens fairly a couple of new prospects.
This scheduling function is designed to work seamlessly with abnormal Gemini prompts. Ask the chatbot to carry out or repeat a process sooner or later and it’ll robotically schedule the duties. You possibly can even convert an present 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 function ought to simply work, in principle, there are a few nuances in apply. In my testing, Gemini sometimes obtained confused and informed me that it could not carry out a process now based mostly on info sooner or later. Nonetheless, a clarifying observe up often did the trick.
There are additionally a few key limitations:
You will want a subscription. For now, this function is simply obtainable to paid customers. You will want both Google AI Professional or the ludicrously costly Google AI Extremely.
You possibly can solely have 10 scheduled actions at a time. Gemini solely has 10 slots for scheduled actions, although these could be one-off or recurring ones.
You should use your location for an motion, however you may’t change it. Gemini helps recurring scheduled actions which can be 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 while you created the motion. It will not replace based mostly on wherever you’re.
After you have an motion scheduled, you may 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 deciding on “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’ve the choice.
Get a abstract of your e-mail day by 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 simply scan them your self? Nicely, it’s in the event you solely must 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 on your wants. For instance, you can instruct Gemini to focus on any emails out of your boss, or filter out promotional emails, gross sales, or newsletters.
Take into account that this system has the identical error charge as the rest 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 may ask Gemini to provide you a rundown of all of your occasions all through the week which can be in your calendar. Since Gemini may also question Google Maps, you may even ask complicated questions like how far your physician’s appointment is from your own home.
As soon as once more, the ability on this method is available in how one can ask Gemini for particular kinds of info or the way 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’d spend driving. It was ready so as to add the assorted estimated driving instances and provides me a grand whole.
It could actually take just a little 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 residence,” 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
Typically you already know some info 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 look at the present. You possibly can schedule a question forward of time and, as soon as the large 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 complicated than a easy “who gained?” For instance, Demise Stranding 2 is popping out very quickly. And whereas nothing might cease me from taking part in it myself, I’d nonetheless wish to learn a collection of critiques.
So, I’ve a immediate scheduled subsequent week to convey me a collection 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 can ask Gemini for questions on a specific matter, 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 function, however it’s value 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 seek out new flats each week and ship the consumer a abstract.
That type of process requires much more autonomy than the general public model of Gemini is at the moment able to, however it does spotlight how helpful scheduled actions can grow to be sooner or later. We might have to guage how properly Agent Mode is at performing complicated duties, however for now Gemini is able to easy web queries, collating your emails and calendar, and performing some complicated planning.
