Using a smartphone can be daunting, especially when you constantly switch apps for different tasks.
But when I connected Gemini with various apps, my life got a lot easier, as I no longer needed to switch between Gmail, Calendar, Drive, and others.
While Gemini’s basic chat function is still useful, its real power comes when it talks with other apps and executes tasks with minimal manual intervention.
Gemini and Gmail were meant to be together
I no longer dread typing emails
If you had asked me five years ago whether Gmail could work with an AI agent and automate writing and summarizing emails, I would have rolled my eyes and carried on with my day.
But it’s not only a reality; it’s also one of my most-used Gemini features since I can integrate it with Google’s AI service.
Gemini can summarize a long email thread in seconds, or you can ask it to pull details without digging for them.
I also run a business with long email chains, and sometimes I cannot remember every detail mentioned in a previous email.
Earlier, I wasted at least 20 to 25 minutes trying to find what I needed by scanning the entire email thread.
Now I ask Gemini to find it for me.
The same goes for replying to emails. When I have to reply to many emails in one sitting, Gemini now drafts replies and new emails for me.
What’s neat is that Gemini uses the same tone as my writing and even uses the context from a thread I mentioned earlier.
When enabled, you can use the Ask Gemini logo in the upper-right corner of the web page or tap the Gemini logo in the search bar in the app.
Gemini works great with Google Keep and other note-taking apps
Getting tasks done with more convenience
I love using Google Keep and my life depends on it. I use it for groceries, meeting notes, and planning vacations.
But while making notes, I research quite a lot on blogs, Google Maps, and YouTube to find everything I need for many tasks.
Before Gemini, I would keep switching apps, sometimes three, to create a list of reminders, tasks, and lists in Google Keep.
But now that Gemini works with Keep, I don’t need to use multiple apps to take notes.
For example, if I’m watching a restaurant vlog on YouTube, I can ask Gemini to create a “vacation restaurant list” and add the restaurant names.
If I resume my research after a few days and forget whether I added a name to the list, I can use the following prompt to cross-reference:
Find in the vacation restaurant list in Keep if I added Bomras to the list. If not, add it to the list.
Gemini will respond with either confirmation that the name is present or an updated list if it’s missing.
This works across all sorts of tasks, such as grocery lists, reminders, and lengthy notes.
I even use Gemini’s new voice feature with Google Keep to turn my ramblings into structured notes.
Earlier, voice notes often required editing and formatting, but Gemini now automates most of them, requiring minimal editing.
While I primarily use Google Keep, Gemini can also connect to note apps provided by smartphone OEMs. These include:
- Samsung Notes
- TECNO Notes
- vivo Notes
- Wispr AI
- Xiaomi Notes
- OnePlus Notes
- Honor Notes
- OPPO Notes
- Lenovo Notes
To turn on Gemini integration for the apps above, open Gemini’s settings and toggle on the corresponding app in the Connected Apps section.
I use Gemini exclusively for cross-referencing in Google Docs and Sheets
I use it for building databases too
Gemini also works with Google Docs, Sheets, and Drive when connected to Google Workspace.
While I don’t use Gemini to draft whole documents, it can do that. You can even use Gemini to summarize documents, just as it can for emails.
This works across all document types, including PDFs stored in Google Drive.
For example, I recently had to sign a lease, and the agreement draft was stored in my Google Drive as a PDF.
Before signing the document, I asked Gemini to find any points that would be unfavorable to me as a lessee.
Gemini not only scanned and summarized the document; it also told me which conditions I needed to change before signing.
This works across all sorts of documents, including meeting notes you may have saved in Drive from Google Meet calls or voice memos.
But the most practical use I’ve orchestrated recently was scanning, cataloging, and building a database for my 400 physical video game collection.
I used Gemini to scan each game’s title, platform, and publisher in batches and organize it into a Google Sheet.
What took me an hour would have taken three times as long the old-fashioned way, that is, typing the title names. I repeated the process for DVDs, books, and pen collection.
If you’re wondering how to adopt this in your own workflow, you can use it to scan bills, legal documents, or sports cards that need organizing.
What’s neat is that when your database is complete, you can ask Gemini to access the file in Google Drive and pull up any information you need.
I built the database so I could cross-reference it later when I’m about to buy a game for my collection.
Let’s take sports cards as an example: You can ask Gemini to access your Google Sheet database and ask it if you own a Shohei Ohtani rookie card.
The AI agent will answer your query by telling you whether that card is in your collection. If you attach an image to the database, Gemini will cross-reference it.
Gemini’s ability to cross-reference is a godsend and can genuinely save time while doing monthly reports.
I know someone who uses it to access their profit and loss sheet to make adjustments while purchasing raw materials for their business.
Similarly, a lawyer friend uses Gemini to pull up information from past cases to establish precedent. They tell me it saves them countless hours every month.
While it may seem like I use Gemini almost exclusively with Google products, that isn’t the case.
It works with several third-party apps, including Otter.ai, WhatsApp, Calendar apps, Spotify, SeatGeek, and countless others.
You can find the full list of apps that work with Gemini on Google’s blog, and it’s worth a look if you want to improve your workflow.
Connecting Gemini to apps changes everything
Gemini’s integration with other apps is one of the best implementations of any AI service.
It works flawlessly with other Google products and genuinely improves my workflow every day. I never imagined Gemini could simplify menial, time-consuming tasks so easily.
But then again, that’s what AI is really for. To make our lives easier.
