At a recent event in New York City, Google unveiled its Gemini AI assistant, designed for Google Workspace, drawing both praise for its summarisation capabilities and criticism for its limitations in creative tasks.
Google Showcases Gemini AI Assistant Amidst Mixed Reviews
New York City, Sept. 26, 2023—In a bid to demonstrate the practical applications of its AI assistant, Google recently unveiled its Gemini AI integration within Google Workspace at a private event held at Pier 57. The industrial-chic venue served as a backdrop for the invite-only gathering, which brought together technology enthusiasts and business leaders eager to see the capabilities of Google’s latest AI innovation.
Gemini, part of Google’s expansive AI portfolio, has been marketed as a tool designed to streamline office tasks and enhance productivity. As guests explored its features, it became evident that Gemini excels in summarization tasks. Within Google Workspace, Gemini exists as a sidebar tool, accessible across various applications. A simple click on the Gemini star in documents allows users to generate summaries without additional prompts.
The AI’s proficiency in summarizing documents and analyzing pre-existing meeting notes was well received. For instance, Gemini can quickly distill emails or meeting notes, assisting users in identifying key points with ease. Demonstrations highlighted Gemini’s ability to pull information from specific texts when appropriately prompted. However, challenges surfaced when the tool was prompted to handle less structured or more creative tasks.
During one demonstration, a Google representative encouraged attendees to query Gemini about the content of emails from fictional clients. While Gemini performed admirably with straightforward questions referring to specific texts, it faltered when asked to prioritize the urgency of emails, especially amidst non-urgent messages such as “Welcome to Gemini.”
Further attempts to task Gemini with creative endeavours revealed additional limitations. When asked to produce marketing copy for a coffee shop’s fall menu, integrating elements of New York City life, the AI’s output was disappointingly vague. Though it included the city’s name, it failed to encapsulate distinct cultural references or specific landmarks like Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, instead generating unrelated coffee imagery.
Andrew Larson, the Chief Technology and Information Security Officer at FinQuery, an accounting software company, shared his perspective as a Gemini user. He noted that while Gemini effectively handles monotonous tasks, reducing workload for his developers, its outputs still require human verification. Larson praised the AI for freeing up time for more innovative thinking within his team.
Similarly, Colin Wilkinson, an engineering manager at Etsy, detailed how his team utilises Gemini to address customer concerns and product issues more efficiently. According to Wilkinson, Gemini acts as a valuable advisor, helping his team expedite responses to customer feedback.
Investor and “Shark Tank” personality Mark Cuban, a guest speaker at the event, offered a candid view of AI’s role in the workplace. He described AI as an alternative to hiring additional personnel, emphasizing its unemotional and compliant nature. Cuban’s remarks painted a nuanced picture of AI’s integration, underscoring the potential and pitfalls of relying on automated systems for human-like tasks.
Google anticipates substantial interest in Gemini from its 10 million Google Workspace customers. The company is keen on educating potential users about the practical benefits and limitations of its AI assistant. Aparna Pappu, VP and GM of Google Workspace, underscored the importance of familiarising the workforce with these new technologies.
As Google continues to push the envelope in AI innovation, the Gemini AI assistant stands as a testament to both the progress and ongoing challenges in the AI landscape. With enhancements likely on the horizon, stakeholders in the AI and broader tech community will be watching closely.
Source: Noah Wire Services
