How to add extensions to Gemini
December 17, 2024

How to add extensions to Gemini

One day I was driving home and wanted to call my partner to let him know I was stuck in traffic. (This is not an unusual thing to do on the Beltway in Brooklyn.) I have a relatively old car (it’s a 2007 model, so we’re not talking about real smarts), so I rely on My phone handles calls, music, etc. rather than any built-in intelligence. My phone told me in a very lengthy paragraph that Geminis don’t do this:

I’m a large language model and I’m able to communicate and produce human-like text in response to various prompts and questions, but my understanding of the person is limited.

I recently installed Google’s new AI virtual assistant to try it out. This means that the usual voice-activated service Google Assistant has been automatically turned off, and the new and not yet fully mature Gemini still lacks many of Google Assistant’s usability – including, important to me, making phone calls and texting.

However, there is a workaround – or rather, a way to increase Gemini’s functionality. You need to add extensions just like you would add them to Google Chrome. In fact, if I wasn’t driving and could read the additional text on the page, I would have discovered my main problem: I didn’t have Gemini Apps Activity turned on, which records and stores all your Gemini activities. If App Activity is not turned on, the extension will not work.

So you have a choice: have your activities logged or use the limited version of Gemini.

Open application activity

You cannot ask Gemini to make a call unless Application Activity is enabled.
Screenshot: Google

You can easily start Gemini app activities.
Screenshot: Google

Assuming you want to try some extensions, there are a few ways to enable Gemini Apps Activity:

when you choose Open button, you’ll first see a long list of instructions on what to save (such as your chat history, product usage information and location), how long to save (18 months, although you can switch to 3 or 36 months), and the purpose ( A company generally “provides, improves, and develops Google products”). knew? Is it okay? choose Open.

You now have access to Gemini’s extended functionality. You have two options: you can ask Gemini to do something, and if an extension can help, it will (According to Google) automatically access it. Or you can browse available extensions via: gemini.google.com (on the web) or click on your personal icon (on the mobile app). choose settings > expansion.

try extension

Once App Activity is enabled, Google can add extensions.
Screenshot: Google

You can browse some of the extensions available.
Screenshot: Google

With App Activity enabled, I wanted to see what would happen if I just asked Gemini to perform certain actions without manually enabling the extension. So I tried using it again to call someone. This time (somewhat to my surprise), it worked – it immediately transferred to my Phone app, displayed the correct contact, and made the call.

Next, I click on my mobile app’s personal icon and then click expansion. There are several listed (interestingly, I’ve seen more on the mobile app than online). These include:

  • Google Workspace to aggregate or receive answers for your Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Google Drive, Google Keep, and Google Tasks content.
  • Google messages
  • Telephone
  • Utilities for opening applications, setting timers and alarms, and handling other settings.
  • Google Flights for flight information.
  • Google hotel search for, well, hotels.
  • Google Maps gets “location-based information.”
  • YouTube and YouTube Music to find video and music selections.
  • There are also non-Google apps: Spotify, WhatsApp and OpenStax.

As you read this, there are probably others out there.

Delete your activity

You can automatically delete your Gemini activity.
Screenshot: Google

You can set automatic deletion for activity older than 3, 18, or 36 months.
Screenshot: Google

If you don’t want all Gemini activity to be permanently available, here’s what you can do: According to Google, chat history will be saved for up to 72 hours regardless of whether “App Activity” is enabled. However, if the application activity yes Once enabled, there are many ways to delete your activity.

  • you can enter Settings > Gemini App Activity And set automatic deletion for activity older than 3, 18, or 36 months (or never).
  • You can also click to manually delete the activity log on the same page delete and select last hour, last day, all timeor Customized scope.

Eventually, if you’re lucky, Gemini will be able to use all the useful features of Google Assistant. Of course, how well it performs various AI functions and how much data it uses to teach the AI ​​is an ongoing story.

2024-12-17 19:00:00

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *