Google Gemini is making a big splash as Google’s main set of AI models, applications, and services. But what exactly is Gemini? How can you use it? And how does it compare to other options out there?

To help you stay informed about the latest Gemini updates, we’ve created this helpful guide. We’ll continue to update it with new Gemini models, features, and news about Google’s Gemini plans as they’re released.

What exactly is Gemini?

Gemini is Google’s advanced generation of AI models, which was developed by Google’s AI research labs, DeepMind and Google Research, as they had discussed.

Gemini models are unique because they are designed to process and utilize various types of data beyond just text. Unlike models like Google’s LaMDA, which can only work with text data and cannot understand or generate other forms of content like audio, images, or videos, Gemini models are trained to be versatile across different modalities including audio, images, videos, and diverse text data in multiple languages.

How do Gemini apps and Gemini models differ?

Google initially did not clearly differentiate between Gemini, the platform for generative AI models, and the Gemini apps available on web and mobile (previously known as Bard). The Gemini apps serve as an interface to access specific Gemini models, essentially acting as a client for Google’s generative AI technology.

It’s worth noting that both the Gemini apps and models are separate and distinct from Imagen 2, which is Google’s text-to-image model found in certain developer tools and environments.

What can Gemini do?

Because the Gemini models are capable of processing multiple types of data (multimodal), they can potentially handle various tasks like transcribing speech, captioning images and videos, and generating artwork. Some of these functionalities are already available in products, while others are still in development, with Google promising even more capabilities in the near future.

However, it’s understandable if there’s skepticism about Google’s promises. The initial launch of Bard was disappointing, and Google recently faced criticism for a video demonstrating Gemini’s abilities that was heavily edited and more of a vision for the future than a current reality.