What Is Gemini? A Beginner's Guide to Google's Latest AI: Features and How to Use It [2026 Edition]
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AI Friends
2026年5月5日・10分で読める
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What you'll learn in this article
Gemini is Google's latest AI (artificial intelligence). Like ChatGPT, it can answer questions and write text. In November 2025, a new model called "Gemini 3" was released. It is a multimodal AI that can understand not only text, but also images, video, and audio. Anyone with a Google account can start using it for free. There is also a smartphone app, so you can use it easily on the go.
Gemini offers many features useful in everyday life and work. Here are five of the most notable ones.
Ask anything you want to know, and Gemini will answer right away. It can handle everything from everyday questions like "What's the weather tomorrow?" or "What's a healthy breakfast menu?" to technical questions like "What is a quantum computer?"
For complex topics, Gemini automatically searches information on the web and produces a detailed report with citations. It's great for writing university reports or compiling research materials at work. Available on paid plans (AI Pro and above).
Gemini can draft replies to emails received in Gmail, help write documents in Google Docs, and even assist with data analysis in Google Sheets. You can receive AI support right inside the Google apps you already use every day.
You can show Gemini a photo and ask "What is this?", or upload a PDF or Word file to get a summary. It can process long texts of up to one million tokens (more than an entire book) at once, making it easier to read through academic papers or contracts.
This feature lets you create an AI dedicated to a specific task. For example, you can set up your own personal assistant such as an "English teacher AI" or a "programming Q&A bot." Available on paid plans.
Anyone new to Gemini can get started in just three steps.
On a computer, go to "gemini.google.com." On a smartphone, download the "Gemini" app. Log in with your Google account and you're ready to go.
In the input field at the bottom of the screen, type what you want to ask in Japanese (or your preferred language). For example, "Help me plan today's meals" or "Write a reply to this email" — everyday language is perfectly fine. You can also attach images or files.
Gemini will respond within seconds. If you're not satisfied, you can give additional instructions like "Tell me more" or "Make it shorter." You can go back and forth in a conversational style as many times as you like, so keep refining until you're happy with the result.
Let's take a look at the strengths and things to watch out for with Gemini.
Gemini is an easy-to-use AI that leverages Google's technological strengths. We recommend trying the free version first, then considering a paid plan if needed. Give it a try to make your everyday life and work more efficient.
This article is a cross-post from AI Friends.
