Slow but Steady Improvement

Google’s journey in the AI space has been a rollercoaster. They have evolved from the initial language model, Bard, to the more advanced Gemini, and more recently, the addition of AI-generated summaries in search results. While those updates were interesting, they were incremental steps. But now, with Gemini Advanced Pro, Google has definitely stepped up its game.

Deep Research: A Game-Changing Feature

The standout feature of Gemini Advanced Pro is undoubtedly its Deep Research capability. This functionality sets it apart from competitors and showcases Google’s  ability to provide comprehensive, highly researched information. Here’s how it works: You input a query, and Gemini presents a research plan for your approval. Once approved, it scours the web, analyzing dozens of sources, drilling down into websites it finds relevant, and then it produces a detailed, multi-page report with citations!

To try out this feature, I asked Gemini Advanced Pro about the history of philanthropy in the USA. The results were impressive:

• It created a research plan covering the origins, key players, and societal impact.
• It spent about 5 minutes analyzing 46 websites.
• It produced a 5-page paper.

Other tools, like Perplexity and Bing Copilot, gave me quick summaries, which were useful but didn’t go nearly as deep as Gemini did. With Gemini, you can basically carry out a full research study.

Is Deep Research Worth the Price?

At $20 a month, Gemini Advanced Pro is pretty good value if you need thorough research or in-depth reports. It’s a useful tool for scholars, writers, researchers, or anyone who can make good use of its deep research capabilities.  There is nothing there that you can’t do yourself, but it will save hours on most projects.

Amazing (and Practical) Feature: Gemini Live

In addition to the deep research capability, I am blown away by Gemini Live. This is the most fun I’ve had on my computer in a long time. Gemini Live is a conversational AI assistant that interacts with you in a natural way. It even helped me find some great Christmas presents! (Note, however, that you cannot do deep research in conversation mode.) But if you subscribe, you’ll be able to have conversations with Gemini without typing:

• Brainstorm: Ask Gemini for ideas for gifts, events, or business plans.
• Learn: Ask Gemini to teach you something new, like how to practice yoga or prepare for a presentation.
• Explore: Ask Gemini about topics that interest you, like historical events, or something as simple as “Where do avocados grow in Mexico?”.
• Practice: Rehearse for important moments in a more natural way.
• Get Advice: Ask Gemini for advice on a range of topics, like potential jobs or what to wear to a work event.

Gemini Live has the potential to redefine our interactions with AI assistants by offering a more natural, context-aware conversational experience. As scary as it may sound, we’re getting a step closer to intelligent digital companions.

Looking Ahead

With Gemini Advanced Pro, Google is demonstrating that they’re serious about improving their AI. As they continue to tweak and expand its features, I can see this becoming a very popular tool. And with Gemini Live, we can now interact in a more natural way.

In the end, Google isn’t just keeping up with the competition—they’ve set a new standard with Gemini Advanced Pro. Its ability to provide deep, researched insights makes it a standout option in the world of AI assistants. If you need detailed and well researched information, Gemini Advanced Pro is worth checking out.