I ditched ChatGPT for Gemini and have blended emotions

When ChatGPT was launched, I jumped on the bandwagon immediately. I’ve been utilizing it ever since however have just lately determined to change to Gemini for a couple of causes. First, I get pleasure from attempting out new issues, simply to see what the competitors presents. However extra importantly, Gemini’s extensions promised seamless integration with Google’s ecosystem, which confirmed hopes of simplifying my workflow and saving me time. Or so I believed.

Gemini extensions: A recreation changer?

For these of you unaware, Gemini extensions work with Google companies like Gmail, Maps, Duties, and lots of others. Their energy lies within the capability to avoid wasting time by permitting me to rapidly retrieve particular information from Gmail with out a guide search, ask how lengthy the drive is from level A to level B with out opening Google Maps, and even pull up music to assist me focus with out leaving the chatbot’s interface.

Sounds nice, proper? It’s — not less than when it really works. Granted, it does work more often than not. However the issue is that I’ve run into points usually sufficient to ask myself if it’s even price it. Prompting Gemini to drag up a selected file actually is a time saver, but when it doesn’t do the job appropriately and I’ve to immediate it three extra occasions to get the job achieved, it’s simpler and fewer annoying to seek for it manually.

Let’s undergo a couple of points I encountered so that you get a greater really feel for what I’m speaking about. Gemini was not capable of pull up the final e-mail I acquired in Gmail for the lifetime of me. Even once I informed it that it was unsuitable and to look once more, it nonetheless couldn’t do it. I went additional and even informed it the day and time I acquired the e-mail, and Gemini nonetheless failed and fetched me a unique, older e-mail.

I additionally had points when asking Gemini to drag up the final e-mail I acquired from a selected sender and inform me what it was about. Whereas it pulled up the sender, the date and time had been incorrect, and so was the content material of the e-mail. It stated the e-mail was a affirmation of a purchase order although it was nothing of the kind. It’s price noting once more that this doesn’t all the time occur, but it surely occurs ceaselessly sufficient to be a problem.

I get that Gemini — in addition to different AI chatbots — makes errors. Google additionally clearly states that Gemini could get issues unsuitable. Nevertheless, I simply discover it odd that Google’s chatbot can’t carry out easy duties like these however has no points with extra advanced assignments, like telling me how a lot I paid for a lodge in Spain 10 years in the past. It discovered the right e-mail among the many hundreds I’ve in Gmail and fetched all the data with out a mistake in a couple of seconds.

However the Gmail integration isn’t the one concern right here, as I additionally had issues with Google Maps. When requested how lengthy it takes to drive from level A to level B in a selected metropolis, it bought the data proper and confirmed me the instructions on a map. Fantastic. However once I then requested how lengthy it might take to stroll that very same route, it modified level A to my residence tackle for causes unknown to me, which is round 35 miles away. So the strolling length, which must be lower than half-hour, ended up being over 10 hours. Even with a number of further prompts, I couldn’t get Gemini to repair this error.

There are different issues Gemini can’t do, a few of which Google clearly states on its web site. Regardless, they simply look like easy duties that the chatbot ought to be capable to carry out at this stage contemplating every little thing else it may do.

For instance, I can’t appear to search out the renewal date for my Gemini Superior subscription (Google One AI Premium plan) inside my Google account, so I requested Gemini about it. It appeared like a fairly easy process, however apparently, it may’t be achieved. It can also’t inform me how a lot Drive storage I’ve left or pull up my final Google Pictures image.

It may well, nevertheless, plan a seven-day journey to London, present me one of the best accessible flights, and assist me discover resorts in my desired worth vary. So it may deal with very advanced duties however typically fails with easy ones.

For now, no. In the case of basic use, ChatGPT and Gemini are on par, not less than for my use case. There are issues that ChatGPT Plus does higher than Gemini Superior, although. For instance, it may summarize the inventory marketplace for the day gone by, together with beneficial properties/losses in % for not solely an organization of alternative however even for the ten largest firms within the S&P 500 if I ask it too. Gemini can’t try this. Nevertheless, I discover extra use within the extensions provided by Google for now, that are nice so long as they work.

So, a phrase of warning: If extensions are the explanation you’re contemplating making the change or giving the free model of Gemini a strive, put together for a couple of points. As already talked about, they do an excellent job more often than not, however they’re removed from excellent.

Whereas I’ve run into a couple of points, I’m not giving up on Gemini simply but. AI is consistently evolving, and I’ve religion that these issues will probably be solved and new options will probably be added quickly. I’m excited to see what the long run holds.