Use Gemini as your assistant? What do you think?

Introduction

You can choose to use Gemini as your assistant on Android right now. Just go to the Play Store, download Gemini, and see if it's compatible with your device. If you use TalkBack, you'll be pleased to know that Gemini and TalkBack play pretty nicely with each other.

When it comes to getting information quickly, Gemini can help with a variety of tasks just like Google Assistant. For example, you can ask it about the weather. "What's the weather, Google?" It’s 76 degrees and partly cloudy. You can rely on Gemini for other common tasks too, such as setting timers and making calendar events. However, sometimes it doesn’t verbally confirm that it has completed the task, which can be a bit frustrating.

Aside from the usual assistance features, Gemini excels in providing explanations for the numerous questions my son asks me, questions where I honestly don't know the answers. One nice aspect of Gemini is that it usually reads things aloud, whether you have a screen reader turned on or not. Plus, there's a speaker button that lets you replay the spoken information. For instance, "It’s 76 degrees and partly cloudy."

However, like any technology, it has its quirks. Sometimes it can get confused, but hopefully, Google will address these issues in future updates. "I can't assist you with that as I'm only a language model." For now, the benefits seem to outweigh the occasional hiccups.

In summary, Gemini is a versatile alternative to Google Assistant with a few unique features that might make it worth considering, especially if you use TalkBack or need repeated audio feedback.