Dear Network,
I just tried out Gemini – a new chat bot function as part of Google messages – on my Android device. Gemini still has a sightly ‘sandboxed’ feel as it blends with your SMS, which is different from the experience that I had with the similar Microsoft Copilot that I used to create an overview about my professional background on thorstenkoch.com not long ago.
Neither is Gemini as versatile as ChatGPT, at this point. It cannot show you pictures, for instance. Rather, the service acts like a guide, answering questions by simulating natural conversations based on large language models (LLMs). So far, so good.
There is currently an imperfect bridging to Google Assistant and Google search – perhaps to avoid antitrust issues, or because of the ambitious rollout schedule. When a query or question cannot be met, the will be a formal response, which is essential. The conversation appeared polite and forthcoming overall.
According to Google, Gemini can brainstorm ideas and plan events or just serve as a virtual conversation partner. It actually does that in a smooth and satisfying manner already. There will also be a way to program a Starred page, which promises to constitute a popular feature.
I did not check the failsafes as to ethical considerations such as privacy concerns in an extensive way, but in place they are. Chats can be deleted after having taken place, for example, and some questions are not answered. Considering the large potential audience, that is more than laudable.
About those shortcomings, they may soon be corrected, due to the high performance of the Google team as well as customer data coming in and leading up to better scaling. The most impressive capability of Gemini is that it can handle multiple commands in a quest simultaneously.
With regard to chat bots in general, remember that while they are available around the clock, fast and categorical, sometimes they misunderstand, lack emotional empathy – although they can mimick human interaction to some degree. There can be some technical glitches and limits when it comes to uncommon quests due to limitations in the LLM data sets that the bots are allowed to use.
Finally, some personality types as well as the young ought to be cautious not to be hooked or overly dependent on a chat bot, although Gemini is for those above the legal age of 18 only. Thumbs up.
The new utility, Gemini, will be at the disposal of all Android users in the weeks to come. I look forward to further developments and improvements which will render the overall experience more seamless, perhaps with more Google functions to be controlled by voice commands, as Gemini is not only a chat bot but can also serve as an alternative to Google Assistant, aside from the SMS environment. The new service might well replace Google Assistant, at the end of the day.
Sincerely,
Thorsten Koch, MA, PgDip
Policyinstitute.net
10 October 2024
