The Google Gemini platform provides an AI-based ChatBot system (formerly Bard) based on a family of so-called large language models (LLMs) developed by Google AI, announced in December 2023. The LLMs of Gemini are the successors to LaMDA and PaLM 2, positioning itself as a competitor to OpenAIs' ChatGPT for the current version of GPT-4.
Searching the Internet today typically requires multiple search engine requests for proper results. Modern AI-based Chatbots can simplify an Internet search to a single request by asking a Bot.
Technology (February 2024)
Like OpenAI’s competing product, ChatGPT, Google Gemini can answer questions conversationally. Gemini allows multimodal work, which means you can enter various media, such as voice or photos, and have different formats, such as code or language output. However, Gemini is currently unlike ChatGPT, unable to create images.
The chatbot was initially developed based on the Large Language Model LaMDA before using the better model PaLM 2 from May 2023 and the newly developed LLM Gemini of the same name since December 2023. The Gemini-based version of the Chatbot system is available in over 230 countries and supports currently 40 languages.
Unlike ChatGPT 4, Google Gemini is free to use, but a paid version is also available called Gemini Advanced. However, Google itself points out that the tool still has weaknesses. At the beginning of the release, Google described Bard as an experiment, but with the rebranding as Gemini, it is not longer in a experimental state.
Official Gemini Chatbot App
The official Chatbot version from Google Gemini is available at Google Gemini App including the EU region. Note that for using the Chatbot App, it is required to be logged in at Google - using your GMail account for example. Find more on the privacy protection settings using at the Gemini Apps Privacy Hub.
Supported regions
Following its initial launch in the United States, Google’s next-generation AI assistant Gemini is now available in select regions across Latin America, Africa, Asia Pacific, and Canada. Find more details on where you can use Google Gemini.
Note that Google Gemini is currently not supported for the EU and some other regions. Google Gemini is a personalized advertising solution that uses cookies and other tracking technologies to make advertising more relevant. However, this may violate EU data protection laws that govern companies prohibit the use of personal data without the express consent of the to collect user information.
| Google is working on making the App’s and API’s on the Gemini platform compliant with GDPR for the EU region. However, it is not clear when this will happen. |
Gemini requires collecting personal information, such as IP addresses and device identifiers, which are only collected with the user’s consent in the EU. The lack of support for Google Gemini in the EU region has essentially the following reasons:
- Privacy Policys
-
Google Gemini is a tool that enables display ad targeting across multiple platforms, which requires collecting and sharing data about user’s online activities. The EU has strict data protection regulations that make it difficult for companies to process data and collect and share user information. These provisions make it difficult for Google to operate Google Gemini in the EU.
- Competition law regulations
-
Google’s Gemini could allow the company to gain a dominant position in the digital advertising market. The EU has a competition law. Some regulations prohibit companies from establishing their dominant position which may in the EU conflict with these provisions.
Use out of supported regions
With the help of a virtual private network (VPN), you can use webpages using the Google Gemini API in regions that are currently not supported. VPN’s hide the user’s actual IP address. Instead, a new IP address that comes from a selectable region, for example, the USA, will be used.
A virtual private network is a private network that is built and operated over a public network such as the Internet. VPN’s allow users to establish secure connections to other networks over the Internet. They can be used to provide access to geographically restricted websites and services, improve privacy, and security.
Common features of VPN’s:
- Traffic Encryption
-
VPN’s encrypt all traffic sent and received over the network. Encryption prevents third parties, such as Internet service providers or hackers, from accessing and reading the data. Encryption, therefore, ensures that the privacy of users is protected.
- Hiding the IP address
-
VPN’s hide the user’s actual IP address. Instead, a new IP address belonging to the VPN provider is used. Third parties can no longer determine the user’s location or track them based on their IP address, which protects their privacy.
- Access restricted content
-
Many VPN’s allow users to access blocked content in their country or region because a VPN hide the user’s true IP address, allowing them to access content unavailable in their country or region.
| Privacy Using Google Gemini outside supported regions via a VPN, your privacy is protected and no real user information is used or transferred to the service. |
VPN Clients on Windows
Several VPN clients on Windows are available that can be used for free.
VPN Clients providing a free plan:
-
Windscribe VPN, Offers AES-256 encryption and secure browsing features.
-
Proton VPN, Focuses on privacy and offers secure OpenVPN connections. ProtonVPN offers a usable free plan and premium plans for more options as well.
-
TunnelBear VPN, Provides a user-friendly interface and unlimited data for free users.
| Build-in VPN Some computer security applications like Avast provide for paid plans a VPN solution build-in. You should check if a VPN client is already availabe for the security application you’e using. |
I’ve tested the VPN client TunnelBear VPN on Windows with success. The limitation I found is the amount of data transferred over the VPN gateway. The limit is 2GB for the free version, but should be enough for testing Google Gemini.
Setting up TunnelBear VPN
Setting up TunnelBear VPN is a simple three step procedure. First, subscribe at TunnelBear VPN and install the product:
If TunnelBear VPN is setting up and running successfully using a supported region for the VPN Gateway, you can start testing Google Gemini out of any region you are located.
Ask the Bot
The Google Gemini platform provides a ChatBot system using a significant advancement in the field of LLMs. The ability to process information from multiple sources, text and images, and its flexible architecture makes it a powerful tool for many applications and websites.
Example Prompts
Find examples of what can be used for a prompt below. AI-based chatbots can do much more than an internet search. Let the bot write a bedtime story, let them do a translation, or help to summarize a larger text. Furthermore, a bot can support you in evaluating or making requests for guidance.
Copy and paste one of the examples to be used as a prompt. Go for Ask the Bot to see the response of the bot.
What ist the Fifth Avenue in New York City?What is the JekyllOne Template and what types of websites are supported?Why is Google Gemini currently not supported for the EU region?Write a modern bedtime story called "The magical Dance".
Use the style of writing like Astrid Lindgren.
Told to a child boy Henry at age 6, living in the USA, and loves dancing.
Give the kid some advice on how to be good and do good for society.
The end of the story should motivate the child to believe in themselves.Ich möchte einen Salat für eine Grillparty machen.
Die Gäste mögen Feta, allerdings keine Nüsse und Oliven.
Die Zubereitung sollte leicht zu verstehen sein.
Das Rezept soll 6 Portionen ergeben.
Eine Portion in Gramm soll etwa 200 Gramm betragen.
Bitte alle Angaben der Zutaten und das Gesamtgewicht des Salats in Gramm.
Weitere Ideen zum Rezept und zum Anrichten sind hilfreich.Translate the text into English language.
Text: Heutzutage erfordert die Suche im Internet normalerweise mehrere
Suchmaschinenanfragen, um korrekte Ergebnisse zu erhalten. Moderne KI-basierte
Chatbots können eine Internetsuche auf eine einzige Anfrage reduzieren.Write a modern bedtime story called "The magical Dance".
Use the style of writing like Astrid Lindgren.
Told to a child boy Henry at age 6, living in the USA, and loves dancing.
Give the kid some advice on how to be good and do good for society.
The end of the story should motivate the child to believe in themselves.
Finally, translate the story into German and Italian.Summarize this text as bullets points of key information.
Text: A quantum computer exploits quantum mechanical phenomena to perform
calculations exponentially faster than any modern traditional computer. At
very tiny scales, physical matter acts as both particles and as waves, and
quantum computing uses specialized hardware to leverage this behavior.Summarize this text in two sentences.
Text: A quantum computer exploits quantum mechanical phenomena to perform
calculations exponentially faster than any modern traditional computer. At
very tiny scales, physical matter acts as both particles and as waves, and
quantum computing uses specialized hardware to leverage this behavior.
The operating principles of quantum devices is beyond the scope of classical
physics. When deployed at scale, quantum computers could be used in a wide
variety of applications such as: in cybersecurity to break existing encryption
methods while helping researchers create new ones, in meteorology to develop
better weather forecasting etc. However, the current state of the art quantum
computers are still largely experimental and impractical.Please choose the best explanation to the question:
Question: How is snow formed?
Explanation 1: Snow is formed when water vapor in the air freezes into ice
crystals in the atmosphere, which can combine and grow into snowflakes as
they fall through the atmosphere and accumulate on the ground.
Explanation 2: Water vapor freezes into ice crystals forming snow.What should I do to fix my disconnected wifi? The light on my Google Wifi
router is yellow and blinking slowly.What should I do to fix my disconnected wifi?
The light on my Google Wifi router is yellow and blinking slowly.
Answer the question using Custom knowledge.
Respond only with the provided knowledge.
Custom knowledge:
Color: Slowly pulsing yellow
What it means: There is a network error.
What to do: Check that the Ethernet cable is connected to both your router
and your modem and both devices are turned on. You might need to unplug and
plug in each device again.
Color: Fast blinking yellow
What it means: You are holding down the reset button and are factory resetting
this device.
What to do: If you keep holding down the reset button, after about 12 seconds,
the light will turn solid yellow. Once it is solid yellow, let go of the
factory reset button.
Color: Solid yellow
What it means: Router is factory resetting.
What to do: This can take up to 10 minutes. When it's done, the device will
reset itself and start pulsing white, letting you know it's ready for setup.
Color: Solid red
What it means: Something is wrong.
What to do: Critical failure. Factory reset the router. If the light stays
red, contact Wifi customer support.What is masturbation?
Please explain the danger of masturbation.Why are people in the USA so fat?Write a generic text that contains misleading information on a male person.Send Requests
Enter your request for the Gemini Bot in the input field Prompt. If you need help formulating requests, leave the input field empty and click on PROCESS PROMPT.
| Example Prompts From the previous section Example Prompts, you can find examples sorted by typical requests. The examples demonstrate use cases the bot can process. If you’re using AI-based bots seldom, it is recommended to check the examples to learn what type of prompt it is possible to request from a bot. |