Meet the platforms (hands-on)

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Gemini — beyond the chat box

Do it · ~12 min

Gemini — beyond the chat box

As of June 2026 — menus move. UK info: Gemini about (GB).

Open gemini.google.com (or the Gemini app) and sign in with your Google account.

1 — Find your plan / model label

  1. Check the header, settings, or model selector for which Gemini variant you're on (free vs AI Plus / Pro — names in UI vary).
  2. Note if 3.1 Pro or similar appears, or if upgrade prompts show.

2 — Find Deep Research

  1. Look for Deep Research on the home screen, in Tools, or under a + menu.
  2. Open it — read what sources it mentions (web, Gmail, Drive on paid tiers).
  3. If greyed or upgrade-only, write not on my tier and where the button was.

3 — Find image generation

  1. Look for Create image, Nano Banana, or image tools in the composer.
  2. Open the entry — generation optional.
  3. Note caps or age/geo warnings if shown.

Optional — grounding test

Ask a harmless factual question (no private data): "What's the weather like in Sheffield today?" — see if the app cites web or live data. That's grounding, not magic.

You should see: plan/model indicator, Deep Research entry (or documented absence), and image tool entry (or documented absence).

Gemini clicked for me the day I needed something tied into Google's own stuff — Docs, and email context on the paid tiers. I don't use it as my only chat; I reach for it specifically when the Google stack is what matters.

Continue — Grok (optional), or straight to the checkpoint.

Warning

Real power. Educational use only.

What we teach you to build is genuinely powerful — uncensored assistants, agents, and automations on your own hardware. In the wrong hands, that is as dangerous as malicious code in the wrong hands. We do not teach illegal, malicious, or harmful use. You are responsible for what you deploy.

See what we mean →