7 great ways to use the Gemini AI sidebar – Computerworld

Google’s generative AI chatbot, named Gemini, is available as a web app. But you can also access most of Gemini’s AI tools in a side panel as you’re using Google Workspace apps including Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, and Gmail. Using the Gemini sidebar within a Workspace app is much more convenient and contextual than copying and pasting between browser tabs.

When you’re in one of these five main Workspace apps, open the Gemini side panel by clicking the nova star icon that’s next to your user profile icon at the upper-right corner. From this side panel, you can instruct Gemini to generate new content (such as text, tables, or slides), make changes to your current document or other file, or analyze its content to provide context.

Keep in mind that, like all genAI tools, Gemini can make mistakes, so it’s always advisable to check the output carefully for errors. What’s more, the copy it writes is often generic and flat, but it can be a useful starting point for you to refine and add color to.