Google Gemini: Not Quite Ripe Yet

Google is a great company with great services and products. Gemini is not one of them — not yet. I frequently use different AI services to help me with my work. I note which ones perform well and which ones don't on various subjects and task types. Sometimes, especially on difficult questions I give two or more AIs the same query, and the responses are particularly revealing.

First, let me say all the AIs I have tried are good at something. Some may be no more than a "me too" service, offering solutions no different than the 80%. I don't spend much time on those. Some give original answers, and sometimes those answers are really good.

Gemini has been particularly disappointing lately. I try to play to its strengths, asking questions that can be "Googled" and letting it summarize what I could have got from a Google search. I expect it to have more recent information and to output with the same objectivity and awareness I expect from a Google search. Lately, I am finding it stating there is no information on a topic and fronting an opinion instead — I want to ask, who are you and who let you into Google? Whenever Gemini fails, I have to Google it myself for a sanity check. Then I go to my other favorite AIs and confirm they are better informed.

Google is planning to air some big Super Bowl ads for Gemini this weekend. I only hope they can fix their issues and get it running in time to avoid embarrassing themselves!

~Tom/*