Google's Gemini assistant is moving beyond simple question-and-answer use, according to a new Engadget guide. The tool now supports scheduled actions that run automatically, such as checking a user's calendar each morning to estimate travel time between appointments or searching the web at a set time for news on a chosen topic. The guide notes a limit of 10 scheduled actions at once, and cautions that real-time traffic data may not always be reflected.
For users who repeat the same types of prompts, Gemini's new "skills" feature—which is replacing Gems—can store instructions and preferences. A user could, for example, create a skill containing brand guidelines for a weekly newsletter, then invoke it with a command like "/skillname" rather than restating the rules each time. Google says the invocation method will soon switch to an @ symbol.
A more powerful option is Gemini Spark, an always-on agent for paying AI Pro and Ultra subscribers. Spark can scan a week's worth of emails, summarize the important ones, generate a to-do list, and add appointments to a calendar—even while the user's devices are off. Engadget notes that Spark requires users to connect Gmail, Calendar, and Drive manually, and that Google says it will ask before taking major actions. Feature availability may also vary by region.