I used to make enjoyable of this Gemini characteristic. Now, I completely like it

If you’ve heard Google discuss Gemini throughout a Google I/O keynote, a Pixel product launch, or wherever else during the last couple of years, you’ll know that there’s one use case instance Google likes to tout for Gemini: trip planning.

Are you constructing a journey itinerary? Trying to determine the place on the planet you must trip? Wanting to know if there’s a dependable prepare/metro system the place you’re touring to? In all of those situations and extra, Google’s answer is straightforward — let Gemini do it for you!

I’ve misplaced monitor of what number of occasions I’ve heard Google beat this identical drum, and for some time, I dismissed it as nothing greater than a ridiculous advertising and marketing tactic. Who on the planet would really wish to use Gemini to plan a trip?

My accomplice and I (considerably spontaneously) determined earlier this summer season that this could be the 12 months we lastly took a trip to Europe. It’s one thing we’ve mentioned doing for properly over six years now, however for one purpose or one other, we simply haven’t been capable of.

Having determined that 2025 can be the 12 months of our long-awaited trip, we then had an enormous follow-up query to reply: the place in Europe did we wish to go? My accomplice and I’ve typically talked about going to Italy, although I’ve been eager to take them to Paris and Barcelona after touring there for work journeys. On high of all that, they’ve at all times dreamt of visiting London.

Quickly coming to a stalemate, and remembering the 50+ occasions Google has advised me Gemini is nice for this form of factor, I made a decision utilizing it for a fast query or two couldn’t damage. Even if we didn’t use Gemini for the entire planning course of, it’d come in useful firstly.

I started with a easy immediate: “Countries in Europe to visit.” More than something, I simply needed a neat checklist of locations to reference and encourage some brainstorming. While I used to be already conscious of all of the nations Gemini advisable, I appreciated it breaking them up into completely different classes, akin to locations to go to for nature and outside actions, or some choices which can be higher suited to first-time guests.

As we scanned via the checklist, my accomplice and I noticed we had one other massive resolution to make: how a lot time we needed to spend in Europe. Since I already had Gemini open, I figured it couldn’t damage to ask a follow-up query. We have been caught between seven days, 9 days, or two weeks, so I requested Gemini which of these can be greatest. Within a second, I had a well-organized breakdown for every instructed period of time and the variety of actions we may embody for every one.

We rapidly decided that we needed to go to Italy. But ought to we attempt to go to a number of European nations, or absolutely immerse ourselves in Italy and discover a couple of completely different cities throughout the nation? Again, since Gemini was already open and had a rapidly rising historical past of our journey planning dialog, I turned to it as soon as extra for some advisable itineraries — together with choices for Italy and different nations, in addition to an Italy-only setup.

Gemini (rightly) instructed sticking with Italy, noting the simpler journey occasions between Italian cities in comparison with traversing between completely different nations. It additionally advisable which cities we must always go to — lots of which ended up in our remaining journey plans.

This is how issues went throughout all of our trip planning classes. My accomplice and I’d discuss amongst ourselves, asking Gemini for extra info or a advice once we wanted it, and that’s the sample we rapidly settled into — and it labored exceptionally properly.

Could I’ve gotten comparable info utilizing Google Search? Sure. And in lots of instances, I nonetheless choose conventional serps over half-baked AI instruments. However, there are situations the place one thing like Gemini works higher than Google Search, and the holiday planning instance – as foolish as I used to assume it was — is one such state of affairs.

As for the “why” behind it, it actually boils down to a few key issues.

The first is the flexibility to ask extra detailed and sophisticated questions than what Google Search is able to. I do know that appears like essentially the most generic, pro-AI hyperbole, nevertheless it’s one thing I did plenty of whereas planning this trip. I’ll at all times use an everyday search engine for rapidly wanting up film showtimes or discovering a restaurant to eat at, but when I must ask one thing particular like, “If I fly into Milan and want to visit Rome, Venice, and Florence, what would be the best route and would I have enough time if I’m staying in Italy for two weeks?,” Gemini is a lot better suited to present me a useful reply.

The different purpose Gemini was so useful is its reminiscence. Since I requested all of my travel-related questions in the identical thread, Gemini may use that dialog historical past for any future questions. Right after I requested the above query concerning the cities I used to be fascinated with visiting, I adopted it up with, “How many hotel nights in each place would I need? Also, change of plans, we’re going to fly back home from Rome instead of going back to Milan.” I didn’t need to repeat all the cities we have been visiting or the tough timeline for every one. Gemini already knew the mandatory background data.

The third and remaining factor is one thing I’ve lengthy neglected with Gemini, however has turn into indispensable throughout this planning course of: saving (and pinning) Gemini conversations. Whenever I must reference one thing about our journey or have a brand new query to ask, I can rapidly achieve this within the current thread, which comprises a few months’ value of journey planning data. I’ve that thread pinned on the very high of my Gemini historical past, so it’s at all times inside attain. Furthermore, having the ability to seek for one thing in that dialog has been nice, too.

While I haven’t solely used Gemini for organizing my trip, it’s definitely performed an enormous half within the planning course of — and I don’t assume I may have replicated its usefulness had I caught with my common Google Search-only strategy.

Because of all that, I believe I owe Google an apology. As annoying and heavy-handed because the journey planning instance could also be, I now perceive why Google makes use of it so typically as a showcase for Gemini. It actually does play to all of Gemini’s strengths. If I’m being sincere with myself, I don’t assume I can return to planning an enormous trip like this with out Gemini’s assist.

You win this one, Google.