Gemini Cheat Sheet
A quick reference for Google Gemini: the models, its multimodal and long-context strengths, Google Workspace integration, and how to prompt it well.
Models & modes
| Feature | Description | Example / tip |
|---|---|---|
| Flash is fast and cheap for everyday tasks; Pro is stronger for hard reasoning and long inputs. | Use Pro for complex analysis | |
| Gemini can take very large inputs, so you can paste whole documents or transcripts. | Summarize a 100-page PDF | |
| It understands images, audio and video, not just text. | Upload a photo and ask about it | |
| Kicks off a multi-step research run and returns a cited report. | Research a topic with sources |
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Where it helps
| Feature | Description | Example / tip |
|---|---|---|
| Gemini assists inside Docs, Gmail, Sheets and Slides. | Draft a reply in Gmail | |
| Save custom assistants with their own instructions for repeat tasks. | A 'brand voice' Gem for copy | |
| Strong at writing, explaining and debugging code. | Explain this function and add tests | |
| It can pull current information from Google Search. | Ask for up-to-date facts |
Prompting tips
| Feature | Description | Example / tip |
|---|---|---|
| As with any assistant, state who it is, the one task, and the output you want. | 'As an editor, tighten this to 100 words' | |
| Paste the full source rather than summarizing it yourself. | Drop in the whole transcript | |
| Show, don't just tell - upload the thing you're asking about. | 'What's wrong with this chart?' |
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between Gemini Flash and Pro?
Flash is optimized for speed and cost and handles most everyday tasks well. Pro is the more capable model for difficult reasoning, coding and very long inputs. Pick Flash for quick work and Pro when quality matters most.
What is Gemini best at?
Its standout strengths are a very large context window (paste whole documents) and true multimodal input (images, audio and video), plus tight integration with Google Workspace apps like Docs and Gmail.
Do ChatGPT prompt techniques work in Gemini?
Yes. Clear roles, context and format instructions transfer directly. The main thing to lean into with Gemini is its long context and multimodal input - paste the full source or upload the file instead of summarizing it first.
Is Gemini free?
There is a free tier, and paid plans unlock the most capable model, higher limits and features like Deep Research and deeper Workspace integration.
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