Body
Environment
U-M Google, Gemini app
Issue
- What is Google Gemini?
- How do I access and use the Google Gemini app with my U-M Google account?
Resolution
What is it?
Google Gemini is a generative AI chat app available to all University of Michigan faculty, staff (regular and temporary), and students. (Sponsored affiliates, alumni, and retirees do not have access to Gemini.) Like U-M’s GenAI services, Gemini can be used to create new content and images, help brainstorm ideas, draft or summarize writing, explore complex topics, and assist with research and creative work.
There are four AI models you can utilize with Gemini:
- 2.0 Flash: Get everyday help.
- 2.5 Flash (experimental): Uses advanced reasoning.
- 2.5 Pro (experimental): Best for complex tasks.
- Deep Research: Get in-depth answers.
There are several daily chat limitations for each Gemini model. However, Google does not document them as they are not concrete numbers and change frequently based on various factors. According to them, the number of prompts you can use before hitting the limit depends on factors like how long and complex your prompts are, the size and number of files you upload, and the length of your conversations with Gemini. Gemini will notify you when you’ve hit your limit and when you can access the model again.
How do I access it?
- U-M Google accounts have access to the free Gemini app as a Core Service covered under our agreement with Google.
- You can access Gemini via the web app at https://gemini.google.com or the mobile app (Android and iOS).
- Ensure you are logged in to your U-M Google account and not a personal (non-UM) account.
- Google does not display the University of Michigan logo beside your profile picture in the top right corner in Gemini as they do in other Google services.
- Some features, such as Gems, are only available to those who are 18 years or older.
- You can connect and use some Google Workspace services within the Gemini web app.
- Gemini allows you to “Connect Google Workspace” and authorize your U-M Google account when you first “@” mention an app in the chat prompt field or from your Settings > Apps option in Gemini.
- For Gemini to connect with the Workspace services, both “Smart features and personalization” settings must be turned on in your Gmail settings.
- When you connect Google Workspace, you can ask Gemini to:
- Summarize, get quick answers, and find information from Workspace apps and services like Gmail, Docs, and Drive.
- Create and manage your events in Google Calendar.
- Add and retrieve your tasks from Google Tasks.
- Create and retrieve notes and lists from Google Keep.
- As this functionality is still in beta, it may behave and respond in ways inconsistent with how you’d expect.
- You cannot access the Gemini service integrations available within Drive, Gmail, Calendar, etc. They're only available with paid versions of Gemini for Google Workspace (i.e., Gemini for Education paid add-ons). This includes, but is not limited to:
- You also do not have access to the following features/products:
Privacy & security
- Gemini at U-M is approved for use with the same types of sensitive data as your U-M Google account. Refer to the Sensitive Data Guide for more information.
- Institutional data, such as FERPA, should never be used with a personal (non-UM) Google account.
- The data protection U-M Google offers is not available in personal accounts.
- Your interactions, chats, uploaded files, and generated content are not human-reviewed or used to train Google’s AI models, as long as you are using your U-M Google account to access the app.
- They remain in U-M Google and are not shared externally with third parties.
- If you export content or code from Gemini, the terms and policies of the service you export to will apply to that content.
- You can view your Gemini Apps Activity at any time. Your conversation history is retained for 18 months, even if you delete a saved chat.
Resources
- You can export Gemini chat responses to Google Docs or Gmail as plain text by clicking the Share & export icon under the response. (If the response contains a table, you can also export it to Google Sheets.)
- When working with Python code in Gemini, do not click the “Export to Colab” button if prompted. Google Colab is an unsupported Additional Service that is not covered under our agreement with Google and does not offer any data protections. If you export it to this service, Google will collect your prompts, related code, generated output, related feature usage information, and your feedback. Google will use this data to improve and train its AI models.
- The ability to create Gems and Canvases is unavailable in the mobile app (but remains available in the web app).
- Google may advertise Gemini Advanced to you within the app and ask you to “try” it, but you won’t have the ability to do so with your U-M Google account.
- You also cannot pay to use Gemini Advanced.
- Gemini does not meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards for accessibility.
Google Help Center
Refer to the ITS AI Services site for more information on Google Gemini and NotebookLM at U-M.
Additional Information
Need additional information or assistance? Contact the ITS Service Center.