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What is it?
Gemini is a family of AI models from Google, available in variants from Gemini Nano (for on-device use) to Gemini Ultra (for complex tasks). The models are multimodal: they can process and combine text, images, audio, and code simultaneously.
For SMEs, Gemini is most visible through Google Workspace: features such as summarisation in Gmail, Docs, and Meet run on the Gemini models. It is also available as an API for developers building applications on top of it.
Why it matters for SMEs
For organisations already working in Google Workspace, Gemini is the most direct way to use AI without separate tools or logins. The integration sits inside the tools employees already use.
- Gemini in Workspace speeds up daily office work such as drafting emails, summarising meetings, and reviewing documents, without changing existing habits.
- As an API, Gemini offers multimodal capabilities: you can build an application that understands both a PDF and an attached drawing, which is useful in sectors such as construction or real estate.
- Google's infrastructure means data is processed within existing Google agreements, which is a relevant advantage for European privacy requirements.
The choice between Gemini and an alternative such as GPT depends on your existing tool stack, the depth of integration you want, and the specific tasks you want to automate.
How it works
Gemini models are accessible via Google AI Studio and the Gemini API, as well as through Workspace integrations. You send a request with text, images, or other data, and the model generates a response or completes a task based on the given instructions.
- Access: through Google Workspace (built-in AI features), Google AI Studio (for developers), or the Gemini API.
- Input: you send a prompt, optionally combined with documents, images, or other data.
- Processing: the model analyses all input types simultaneously and reasons across the combination.
- Output: text, code, a summary, or another desired result, depending on the instruction.
- Integration: via the API you connect Gemini to your own workflows or applications.
As with other foundation models, output quality depends heavily on the instruction and the context you provide.
Example in practice
Picture a property agency that receives dozens of construction drawings and plot descriptions as PDFs and attachments every week. With an application built on the Gemini API, staff can ask questions about the contents of a specific package, including attached floor plans. The model reads both the text and the drawing, provides a summary of the relevant plot information, and flags any discrepancies. The employee checks the result and acts on that summary.
Comparison and misconceptions
Gemini is Google's model family; GPT is OpenAI's model family. Both are foundation models, but Gemini is deeply integrated into Google Workspace while GPT is most accessible via the OpenAI API and tools such as ChatGPT. The choice depends on your stack, not on an objective quality ranking.
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