Level Up Your Smart Assistant: All About the Latest Gemini!

Artificial Intelligence - Prompt by Leonard Jefferson
Jul 23
6 min read

Hey everyone! Ever wonder how those super-smart AI assistants work, like the one on your phone or computer? Well, today we're going to talk about the latest updates to Google's super-smart AI, Gemini, as of July 23, 2025! It's like having a super-powered brain helper right at your fingertips.

What's New and Awesome with Gemini?

Google has been working hard to make Gemini even better, and there are some cool new things to know!

Super Fast and Smart (and Not Too Pricey!): Imagine a super-fast and really smart version of Gemini that's also affordable. That's what gemini-2.5-flash-lite is! Google made it so that more people can build awesome stuff with AI without spending tons of money. It's quicker than previous speedy models, and Google says it's even smarter at figuring things out, coding, and understanding pictures and sounds.
Videos That Talk! Get ready for some cool video magic! The veo-3.0-generate-preview update means Gemini can now create videos with sound! That's a huge step forward for making even more amazing creative projects.
Better Picture Power: Gemini's picture-making abilities (called Imagen 4) got a boost too, so you can create even more amazing images.
Smarter Understanding: There's a new, stable version of a model called gemini-embedding-001 that helps Gemini understand text even better. Think of it like Gemini getting a clearer picture of what you're asking.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: For those who use Gemini for bigger projects, there's a new "Batch Mode" that lets you send lots of requests at once, which is super handy for big tasks.
Even More Powerful Thinking: The most powerful version of Gemini, gemini-2.5-pro, is now even smarter with something called "adaptive thinking." It's like Gemini can learn and adjust its thinking as it goes, making it even better at solving tricky problems.

These updates are all about making Gemini faster, smarter, and easier for everyone to use, whether you're just trying it out or building something big!

How Much Does Gemini Cost?

Gemini has different options, so you can pick what works best for you!

Gemini Free: This is totally free! It's great if you just want to try out AI or use it for simple tasks. You get access to a basic version of Gemini.
Gemini Advanced: For about $19.99 a month, you get a much more powerful version of Gemini (Gemini 1.5 Pro) and extra perks like lots of storage with Google Drive. This is perfect if you want to use Gemini for more serious projects or for schoolwork.
Gemini for Businesses: If you're using Gemini for a team at work or school, there are special plans.
- Gemini for Workspace – Business costs around $20 per person per month. It lets you use AI inside Google apps like Gmail, Docs, and Sheets.
- Gemini for Workspace – Enterprise is around $30 per person per month. This is for bigger teams and gives you the full power of Gemini 1.5 Pro, plus extra security and features for meetings.
For Developers (Building Your Own AI Stuff): If you're a coder or someone building applications, you pay based on how much you use Gemini (by "tokens"). There are different prices for different Gemini models, and some free options for trying things out.

How to Get Gemini on Your Devices!

Want to get Gemini on your phone, computer, or Chromebook? Here's how!

On Your iPhone (or iPad):

Open the App Store: Look for the blue icon with a white "A" on your home screen.
Search for "Google Gemini": Tap the search icon (magnifying glass) and type "Google Gemini."
Download the App: Find "Google Gemini" by Google and tap "Get." You might need to use your Apple ID or Face ID/Touch ID to confirm.
Open and Sign In: Once it's downloaded, open the app and sign in with your Google Account.

On Your Android Phone:

Open the Google Play Store: Look for the colorful triangle icon.
Search for "Google Gemini": Tap the search bar at the top and type "Google Gemini."
Install the App: Find "Google Gemini" by Google and tap "Install."
Open and Sign In: After it installs, open the app and sign in with your Google Account. You might also be able to set it as your default assistant!

On Your Chromebook:

There isn't a dedicated "app" like on phones, but you can use Gemini in your browser or set it up as a "web app" for a more app-like feel. If you're a bit more techy, you can also enable Linux on your Chromebook to install a command-line version of Gemini.

Using the Web:
1. Open your Chrome browser.
2. Go to gemini.google.com.
3. You can then use Gemini right in your browser!
Creating a Web App (like an app shortcut):
1. Go to gemini.google.com in your Chrome browser.
2. Click the three dots in the top-right corner of the browser.
3. Go to "Save and share" and then "Install page as app..."
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to create a shortcut that acts like an app.

On Your MacBook (Apple Computers):

Just like Chromebooks, there isn't an official dedicated desktop app for Mac, but you can use it in your web browser or create a shortcut that feels like an app.

Using the Web:
1. Open your Safari or Chrome browser.
2. Go to gemini.google.com.
3. You can use Gemini directly in your browser.
Creating a Web App (PWA - Progressive Web App):
1. Go to gemini.google.com in Safari.
2. In Safari's menu, look for an option like "Add to Home Screen" or "Add to Dock" (this might vary slightly based on your macOS version). This creates a shortcut that opens Gemini in its own window.
Third-Party Apps: Some apps like "Fello AI" allow you to access Gemini alongside other AI models from your Mac desktop.

On Your Windows Computer:

You can use Gemini in your web browser or create a special shortcut that makes it feel like a desktop app.

Using the Web:
1. Open your Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome browser.
2. Go to gemini.google.com.
3. You can use Gemini directly in your browser.
Creating a Web App (PWA):
- In Microsoft Edge:
  1. Go to gemini.google.com.
  2. Click the three dots in the top-right corner.
  3. Go to "Apps" and select "Install this site as an app."
  4. Click "Install."
- In Google Chrome:
  1. Go to gemini.google.com.
  2. Click the three dots in the top-right corner.
  3. Choose "Save and share," then select "Install page as app."
  4. Click "Install."
- Once installed, you can find the Gemini app in your Start Menu and pin it to your Taskbar for quick access!

On Your Linux Computer:

For Linux users, Gemini is typically accessed through its command-line interface (CLI) or through a web browser. Installing the CLI requires some basic knowledge of using the terminal.

Install Python 3.x: Most Linux distributions come with Python, but make sure you have version 3.x installed.
Install the Gemini CLI: Open your terminal and run this command:
Bash
pip install google-generativeai
Set Your API Key: You'll need an API key from Google AI Studio. Once you have it, set it as an environment variable in your terminal. For example:
Bash
export GEMINI_API_KEY="your_api_key_here"
(Replace "your_api_key_here" with your actual API key.)
Start Using Gemini: Now you can use gemini commands in your terminal! For example:
Bash
gemini "Tell me a fun fact about dolphins."
For a more user-friendly experience, you can also access gemini.google.com in your web browser.