Google's AI tool Gemini gets a boost by working with deeper insight about you through personalization and app connections.
Google's Gemini is taking a major step toward becoming your truly personal AI assistant today with the launch of two game-changing features: personalization with Google Search history integration and widely available Deep Research capabilities. These updates transform Gemini from a generic AI tool to something that feels uniquely tailored to you and your needs.
The most significant announcement in today's Gemini update is the experimental "personalization" capability. With your permission, Gemini can now connect directly to your Google Search history to deliver responses that are specifically tailored to your interests and preferences.
What does this mean in practice? Ask Gemini for restaurant recommendations, and it will consider the cuisines and dining spots you've been searching for recently. Planning a vacation? Gemini will factor in destinations you've been researching. It's like having a personal assistant who knows what you're interested in without you having to explain it every time.
Google has implemented this feature with privacy in mind. You'll need to specifically select "Personalization (experimental)" from the model drop-down menu to enable it, and you can disconnect your Search history from Gemini at any time. The company emphasizes that they'll only use your Search history when their advanced reasoning models determine it's genuinely helpful for answering your question.
The personalization feature is powered by Gemini's upgraded 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental model, which has been enhanced to break down prompts into logical steps for better reasoning. This thinking model helps Gemini analyze your questions and determine when and how your Search history might be relevant to providing a better answer.
In the coming months, Google plans to expand this personalization capability to connect with other Google apps and services, including Photos and YouTube. This will give Gemini an even broader understanding of your activities and preferences to deliver more personalized experiences.
The other major headline today is that Deep Research, previously one of Gemini's most impressive but limited features, is now rolling out to all Gemini users worldwide for free. This powerful tool transforms Gemini into your personal research assistant, searching and synthesizing information from across the web to create comprehensive reports in minutes rather than hours.
Google has significantly upgraded Deep Research by powering it with the Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental model. This enhancement improves Gemini's capabilities across all research stages—from planning and searching to analyzing and reporting—resulting in higher-quality, multi-page reports that are more detailed and insightful.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the upgraded Deep Research is that Gemini now shows its "thoughts" in real-time as it browses the web. This gives you a window into how the AI is approaching your research task, making the process more transparent and educational.
Deep Research is now available in over 45 languages globally. While all Gemini users can try it at no cost, Gemini Advanced subscribers get expanded access for tackling more complex research projects.
Powering these new features is an upgraded version of Gemini's 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental model. This enhanced thinking engine now supports file uploads and—for Gemini Advanced users—a massive 1-million token context window. This means Gemini can process and understand the equivalent of hundreds of pages of text in a single conversation, allowing for far more complex interactions and analyses.
The model's improved efficiency and speed mean that even though it's doing more sophisticated reasoning, it still delivers responses quickly. This is the foundation that makes features like personalization and Deep Research possible.
Gemini's ability to interact with Google apps is also getting supercharged with the 2.0 Flash Thinking model. Calendar, Notes, Tasks, and soon Photos will all work with the new thinking model, allowing Gemini to handle complex requests that span multiple apps.
For example, you could ask Gemini to "Look up an easy cookie recipe on YouTube, add the ingredients to my shopping list, and find me grocery stores that are still open nearby." The AI can now break this down into steps, using different apps to complete each part of your request.
In the coming weeks, Google Photos will join the lineup of connected apps, enabling you to ask questions about your own pictures. Imagine asking Gemini to create a travel itinerary based on photos from your recent trip, or to check when your driver's license expires by analyzing a photo of it.
Today's announcement also includes the news that Gems—customizable AI experts you can create in Gemini—are now available to everyone at no cost. You can select from pre-made Gems or quickly create your own custom ones for specific purposes like translation, meal planning, or math coaching.
Creating a custom Gem is straightforward: navigate to the "Gems manager" on desktop, write instructions, give it a name, and you're ready to chat with your specialized AI assistant. You can even upload files when creating a Gem so it can reference specific information that matters to you.
These upgrades represent a fundamental shift in how AI assistants work. Instead of being generic tools that provide the same answers to everyone, Gemini is evolving into something that adapts specifically to you—understanding your preferences, habits, and needs.
The ability to connect with your Search history means less time explaining context and more time getting helpful, relevant answers. Deep Research becoming widely available means we all have access to a powerful tool that can save hours of web browsing and information synthesis.
For Android users especially, this deeper integration with Google's ecosystem creates a more seamless experience where your AI assistant feels like a natural extension of your digital life rather than a separate tool you have to manage.
These upgrades are rolling out today, with the personalization feature available in over 40 countries (excluding the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and the UK) and in more than 40 languages.
Ready to experience a more personal Gemini? Head to gemini.google.com or open your Gemini app to explore these new features.
Note: Some features, including personalization, are not available to users under 18 or Google Workspace and Education users. Future usage limits may apply.
