Exploring Gemini's Deep Research Feature

I've spent plenty of time playing with ChatGPT's Deep Research tool and getting long and complex reports on every passing notion that sparks my curiosity. Naturally, Google piqued my interest by making Gemini's identically named and broadly similar Deep Research feature. As the name states, Deep Research is Google Gemini's AI-powered research assistant. Rather than the usual search and response of the standard Gemini model, it puts together a full report, including citations from sources that it analyzes and creates a tidy package from.

Explaining a Movie

We've all had that moment after a deliberately confusing movie or TV show where you're baffled and perhaps had to pretend to understand what was happening. Sometimes, not even the creators knew what they were going for (the story of Lost). Gemini is the non-judgmental genius who will guide you out of the maze. I asked the AI to: "Explain the plot of ‘Tenet’ to someone who didn't understand it all." The AI's report, amusingly titled "Unraveling the Temporal Knot," had everything I wanted. It walked through the movie’s complex concepts, like inverted entropy and temporal pincer movements, and even made a chart of the various characters and their goals and methods.

Resolving an Argument

I wanted to challenge Gemini and went for combining science with social interactions. I decided to see if Gemini could help diplomatically defuse a particular example. I explained to the AI that: "My extended family member insists the Earth is flat and I need a gentle but compelling explanation of why it's not." Gemini came back with a long, easily understood explanation covering all aspects of the facts that the Earth is round, ranging from historical anecdotes to simple observations anyone can make.

Assistance with Purchases

Next, I wanted to see how much help Gemini Deep Research could be when making a purchase. Ahead of some future house painting plans, I asked the AI to "Research the best paint finishes for high-traffic areas that are easy to clean and durable." The report that came back was thorough, diving into different kinds of high traffic and exploring the chemical differences that make paint more or less durable.

Road Trip Planning

I've been dreaming of doing a long weekend road trip with my wife not far from here. I asked the AI to: "Help me plan a 4-day road trip through upstate New York focusing on scenic hikes, cozy bed-and-breakfasts, and local food." The AI came up with a very solid itinerary, laying out activities for each day, places to stay, hikes to try, restaurants to eat at, a suggested packing list, and tips for the drive.