I Tested Google’s 24/7 AI Assistant Gemini Spark—Here’s How It Helped

Gemini Spark represents Google’s innovative shift towards a smart, round-the-clock assistant tailored to streamline your digital experiences. Designed to tackle your online tasks effectively, it aims to simplify your life by managing things like overwhelming email inboxes, keeping track of personal expenses, and delivering summaries of essential information without extended screen time.

The assistant made its debut at Google’s annual developer conference in May, where CEO Sundar Pichai humorously noted that Spark could give users the freedom to “close your laptop.” This remark highlights Spark’s distinction from other AI systems, such as the popular OpenClaw, which necessitate leaving cumbersome machines active to complete tasks.

Pichai’s suggestion that Spark is a user-friendly AI tool is targeted towards individuals who prefer efficient productivity without delving into technical intricacies.

Although Spark has a strong focus on professional applications, integrating seamlessly with Google’s suite of productivity tools—Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Sheets, and Slides—its utility in personal contexts remains somewhat limited. As entertaining as it may sound to prepare a personal presentation, such activities aren’t the norm for many users unless specifically aimed at a creative audience.

Google has not effectively illustrated compelling everyday scenarios that make Spark appear indispensable for personal tasks rather than merely a convenience. A proposed “personal productivity” feature, for instance, includes sending users a summary of their daily emails and calendar events along with the top three tasks to complete. This approach presupposes that users rely on digital platforms for task organization rather than their own systems or simple lists.

Another feature suggests using Spark as a weekend planner by creating a Google Doc that recommends free activities based on open slots in your calendar. Again, this exemplifies a kind of scheduling orientation that many might not identify with.

Out of curiosity and early access to Gemini Spark, I decided to test its capability in real-world contexts. To my surprise, I found it to be a practical AI solution, though perhaps not groundbreaking enough to warrant its own brand.

Finding Savings

One of my initial tests involved grocery shopping, so I asked Spark to assist in researching household items at a local drugstore to take advantage of weekly deals and coupons.

Initially, Spark performed admirably, presenting a list of discounted products matching my request and suggesting coupons that I could redeem through the Walgreens app. It even provided tips on stacking promotions for an online order if I intended to buy additional personal care items.

However, AI can often stumble over specifics. One promo code suggested by Spark turned out to be invalid, despite it seeming to meet requirements. Nevertheless, it did guide me towards alternative cost-saving offers, such as buy-one-get-one-free deals and loyalty rewards that compensated for the error.

Planning a Packing List for a Day Trip

In another task, I requested help with preparing a packing list for an upcoming day trip. I asked Spark to check the weather, determine event specifics, and suggest necessary items like sunscreen or water. Additionally, I wanted the completed list to be imported into Google Keep.

Unfortunately, this presented a significant limitation—Spark cannot integrate with Google Keep. Instead, it offered to generate a Google Doc or draft an email, neither of which suited my needs for checklists.

Nonetheless, the packing list it compiled was impressive, highlighting essential items such as chairs, blankets, and rain gear. It also reminded me about dog restrictions at the event, which was convenient.

Summer Camp / Activity Suggestions

As summer approached, I wanted to explore activities for my teenager, so I tasked Spark with identifying local options available in addition to an engineering camp she was attending. My request limited travel distance to 30 minutes from home.

Spark delivered a robust list of activity suggestions tailored to my child’s interests, noting their proximity to our location. Unfortunately, I neglected to request pricing and dates for these programs, leaving me with additional independent research to complete.

Recurring Task: Summarize newsletters from email

I also wanted Spark to help manage my email subscriptions by preparing a weekly summary each Friday featuring the top five articles I shouldn’t miss, complete with links.

True to its design, Spark quickly sifted through my inbox and generated a summary that included context and links to read more. However, the link returned a Google redirect that necessitated an extra step to access the desired content. Additionally, it only provided four articles instead of five, seemingly interpreting my request as allowing for a range.

Recurring Event: Suggest Weekend Activities

I tested Spark’s ability to suggest local weekend activities. Living in a smaller city, I often have to scour various sources to learn of local events. Spark performed well by combining web searches with my Gmail to find relevant newsletters and lists to compile a tailored set of weekend activities.

It even highlighted a quirky local event—the Annual Beaver Queen Pageant—something I might have missed without Spark’s assistance.

Recurring Event: Check for Price Drops

Lastly, I instructed Spark to track price drops on an expensive item I had my eye on. It interpreted my request to mean a re-check every two weeks, which seems infrequent for identifying sales. I remain hopeful, but the expectation is low given my target price point.

More Ideas to Come

While Spark has shown potential for enhancing personal productivity, I can envision plenty of applications such as email monitoring and reminders. For instance, when I need to change our air filter, I plan to ask Spark for a timely reminder.

Room to Improve

While my experience with Spark was largely positive, it raises questions about the necessity of branding it as a standalone product. This approach can confuse consumers amidst a crowded AI landscape where many tools operate under separate identities.

It would be more intuitive to integrate Spark into Gemini’s broader suite instead of distinguishing it as its own feature. Furthermore, the absence of Google Keep compatibility feels like a missed opportunity for practical task management.

Finally, an option to engage with Spark through text messaging would streamline interactions considerably, making it even more user-friendly.