Getting Started with Gemini¶

Google offers three distinct Gemini products with different setup flows. Find yours below and follow the steps.

Time: ~20 minutes for Part 1, ~10 minutes for Part 2 Requires: A Google account

Part 1 — Gemini Setup¶

Which Gemini Do You Have?¶

Gemini (Personal Account)¶

The full Gemini experience for individual users. Free tier available; paid plans unlock longer context, more models, and advanced features.

1. Create Your Account¶

1. Go to gemini.google/subscriptions and sign in with your Google account
2. Choose a plan — Google AI Pro ($19.99/mo) is recommended for the full feature set

The free tier works for exploration, but paid plans unlock advanced models (Gemini 2.5 Pro), longer conversations, and Gems (custom AI personas).

Official docs: Gemini Help Center

2. Install Apps¶

• Web: Go to gemini.google.com in your browser
• iOS: App Store
• Android: Google Play

Sign in with the same Google account you used to subscribe.

3. Configure Personalization¶

1. Go to gemini.google.com → click your profile picture → Settings
2. Find Personalization and review your preferences
3. Gemini automatically builds a profile from your conversations over time

Starter template — paste this into your first conversation to set your preferences:

I'm a [your role] in [your industry]. I'm learning to build AI-powered workflows and agents. I prefer concise answers with practical examples. When I ask about technical concepts, explain them in business terms first, then provide the technical details. Please remember this for future conversations.

Official docs: Gemini Help — Personalization

4. Enable Memory¶

1. Go to Settings (gear icon or profile menu)
2. Look for Saved Info and enable it
3. Review what Gemini has remembered periodically

Gemini builds memory from your conversations over time. You can also explicitly say "remember that I prefer..." to save specific preferences.

Official docs: Gemini Help — Personalization and memory

5. Enable Extensions¶

Extensions connect Gemini to Google services and third-party tools.

1. Go to Settings → Extensions
2. Enable the extensions you want — Google Workspace, Maps, YouTube, Flights, Hotels
3. Some extensions are on by default for paid plan users

Official docs: Gemini Help — Extensions

You're Done When¶

• Google account created and plan selected
• Gemini accessible on web and mobile
• Personalization configured with your role and preferences
• Saved Info / memory enabled
• At least one extension enabled

Gemini in Google Workspace¶

AI features embedded across Google Workspace apps — Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Meet. Your Workspace admin controls availability. Optional AI Expanded Access add-on provides higher usage limits.

1. Verify Access¶

1. Check with your IT admin to confirm Gemini is enabled for your organization
2. Look for the Gemini icon (sparkle/star) in the side panel of Gmail, Docs, Sheets, or Slides
3. If you don't see it, ask your admin about your organization's Workspace plan and Gemini settings

Official docs: Google Workspace Admin Help — Gemini

2. Access Gemini¶

Workspace users use the same Gemini app as personal users — just sign in with your work account.

• Web: Go to gemini.google.com and sign in with your work email
• Mobile: Download the Gemini app (iOS / Android) and sign in with your work account

3. Explore AI Features in Workspace Apps¶

Gemini appears as a side panel or inline suggestion across Workspace:

Look for the Gemini icon in the side panel or toolbar of each app.

Official docs: Get started with Gemini in Workspace

4. Configure Personalization¶

Personalization on Workspace accounts is admin-controlled — your options may be limited compared to personal accounts.

1. Go to gemini.google.com → Settings
2. Look for Profile — set your preferred name, job title, and industry if available
3. If your admin has enabled it, you can connect additional data sources

Automated memory may not be available on Workspace accounts. You can manually set preferences by telling Gemini "remember that I prefer..." in conversation.

You're Done When¶

• Confirmed Gemini is enabled for your Workspace account
• Gemini accessible via web and mobile with your work account
• Explored Gemini features in at least one Workspace app (Gmail, Docs, Sheets, etc.)
• Profile / personalization configured (if available)

Gemini Enterprise¶

A separate Google Cloud product (formerly Google Agentspace) with enterprise search, custom agent builder, and third-party data connectors. Has its own standalone app — separate from the standard Gemini app.

1. Get Access¶

Gemini Enterprise is provisioned through Google Cloud by your organization's admin.

1. Check with your IT admin to confirm your organization has Gemini Enterprise
2. Request access if you don't have it — provisioning is done through the Google Cloud Console

Gemini Enterprise is currently invite-only for the standalone app experience.

Official docs: Gemini Enterprise | Compare editions

2. Install the Gemini Enterprise App¶

Gemini Enterprise has its own standalone app, separate from the standard Gemini app.

• Web: Access through your Google Cloud Console or the enterprise portal your admin provides
• iOS / Android: Download the Gemini Enterprise app (separate from the standard Gemini app) — your admin will provide installation instructions

3. Connect Data Sources¶

Gemini Enterprise connects to your organization's tools and knowledge bases:

Your admin configures which connectors are available. Once connected, Gemini Enterprise can search across all your organization's data from a single interface.

4. Explore Agents¶

Gemini Enterprise includes an agent platform:

• Pre-built agents — Ready-to-use agents for common enterprise tasks (IT help desk, HR FAQ, etc.)
• No-code agent builder — Create custom agents that combine your data sources with Gemini's capabilities
• Enterprise search — Search across all connected data sources from one place

You're Done When¶

• Access provisioned by your Google Cloud admin
• Gemini Enterprise app installed (web and/or mobile)
• At least one data source connected (admin-configured)
• Explored pre-built agents or the agent builder

Part 2 — Google Cloud & Developer Tools¶

Developer tools for building with Gemini models. These are optional — if you only need Gemini for conversations, you're done after Part 1.

1. Install Antigravity IDE¶

Antigravity is Google's AI-powered IDE — a VS Code fork built around an agent-first development workflow. Powered by Gemini, it features autonomous coding agents, parallel workspaces, and artifact-based transparency (task lists, plans, screenshots) so you can verify what agents are doing.

1. Download from antigravity.google/download — available for macOS, Windows, and Linux
2. Install and sign in with your Google account

Free during public preview with generous Gemini rate limits.

Official docs: Getting Started with Antigravity · Antigravity Developer Blog

2. IDE Extension — Gemini Code Assist¶

Use Gemini inside VS Code or Cursor. See AI Code Editor Setup for installation instructions.

3. Install Gemini CLI¶

Google's command-line AI assistant. Works directly with your files and terminal — useful for coding tasks, file operations, and automation. Requires Node.js 18+ and a Google account.

Install:

npm install -g @google/gemini-cli

Verify:

gemini --version

Official docs: Gemini CLI documentation

4. Google Cloud & Vertex AI (Optional)¶

Google Cloud is the platform for deploying Gemini models at scale. Vertex AI is the ML platform within Google Cloud for training, tuning, and serving Gemini models via API — used for production workloads, custom model tuning, and enterprise integrations.

1. Go to console.cloud.google.com and create a project (or use an existing one)
2. Enable the Vertex AI API in your project
3. Try the Vertex AI quickstart to send your first API request

Most people don't need this — Antigravity and Gemini CLI authenticate directly through your Google account.

Official docs: Vertex AI documentation · Google Cloud getting started

You're Done When¶

Part 2 — Developer Tools:

• Antigravity IDE installed and signed in (optional)
• Gemini Code Assist IDE extension installed in VS Code or Cursor (optional)
• Gemini CLI installed — gemini --version prints a version number (optional)
• Google Cloud project created with Vertex AI API enabled (optional — for cloud workloads)