You don't need to be a computer expert to make AI work for you. Here are a few ways to let Gemini be your daily time-saver:

• Summarize and condense meeting notes and documents

• Draft emails, announcements, and newsletters

• Simplify event planning

• Create text and images

The Google AI Prompts for Work guide serves as an introduction and overview of Gemini and NotebookLM, a how-to on structuring prompts, and provides ready-to-use prompts for different professional roles. See more learning resources below.

Before You Begin: Using Gemini With Your Data

Using the Smith instance of Gemini means your chat content, as well as any Smith data you use in those chats, stays within the Smith environment. Google will not use that data for training or other purposes. 

As a reminder, you can use Public and Restricted data in Smith's Gemini, but not 🚫 Confidential data 🚫 unless it has been explicitly pre-approved. See Data Security Classifications for the related policy and more information. If you are unsure if your information is confidential or restricted, please request a data security review.

To read more about how Gemini uses your data and what controls you have, see the Data Security and Privacy section on this page.  

Gemini Overview

Using Gemini is as simple as having a conversation, and you don't need to be a computer expert to get great results. Think of Gemini like a helpful, deeply knowledgeable digital assistant—you just tell it what you need using normal, everyday language, and it goes to work for you.

To Begin: 

• Open a chat

• Enter a prompt

• Select a model

• Review and refine your Gemini answer

Take a look at the sections below to learn how to navigate Gemini and for more information about each step!

How to Use and Manage Chats

To get the most out of Gemini, look below to learn how to organize and use your chats. 

• New Chat: When you're ready to begin a new project, starting a new chat gives you a clean slate and keeps your AI assistant focused on the task at hand. 

• Recent Chat: You can continue to build on a previous chat if you are brainstorming, editing writing (report, email, etc.,) or asking follow-up questions about the same subject. 

How to Create Prompts 

The prompt box is where you give Gemini its assignments. The key is being clear and specific to what you are trying to achieve and providing context. The following is a guideline for how to structure a helpful prompt. 

For an introduction and overview of Gemini and NotebookLM, a guide to structuring prompts, and ready-to-use prompts for different professional roles, see Google AI Prompts for Work. Note: References to Gemini features for Google Workspace are not currently enabled for Smith College accounts.

Gemini Models

Gemini comes in several different versions (Flash, Thinking, and Pro) each built to handle different types of tasks—from answering quick questions and writing emails to solving complex problems. Look below to find the perfect version for your needs.

For Google Workspace for Education users, including Smith community members with active Smith accounts, the privacy policy for Gemini is part of the same legal framework as Gmail, Drive, and Docs. Because Gemini is a Core Service, it includes enterprise-grade data protections. For your convenience, key points are summarized below.

Allowed Data Classifications

• Restricted, Public

Training AI Models

Under Smith's Google for Workspace Education license, Google does not use your Gemini data to train its AI models. 

Data Access and Controls

• How can I see my chat history?

You can see a history of your chat threads in the Gemini app, in the left menu, which displays a history of your chats. You can also view your Gemini activity at https://myactivity.google.com/product/gemini, including your chat history.

• How can I delete my chats in Gemini? 

The ability to delete individual chats is turned off. However, your conversations are only retained for a limited period and is currently set to 18 months for Smith users.

Data Privacy

• Who can see my chats (prompts + gen AI results)? 

Google: Google employees and contractors are legally and technically prohibited from reviewing your Gemini conversations. 

Smith: Google administrators at Smith cannot see or "peek" into your chat window or conversation history. 

Audits: If a safety or compliance audit is required, chat data is subject to the discovery and compliance tools.

• Does the information I provide in Gemini chats become part of Smith's Google data that others in the Smith community can query?

No, your interactions with Gemini—including both your prompts and the AI's responses—are not visible to other students, faculty, or staff. There is no centralized database where your Gemini chat information is published or made searchable by the Smith community.

Data Storage

When using Gemini, your data is stored in the Gemini Apps Activity within your Google Account. 

References

For further details, refer to: 

• Google Workspace for Education Privacy Notice

• Generative AI in Google Workspace Privacy Hub

• Google's Privacy Policy

• Google's Terms of Service