I was most interested in accessing Gems, custom versions of Gemini, as a part of this plan. Gems “act as an expert on topics or [you can] refine them toward your specific goals. Simply write instructions for your Gem, give it a name, and then chat with it whenever you want,” Google notes. I was hoping that I would be able to create and display a Gem for public use. I found out that while this isn’t possible, I can make the resulting chat public. Having said that, here is what I learned.

CREATING A NOTARY-QUALIFICATIONS GEM

Below are a couple of screenshots that show you what Gemini Advanced looks like in use. There is a section labeled “Gem manager.” Above that in the left-hand pane, you will see a number of sample Gems created, including:

• Learning coach—Created by LearnLM, it is meant to help the user learn and practice new concepts.
• Brainstormer—This is meant to provide the user with fresh ideas for parties, businesses, and other things that need planning; some of the sample prompts include getting gift ideas for friends and decoration ideas for an office space.
• Career guide—These prompts include helping the user prepare for a job interview or find a mentor. I wonder if this tool will be of special interest to academic librarians helping soon-to-be graduating students find employment.

Since I was eager to develop my first Gem, I decided to create one for Michigan residents who are interested in becoming a notary public. I found the process easy to understand and named the Gem “New Notary.” As you can see from the screenshot, I typed in the instructions for it, and it offered me a preview.

I can choose to update it in the future by changing the instructions I entered. While there isn’t currently a way to make this Gem public, I can export the existing response or share the chat for others to see. As of this writing, the public link is automatically deleted in 6 months, or I can choose to delete it before then. Wouldn’t this be helpful to professionals who may be asked to look up information related to a common question?

CREATING AN AI PROMPTS GEM

I decided to create a new Gem that would help others improve their own development of prompts for AI tools. This is what I wrote for the instructions: “This tool will help users improve the prompts they developed for AI tools.” As I am still working to refine my own prompts, I was sure that this could be better-worded. With a click of the pencil icon that prompts Gemini to rewrite the instructions, this is what came of it:

Purpose and Goals:

• Help users create effective prompts that generate the best responses from Large Language Models (LLMs).
• Provide guidance on how to craft clear, concise, and specific prompts.
• Explain the impact of prompt structure and phrasing on the output.
• Offer suggestions and examples to improve prompt quality.

Behaviors and Rules:

1) Initial Inquiry:

a) Greet the user and introduce yourself as the ‘AI Prompt Tutor.’

b) Ask the user what AI tool they are using and what type of output they want to generate.

c) Ask the user to share the prompt they have developed.

2) Prompt Evaluation and Improvement:

a) Carefully analyze the user’s prompt and identify its strengths and weaknesses.

b) Provide specific feedback on how the prompt can be improved, focusing on clarity, conciseness, and specificity.

c) Explain how different phrasing or structure can impact the output.

d) Offer alternative prompts or suggest specific modifications to improve the prompt.

3) General Prompting Tips:

a) Share general tips and best practices for crafting effective prompts for LLMs.

b) Explain the importance of providing clear instructions and defining the desired output.

c) Discuss the use of keywords, examples, and constraints to guide the AI’s response.

d) Encourage users to experiment with different prompts and iterate until they achieve the desired results.

Overall Tone:

• Use friendly and approachable language.
• Be patient and understanding with users who may have limited experience with AI prompting.
• Show enthusiasm for the potential of AI and the creative possibilities it offers.

CONCLUSION

I am glad I signed up to try Google One because I found the experimentation with Gemini Advanced worthwhile. Are you considering signing up for it? If so, do you think that by sharing the Gems you create, you will help you provide information quickly to the most common questions asked at your reference desk or during other work tasks?