Get Started with Google Gemini (free tier)

Google Gemini’s free tier is an AI assistant designed to enhance productivity and creativity. It can be used for tasks such as drafting emails, summarizing documents, and generating creative content. By leveraging its capabilities, users can save time and effort while ensuring clear and professional communication.

Google Gemini (free tier) Features

  • Chat Limit: Gemini operates under a sliding capacity model, meaning your usage is tracked in the background and limits are triggered based on:
    • Prompt length and complexity
    • Number and size of uploaded files
    • Use of advanced tools (e.g., Deep Research, code folders)
  • Invisible quota: Users are not shown a specific counter. Instead, Gemini will notify you with messages like: “You’ve reached your capacity, try again later.”
  • Cooldown periods: After hitting a limit, you typically will get a message indicating when you will be able to continue chatting again.
  • File Upload: Gemini can analyze the content of files you upload into the chat box. 
    • Maximum files per prompt: 10
    • Maximum size per file: 100 MB
    • For videos, the max size is 2 GB per video. Max duration is 5 minutes total per prompt. 
  • Transparency: All responses from Gemini include verifiable citations for transparency. 
  • Microphone: With Gemini’s speech capabilities, you can communicate by speaking to it instead of typing.
  • Persistent Chat History: Gemini automatically saves your conversations, allowing you to revisit and continue them later. Chats are automatically titled based on their content, but you can rename them or delete individual conversations. For more help with chats see the full chat user guide. 
  • Conversational Memory: Remembers useful facts you share (like preferences or recurring tasks) to personalize future interactions.
  • Natural Language Programming: Converts plain language into code, formulas, or automation scripts (especially useful in Excel, Power Automate or programming languages).
  • Support and Training: Please refer to Google’s Generative AI training & help page.

Gemini Limitations 

Privacy and Protections 

  • Data Classification: You can include up to moderate risk data in Gemini chats.
  • Data Security: All your chat data is securely encrypted and cannot be accessed by anyone after the chat session has ended.
  • Data Usage: Google does not use your chats to train the underlying AI models when using your Yale Google Workspace (Eliapps) account.
  • Data Access: Gemini has access to data if you explicitly copy data into the chat.
  • Sign-In Protection: When you sign in to Gemini, be sure to sign in with your Yale Google Workspace (Eliapps) account. If you sign in with a personal Google account your chat can be used to train underlying AI models, and you should only use low risk data.
  • Further Information: For more details about privacy and commercial data protection, please refer to Google’s documentation.

Accessing Gemini

Access Chat with Google Gemini  and log in with your Yale Google Workspace account. If you do not currently have a Yale Google Workspace (EliApps) account, and cannot sign in, you can contact the ITS Help Desk to have an account created.