Tech for Beginners Part 41: Getting Started with Google Gemini and Other AI Assistants

ChatGPT is not the only AI assistant you can use. If you have an Android phone, you probably already have Google's AI assistant, Gemini, built in. If you use WhatsApp, you may have noticed a colourful circle in your chats: that is Meta AI. And Windows computers come with Microsoft Copilot. This is Part 41 of our Tech for Beginners series. Today we will get started with Gemini on Android, on the web and inside Google apps, take a quick look at Copilot, Meta AI on WhatsApp and other assistants, and learn how to pick the right assistant for each task.

Gemini uses your Google account, the same one you set up on your phone in Part 2 on Android setup and use for Gmail from Part 18. If you want to explore another option, our beginner's guide to Claude covers one more popular assistant. In Part 40, we covered ChatGPT; the same basic habits apply to every AI assistant.

A note on changes: AI assistants change constantly. Names, features, free limits, paid plans and the way you open them differ between phones, countries and months. Google, Microsoft and Meta publish current details on their help pages. Treat the steps below as a guide.

Gemini on your Android phone

Google has been replacing the old Google Assistant with Gemini on Android phones. According to Google's help pages, on many phones Gemini is now the assistant that opens when you hold the power button or say "Hey Google".

How to open Gemini

• Press and hold the power button (on many phones), or swipe up from a bottom corner of the screen.
• Say "Hey Google", if you have turned on Hey Google and Voice Match.
• Open the Gemini app directly. If you do not have it, install Google Gemini from the Play Store and check the developer is Google LLC.

When you open Gemini by holding the power button, a small overlay appears at the bottom of the screen. You can type, tap the microphone to speak, or share what is on your screen and ask about it.

Things to try on your phone

• "Set an alarm for 5:30 tomorrow morning."
• "Remind me to pay the electricity bill on the 10th."
• "What is the weather in Jaipur this weekend?"
• Point your camera at a dish on a restaurant menu and ask: "What is in this dish? Is it spicy?"
• "Explain this message in simple Hindi", after sharing a confusing SMS or screenshot (without personal details).

Turning on "Hey Google"

1. Open the Gemini app and tap your profile picture or the menu.
2. Go to Settings and look for Talk to Gemini hands-free or a similar option.
3. Turn on Hey Google and follow the steps to set up Voice Match.

Google notes that "Hey Google" is not available in every language. You can still speak to Gemini by tapping the microphone.

Talking to Gemini like a person

Gemini has a voice conversation mode, often called Gemini Live, that lets you talk back and forth naturally, interrupt it, and change the topic, much like a phone call. Look for a Live or sound-wave button in the Gemini app. It can be useful to practise English, think through a plan aloud, or ask questions while cooking with your hands busy. Availability of languages and features can vary, so check what your app offers.

Help with Indian languages

You can ask Gemini to answer in Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Gujarati and other languages it supports. Try: "Explain how to book a Tatkal train ticket, in simple Marathi." Or type in your own language from the start. As with any AI, check important details on the official website, in this case IRCTC.

Gemini on iPhone and on the web

• iPhone: install the Google Gemini app from the App Store (developer Google LLC), or use Gemini inside the Google app.
• Computer: open gemini.google.com in a browser and sign in with your Google account.

On the web, Gemini works much like ChatGPT: type in the box, read the answer, ask follow-up questions, and start a new chat for a new topic.

Gemini inside Google apps

Google is adding Gemini features to its other apps, such as Gmail, Google Docs, Google Drive and Google Photos. Depending on your account and plan, you may see a Gemini button or a sparkle icon that can:

• Summarise a long email thread in Gmail.
• Help draft a reply or a document.
• Find a file or answer a question about documents in your Drive.
• Search your photos by describing them, such as "photos of Amma's birthday cake".

Some of these features are only available on paid Google plans or work accounts. Check what you see in your own apps.

Gemini privacy settings

1. In the Gemini app or website, open your profile or the menu and look for Activity (Google has used names such as Gemini Apps Activity and Keep Activity).
2. Here you can see and delete past conversations, and choose whether your activity is saved.
3. Google says human reviewers may read some conversations to improve the service, so do not share anything confidential.
4. Check which apps Gemini is connected to, such as Gmail or Drive, and turn off any you are not comfortable with.

Microsoft Copilot

Copilot is Microsoft's AI assistant.

• Use it in a browser at copilot.microsoft.com, through the Microsoft Copilot app on Android or iPhone, or inside Windows on many computers. Some new laptops even have a dedicated Copilot key.
• Sign in with a Microsoft account, such as the Outlook account from Part 18, to save your chats.
• It is handy if you use Word, Excel, Outlook or the Edge browser. Some Copilot features inside Microsoft 365 apps require a paid plan.

Meta AI on WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook

Meta, the company that owns WhatsApp, has added its Meta AI assistant to its apps in India.

• In WhatsApp, look for a colourful circle icon on the Chats screen. Tapping it opens a separate chat with Meta AI.
• In a group chat, you can type @Meta AI followed by a question, for example to suggest a restaurant for a family dinner.
• According to WhatsApp, Meta AI can only read messages you send to it or that mention it; your other personal chats remain end-to-end encrypted.
• Answers can still be wrong, just like other chatbots. Do not rely on them for health or money decisions.

Be aware that scammers sometimes create fake "AI assistant" accounts on WhatsApp. The real Meta AI is built into the app; it will not come as a message from an unknown phone number.

Other assistants you may hear about

• ChatGPT by OpenAI, covered in Part 40.
• Claude by Anthropic, popular for writing and working with long documents.
• Perplexity, an AI-powered search tool that shows sources alongside answers.
• Tools from Indian companies and government-backed projects focusing on Indian languages.

You do not need all of them. One or two assistants that you use regularly are plenty.

Picking the right assistant for the task

A useful trick: for something important, ask two different assistants the same question. If their answers differ, that is a sign to check an official source.

The same safety rules for every assistant

• Install only from official app stores, from the real developer.
• Never share Aadhaar, PAN, bank, card, password or OTP details.
• Check important facts on official websites.
• Review privacy and activity settings, and delete chats you no longer need.
• Be careful with paid plans and free trials that renew automatically.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get the old Google Assistant back?

Reports from September 2026 say Google has been removing Google Assistant from Android phones, along with the option to switch back, and the change may reach different countries at different times. Smart speakers and some other devices may work differently. Check Google's help pages for your device.

Is Gemini free?

Yes, Gemini has a free version. Google also offers paid AI plans with more features and storage. Prices and plan names change, so check the Google One or Gemini app for current details.

Can I turn off Meta AI in WhatsApp?

You can simply not use it, and you can delete your chats with it. Whether it can be removed completely depends on WhatsApp's current settings; check WhatsApp's help pages.

What is next

Try this today: open Gemini on your phone or at gemini.google.com and ask it to set a reminder or explain something you read today. Then ask a second assistant the same question and compare. In the next part of Tech for Beginners, we will learn simple formulas for writing good AI prompts.