Gemini vs ChatGPT : Google prend l’avantage ?

AI will change how we use our devices, speeding up tasks and doing some on our behalf. ChatGPT and Gemini offer a glimpse into this future, with ChatGPT tasks taking things to the next level by creating scheduled tasks for ChatGPT to perform automatically.

While ChatGPT tasks excel in certain areas, there’s room for improvement. Still, ChatGPT tasks get me excited about what Google could do with a similar Gemini feature, given its deep integration across Google products, services, and Google Pixel phones.

What are ChatGPT tasks?

Put AI to work for you

ChatGPT tasks do not get as much media spotlight as they deserve. You might think this is an AI-powered to-do list feature in ChatGPT. In many ways, it is. However, it’s smarter and more capable. Think of ChatGPT tasks as a way to schedule tasks that AI can do on your behalf or with you at a scheduled time.

While you can create basic scheduled tasks and reminders, like asking ChatGPT to remind you about your anniversary later this year, this is only scratching the surface. You can instruct ChatGPT to scan the web and summarize important tech news every day at 9 am. You can also ask it to help you practice a new language or skill daily, and it creates scheduled tasks for this.

That’s not all. You can ask ChatGPT to give you a summary of an important meeting 15 minutes before it starts, and it does so accordingly.

I’m recovering from a knee injury, so my gym sessions currently focus on exercises that minimize strain on that knee. I set up a task in ChatGPT to share a push-pull workout routine at 6 pm every day, with exercises that don’t strain my knee. Without tasks, this would’ve been a multistep process that I would have had to repeat daily.

Another handy use I set up involves clicking a picture of the medicine my wife takes to provide relevant context, such as the number of capsules she takes daily. Then, I ask ChatGPT to set up a reminder three days before the medication finishes so I can order more.

Sometimes, I need to provide details about how many capsules are left, as ChatGPT can’t identify this information accurately from the picture. However, the entire process still works.

None of the top to-do apps on Android can do the above because they lack such deep AI integration.

ChatGPT tasks are only supported by the o3 and o4-mini models. You are also limited to 10 active tasks.

Gemini can outshine ChatGPT tasks by learning from its limitations

Where Gemini can do better

While impressive, after extensively using ChatGPT tasks for a few weeks, I have realized that the feature has major shortcomings. To start with, you cannot use ChatGPT tasks on Android or iPhone to change system settings.

I can’t set a recurring task using ChatGPT on Android that turns off 5G on my phone every night when I go to sleep. Likewise, ChatGPT on Android cannot interact with other apps, limiting what you can do with ChatGPT tasks.

ChatGPT tasks only operate within the ChatGPT environment, limiting their reach. This is where Gemini has a chance to shine.

Gemini lacks a feature like ChatGPT tasks. If you ask it to set a reminder or create a schedule, it adds the item to Google Tasks. There’s no way to get Gemini to take action on your behalf at a scheduled time automatically.

Google has an opportunity to learn from ChatGPT tasks’ limitations and, with its deep Android integration, deliver a seamless and powerful experience when it launches a similar feature.

Gemini can interact with other Android apps and control system settings. Google should leverage this integration for Gemini to deliver a superior tasks-like feature. For example, in my workout routine task, I can ask Gemini to share the workout routine only when I am at the gym. This is not possible with ChatGPT tasks, as it cannot create location-based reminders or tasks.

Imagine being able to set up a recurring task in Gemini that uses its Gmail integration to email your team members every Friday afternoon, providing them with an overview of meetings scheduled for the upcoming week.

Similarly, Google can utilize Gemini’s Google Home integration to set up scheduled smart home tasks, such as turning on the outdoor lights every day at 5 pm. Now, you can only ask Gemini to control your smart home, not set up a recurring task. You must create an automation for this.

Related

Gemini 2.0: Five major changes you need to know

Gemini 2.0 brings new AI capabilities to Google’s ecosystem

Gemini can do better, but don’t count OpenAI out yet

Both sides have room to grow

With Gemini integrated deeply with Android and other Google services, Google can offer a superior ChatGPT tasks-like feature with its AI chatbot. This may explain why the company has not rolled out a similar option in Gemini.

Implementing such a complex feature, even with the aid of AI, is a challenging task and can take considerable time. I hope Google does not rush the implementation to get it out the door.

Also, it would be foolish to count OpenAI out of the race with ChatGPT tasks. This is only the first iteration of the feature, and the company may potentially tie it to bigger changes in the future to enhance its capabilities.