Google’s Gemini Just Got Smarter – But Only If You Pay Up

Google has expanded its AI assistant Gemini with a new feature that lets users schedule actions – giving it the ability to perform tasks at specific times or on a recurring basis. This isn’t just about convenience; it’s Google’s clearest attempt yet to turn Gemini into your full-time digital secretary – if you’re willing to pay for it.

The scheduled actions feature lives inside the Gemini app and allows you to set commands like “summarize my calendar every morning” or “send me top football news every Friday.” There’s now a dedicated Scheduled Actions section in Settings where you can create, modify, or delete these routines.

Think: waking up to a digest of your unread emails, having five blog ideas waiting every Monday, or even getting real-time event recaps, like awards shows or sports results. The possibilities are nearly endless, assuming you’re subscribed to either Google AI Pro, Ultra, or eligible Google Workspace plans.

But this isn’t all sunshine and smarter mornings. Many users have pointed out that similar functionality was already part of Google Assistant – and now it’s been rebranded and placed behind a paywall. It’s a controversial shift, especially considering Google’s data access history.

Still, there’s no denying the power Gemini brings. Compared to Siri or Alexa, Gemini feels like a next-gen AI that’s actually trying to live up to the sci-fi dreams we’ve been sold for over a decade. While it doesn’t yet do your dishes (sorry), the idea of an assistant that grows more capable with each update is both intriguing and a little unsettling – depending on how much you trust Big Tech with your personal routines.

One thing is clear: Gemini is no longer just an AI chatbot. It’s Google’s long-term bet on digital companionship. Whether it becomes your daily helper or just another forgotten app may depend less on features, and more on how much control and privacy users are willing to trade for convenience.