Practical digital skills

Use Gemini carefully

Give Gemini a bounded task, minimise submitted data and verify factual claims.

Step-by-step guideUpdated
Follow the method ↓
Abstract editorial illustration of an AI research assistant

The answer in 30 seconds

A useful first task is small enough to review: explain a public paragraph, propose an outline or distinguish ideas in a document you know.

State the expected output and use only necessary context. Review the current privacy, activity and connected-app settings before submitting personal material.

Examples to adapt

A summary adds an unsupported detail

Identify the exact source passage and ask for a revision limited to it.

An answer concerns a recent change

Consult a current primary source instead of relying on confident wording.

Follow the method

  1. 1
    Choose a verifiable task

    Specify the audience, length and what must remain unchanged. Use a public text for the initial test.

  2. 2
    Limit the input

    Remove unrelated personal information. Do not submit an entire folder when an authorised passage will do.

  3. 3
    Inspect the settings

    Read the current service help about activity, data handling and connected applications. Features and conditions can vary.

  4. 4
    Check the answer

    Separate facts, assumptions and suggestions. Open any references and find the passage supporting each important claim.

  5. 5
    Revise and retain the source

    Ask for a targeted correction where needed, then compare it with the original. Keep the validated result and source separately.

A checklist to keep

Use these checks to record what you found. The grid supports a decision; it does not make one for you.

Use Gemini carefully: checklist
CheckWhat to examineAction
TaskAudience and expected outputDefine before prompting
InputNecessary authorised contextRemove unrelated data
SettingsActivity and connected appsRead current help
VerificationSource supports the claimOpen the original

Download the CSV checklist

Free, no sign-up. UTF-8 text with semicolon-separated columns.

What to check

Do not treat an assistant answer as an original source.

Check permissions before connecting other services.

Product availability and prices require current documentation.

Common questions

Can I publish the answer immediately?

Review factual details, omissions and permissions before reuse.

How can I get a less vague answer?

Provide a short example and a clear success criterion, then request a focused revision.

Sources and documentation

Documentation consulted on . Examples are illustrative; interfaces and results may change.

Reference record for this resource

Identify the publisher, official destination and practical checks before using the service.

Read the Gemini record →

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