How to give presentations with a Gemini: a complete guide with tips, limitations, and alternatives

If you need to create convincing slides without struggling with the format, Gemini integrated into Presentations of Google It gets you out of a bind: it generates text and images, creates new slides, and even summarizes documents so you can get straight to the point. Everything happens in the sidebar, without leaving Slides, and with access to your Drive to pull in supporting content in a snap.

In this guide I'll tell you in a practical way How to use Gemini in presentations step by stepWhat you can ask of it, how to take advantage of Gems, what its limitations are, and how to complement it with tools like Canva, ClickUp, or generators like Gamma or Fotor. You'll also see prompts tips and Workspace Labs' key policies for handling your data wisely.

What can Gemini do within Google Slides?

Gemini integrates with Slides with a side panel to help you write, design, and document without losing focus; among its capabilities, These are the most useful for your day-to-day life: as also happens in Google Docs.

• Generating images directly in the presentation.
• Creating new slides with your current theme.
• Summary of the presentation or supporting content.
• Writing and rewriting titles, texts and notes.
• Referencing Drive files (and Gmail emails) while writing or assembling a slide.

How to get started: Open the panel and submit your first request

To get started on your computer, open your Google Slides presentation and, in the top right corner, click on “Ask Gemini”The side panel will open with suggestions so you don't start from scratch.

On the panel you can Choose a suggestion From the list, or write your own request. If you choose the suggestions, tap "More suggestions" to see additional options, replace the example text with what you need, and press Enter to generate the result.

If you prefer to write your prompt from scratch, Use the text box below From the panel, write what you want and press Enter. The more specific you are (objective, audience, tone, length, references), the better the output will be.

Want to clear the trail? From “More options” you will see Delete historyImportant: The conversation history may be lost when you refresh your browser, close and reopen the presentation, or lose your internet connection; if you want to keep it, Insert a suggestion in the presentation to have it saved in the slides.

Practical actions with Gemini in Presentations

Generate a new slide with your theme

To create a slide from the panel: open the presentation, click on “Ask Gemini” and select or type an instruction. The generated slides They will respect the current topic.so everything will be visually cohesive.

Use @ to mention relevant files and create the slide with their content: for example, @Company Objectives 2023 or @Core Team Sync. Some useful prompt examples: “Create a slide with ideas to improve customer interaction,” or “Generate a slide about the Q2 quarterly @Marketing plan.”

Once the slide is inserted, review the result, adjust the text, and decide if you want regenerate, edit, or insert as isRemember that you can combine this function with image generation to complete the design.

Write titles and body text in existing boxes

If you're already working on a slide and have placed text boxes, select an empty box and you'll see options like “Write a title” for the title, or "Help me write" For the body. Clicking will open the panel, generate the content, and allow you to insert it into the selected box.

This flow is perfect when you have a slide with a structure, But you need to finish the message. or simplify it into key ideas and vignettes.

Create images that fit your slides

Gemini can generate images consistent with the slide's context, just like Google Docs allows you to create images with Gemini AIAsk for styles, framing, and color palettes that fit your brand, and remember that, as per current policy, Images of people are not generated.The generated images can only be used in Google Slides.

Summarize and rewrite content

Do you have a lot of information? Request a summary of the entire presentation or linked documents, or ask for rewrites by tone (more direct, didactic, formal, etc.). You can also transform dense paragraphs into clear bullet points so that each slide can breathe.

Mention Drive files and Gmail emails

When you edit, add references to your Drive with @ so that Gemini Use reliable data of existing documents, spreadsheets, or presentations. You can also consider Gmail emails you have access to, ideal for preparing status updates with already validated information. Consult Google NotebookLM If you need support summarizing and managing long documents.

Quick questions and help with your presentation

In addition to writing presentations, Gemini answers operational questions about them. For example, you can ask: “How do I conduct a Q&A session during the presentation?” or “What is the best way to share these slides with more than 100 people?”

Web Answers: Enable search in your prompt

If you need me to consult the Internet, specify something like this in the instructions: “Use Google Search” or “using web search.” Without that qualifier, the answer will not be based on real-time web search.

• Example 1: “Write a short paragraph about There what he is doing today in Alcalá de Henares (Madrid) using the web search.”
• Example 2: “Explain to me if lightning can strike the same place twice using only information from the internet.”

Gems: Smart shortcuts for repetitive tasks

In the upper right, open the Gemini panel, enter the section Gems Choose a predefined Gem or a custom one. To use it, type your question or instruction and continue the conversation within the Gem.

Gems are created in gemini.google.comOnce created, you can access them both in the Gemini app and in the Slides sidebar, perfect for streamlining tasks like summarizing long slides, rephrasing headings, or generating bullet points by section. Gems are created at gemini.google.com; if you're working in a team, check [link to relevant documentation]. Gemini Enterprise for business.

Quality and review: how to submit feedback

Gemini learns constantly, but sometimes they can fail. If you're happy with the result, mark it. “Good suggestion”If you detect something incorrect or unsafe, press "Bad suggestion".

When submitting feedback, you can choose what information accompanies the report (your request, context, and generated output). If you select "Bad suggestion," select the identified problem and add details to help the team refine the feature. For general feedback, go to Help → Help improve Presentations. If you need to report a legal issue, create a request through the appropriate channels.

Workspace Labs policies, privacy, and limits

The suggestions presented by Workspace Labs They do not represent the official position of Google and should not be considered professional advice (medical, legal, financial or similar).

Gemini may suggest inaccurate or inappropriate content. Avoid entering personal, confidential, or sensitive information, and if you encounter a problem, Send feedback to improve the experience.

Regarding data and metrics: Google may use information from Workspace Labs to offer, improve and develop Machine learning products and technologies. In some cases, conversations and results may be read, rated, and annotated by human reviewers, after aggregation and/or pseudonymization processes, unless you include specific data in a feedback submission.

Keep in mind that your conversations with Gemini in Presentations They are not saved in the Gemini app activity log.If you delete the conversation history in Presentations, the information displayed in the activity will be lost. apps With Gemini, it's not automatically deleted; see how to manage it from your account.

Image restrictions: Images generated can only be used in Google Slides and are intended for reflect concepts and ideasThey may not represent real-life situations.

What data is collected when using the Gemini dashboard in Slides?

Google can use and store: your requests, the generated text and images, the Workspace content you reference to create results (both entries provided by you and entries selected by Google), and the comments you submit on the side panel.

How to disable the Gemini panel in Presentations

To disable Google Workspace Labs features you must exit Workspace LabsBy doing so, you will permanently lose access to the experimental features and will not be able to rejoin that program with the same account.

Gemini usage tips and practical limitations

Although it is a great help, it is important to keep these limitations and best practices in mind to work safely and efficiently. especially in professional environments:

• Accuracy verification: validate data, figures, and statements before presenting them.
• Images: It does not currently generate images with people, so rely on stock images or alternative illustrations when you need them.
• Cost: If you use paid plans, consider the team's budget; it can increase with many users.
• Probability skills: the better you formulate what you want, the more useful the outputs will be; practice and reuse prompts that work.
• Access and integrations: Some integrations and permissions (for example, with other tools or with certain datasets) require specific plans or appropriate roles; make sure you have them granted.

Effective Prompts: Formulas That Work

When preparing instructions, clearly state the objective, the audience, the tone, and the format (bullets, table, title + subtitle, etc.). Add length limits and ask for variations if you want to compare approaches. Mention files with @ to take advantage of real documents.

Useful examples for slides: “Write 5 clear bullet points for a benefits slide aimed at executives”, “Turn this paragraph into a title and 3 supporting bullet points”, “Summarize the @Business Plan 2025 document in 70 words”, or “Propose 3 alternative titles with an inspiring tone.”

Combined workflows: Gemini + Canva

A very powerful practice is to separate form and content: First you work on the content with Gemini (structure, script, bullets, claims) and then you put it into a design tool like Canva to polish the visual aspect.

Quick guidelines in Canva: open a “presentation” with the appropriate format (16:9, vertical, pitch deck), choose a template that aligns with your style, Paste the text generated by Gemini and adjust density per slide. Add icons, images, and graphics from the library or your own; finish with consistent colors and fonts and apply subtle, non-distracting transitions.

ClickUp as an add-on: AI for content, data, and collaboration

If you're looking for an all-in-one work environment, Click Up It offers a collaborative whiteboard, project management, and an assistant. IA (ClickUp Brain) to write notes, generate slide content, and extract metrics from your tasks.

With Whiteboards you can visually brainstorm, add sticky notes, shapes, frames and text, and even use its AI-powered image generator. ClickUp Brain It is useful for writing drafts, polishing copy, and locating internal figures (e.g., percentage of tasks completed), which speeds up speech preparation.

Also, you can Integrate Google Drive into ClickUp to attach files to assignments and comments, preview links, and work on your Slides without switching tabs. As a bonus, in Brain you can choose different LLMs (ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude) without changing tools.

PowerPoint and other generators: when does it make sense?

If your presentation is in PowerPoint, you could generate slide images with an AI model and request the file in .pptx format When the tool allows it. In the Microsoft universe, Copilot It's the direct route; for the Google ecosystem, Gemini fits better in Slides.

Gamma (gamma.app) is another option designed for creating AI-powered presentations. It offers three paths: get text (converts notes or outlines into slides), generate (describe the idea, set modules and language and create the scheme before production), and import file or URL (PowerPoint, Word, PDF or a website). In the settings you adjust the theme, language, tone and text density per slide; with a free account, the limit is shorter.

Fotor (fotor.com) has a function in its “AI Design” section for Create slides using AIYou choose a template to maintain visual consistency and describe in detail what you want (including text, references, and, if applicable, images). This is useful for rapid prototyping.

Good design and discourse practices

Before writing, define the objective and the central message: to inform, persuade, inspire, or present data; with this clear, Gemini helps you organize the story in introduction, development and conclusion, and convert long texts into easy-to-scan bullet points.

Consider the graphic style (formal, creative, academic, corporate) and the color palette. Request visual consistency in your prompts (“maintain the same style as the previous slide”) so that all the pieces share the same aestheticAnd remember: one idea per slide usually works better than overloading the slide.

Real-world use cases within Slides

Presentation ideation: request an outline with 10 slides (introduction, key points, examples, conclusion). For marketing, ask for value propositions and bullet points by segment; for productuser stories and impact metrics.

When you need supporting content, ask for analogies, memorable closing phrases, or summarized claimsIf the information is extensive (for example, a scientific article), request a three-bullet summary ready for a slide and validate sources if you have enabled web search.

Finally, if you work with large teams, set guidelines for shared prompts, define review roles, and establish a quality checklist (verified facts, consistent tone, text density per slide, visual coherence and a clear call to action). With this, your process with Gemini will be more reliable and repeatable.

All of the above makes Gemini a very capable partner within Slides: it speeds up preparation, helps you structure and polish the visual presentation, and works wonderfully with workflows where you complement with Canva, ClickUp or external generators; Just remember to review critical data and protect your privacy. and take advantage of Drive's references to ensure your presentation tells a valuable and well-told story.