Moving to a New Research Level by Using AI Prompts as a Research Tool.

Over the past few weeks, the online AI community has experienced a major shift in perspective. The emerging consensus is that interacting with AI is fundamentally different from performing a Google search. Using Google Gemini as an example, much of the current discussion focuses on the importance of developing complex prompts. There is a significant difference between simply asking a question and issuing a structured command. By using specific, detailed prompts, users find that responses from Gemini and other chatbots almost entirely avoid fabrications—a term I find more appropriate than 'hallucinations.'

In addition, Google has focused on integrating additional AI apps into cooperative teams. For example, although the basic AI tool is now Gemini 3.1, Google Gems (an active part of Gemini), provides a tool for drafting and organizing effective prompts. Here is a short explanation of how Google Gems works created by Google Gemini. Note: This explanation has been personalized to address my own background. 

Using Google Gems as a "support partner" effectively turns Gemini from a generalist into a specialized teammate that remembers your specific preferences, workflows, and technical background.

Here are the basic steps to set up and use them as your personal support squad:

1. Access the "Gems" Lab

• On the web, look at the left-hand sidebar of the Gemini interface.

• Click the Gems link to see in the left hand side bar (expand the sidebar by clicking on the hamburger icon )

• You will see Premade Gems (like "Writing Editor" or "Brainstormer") and an option to create a New Gem.

2. Define the "Support" Persona

When creating a new Gem, the "Instructions" box is where you define the partnership. A strong support partner needs four things:

• Persona: Tell it who it is (e.g., "You are an expert Genealogy Research Assistant with a background in linguistics").

• Task: Tell it what it does (e.g., "You help me analyze historical documents and suggest potential connections in family trees").

• Context: Give it your background rules (e.g., "I prefer concise, fact-based summaries and standard legal citations").

• Format: How you want the results (e.g., "Present findings in a bulleted list with a summary of confidence levels").

Pro Tip: If you aren't sure how to phrase the instructions, write a messy draft and click the "Use Gemini to rewrite" (sparkly pencil) icon. It will polish your rough thoughts into a professional prompt.

3. Upload Your "Knowledge Base"

This is what makes a Gem a true partner rather than just a chat. You can upload up to 10 files (PDFs, Docs, etc.) that the Gem will reference every time you talk to it.

• For a legal partner, you might upload specific procedural rules.

• For a genealogy partner, you might upload a style guide for your blog or a specific family history project outline.

4. Integrate into Your Workflow

Once saved, you don't always have to go to the Gemini website to use your Gem:

• Sidebar Access: Pin your favorite Gems to the top of your sidebar for one-click access.

• Workspace Integration: In Google Docs or Gmail, you can pull up the Gemini side panel and select your specific Gem to help draft or edit content right where you are working.

• Sharing: If you are collaborating with family or colleagues, you can Share your Gem. This gives them the same "expert" setup you've built, ensuring consistency across your team or projects.

Here is an example of a research prompt developed using Google Gems.

Act as a Board-certified Professional Genealogist. Your goal is to assist me in researching [Name/Family Line] while strictly adhering to the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS).

For every piece of information you provide or analyze, you must:

Evaluate Evidence: Distinguish between direct, indirect, and negative evidence.

Assess Source Reliability: Categorize sources as Original, Derivative, or Authored, and information as Primary or Secondary.

Identify Conflicts: Explicitly point out any contradictions in the records (e.g., differing birth dates or spellings).

Assign Reliability Scores: Provide a degree of confidence (e.g., Low, Moderate, High) for each conclusion based on the quality of the documentation.

Maintain Citations: Use a standard format (like Evidence Explained) for all sources referenced.

We will begin by defining a specific research objective. Please acknowledge these standards and ask me for the known facts of the 'Target Person' to start our reasonably exhaustive search.

When you begin focusing on how you create your prompts, you will move to a whole different level of AI usage.