Gemini builds apps, ChatGPT prepares meetings, NotebookLM creates videos

AI tools of the week: This week's AI tool does more than answer questions. they are do the work for you. From building interactive tools directly within chats to pulling data across apps to prepare meeting summaries to turning detailed research into video summaries, these capabilities reflect the shift toward AI as an active collaborator rather than a passive assistant.

Google Gemini mini app (powered by Opal)

What problems do Gemini mini apps solve?

Most AI chatbots only provide advice and explanations. Whether you request a budget calculator, project tracker, or comparison table, you'll need to copy your responses into a spreadsheet or recreate them in another tool. AI understands the task, but execution remains manual.

This gap between insight and action creates friction and reduces productivity.

Gemini's new mini-apps, built using Google's experimental Opal framework, bridge this gap by generating fully interactive tools directly within your chats, ready to be used, edited, and shared.

How to access

go to gemini.google.com → Click on the beaker icon (top right) → Activate Gem with mini app

What Gemini's mini apps are useful for

• Create interactive tools on the fly. Build calculators, planners, trackers, workflows, or games without leaving Gemini.
• Prototype your ideas quickly: Test the functional concept of your app before starting full-scale development.
• Collaborate more effectively: Share tools that teammates can interact with, not just static text output.

example

You're launching a new product and need a structured workflow for your marketing team.

• Step 1: click new jewelry To start creating a mini app
  
• Step 2: Please explain your need: “Evaluate product features, generate marketing content ideas, build vision boards, and create apps that outline next steps.”
  
• Step 3: Gemini automatically builds apps with sections for product details, content generation, visual concepts, and output.
  
• Step 4: Teams immediately use the app to input data and generate results
• Step 5: click remix To adjust steps or further customize your workflow

What makes Gemini mini apps stand out?

• No technical expertise required: Apps are built through conversations
• Everything in one place: No platform export or switching
• Immediate iteration: Change features just by asking questions

ChatGPT connector

What problem does the ChatGPT connector solve?

Preparing for a meeting often involves frantically switching between apps, checking email threads, scanning attendee calendars, searching for files in Drive, and piecing everything together in your head. This routine consumes time and mental energy before the meeting begins.

The ChatGPT connector eliminates this friction by giving models direct access to Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, and other supported apps, collating all relevant information into a single structured response.

How to access

Click on ChatGPT profile → Settings → Connector → Enable Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Drive

What the ChatGPT connector can do for you

• Prepare smarter: Automatically capture attendee details, email history, and related documents.
• Simplify collaboration: Create a single source of truth when you use a shared calendar or Drive.
• Extend beyond meetings: Use connectors for research, writing, planning, and brainstorming.

example

A strategy meeting is scheduled for tomorrow.

• Step 1: Enable the connector in the prompt box (“+” → Connector app)
  
• Step 2: Ask ChatGPT: “Review the upcoming meeting and prepare an overview with attendees, email content, relevant Drive files, and suggested discussion points.”
• Step 3: ChatGPT generates structured briefings, attendee profiles, key email summaries, file links, and draft agendas.. You can add: “Highlight potential risks based on past discussions” and will show concern.

What's special about connectors?

• Unified view: Combine Gmail, Calendar, and Drive into one interface
  
• Reduced cognitive load: No need for repeated searches
• Proactive insights: Predict problems as well as information

Video overview of Google NotebookLM

What problem does the video overview solve?

Learning from dense research materials is difficult not only because of the large amount of material, but also because people learn differently. Text-heavy documents can overwhelm visual learners, while others struggle without a clear structure or narration.

Traditional learning methods force everyone into the same reading-heavy workflow, which often leads to poor memory and information overload.

notebook LM Video overview This feature addresses this issue by converting large document sets to the following formats: multimodal video presentation A combination of visuals and narration.

How to access

available at notebooklm.google.com

What this video overview can do for you

• Create presentation-ready content. Generate professional videos from raw research materials.
• Combine multiple sources. Combine papers, articles, and memos into one coherent narrative.
• Supports different learning styles: Attracts visual and auditory learners at the same time.

example

You research AI ethics and have collected several papers and articles.

• Step 1: Upload all sources to NotebookLM notebook
• Step 2: choice Video overview
• Step 3: NotebookLM creates structured videos with slides, charts, and narration
• Step 4: You'll absorb important ideas and connections much faster than reading each source individually.

What is special about video summaries?

• Multimodal learning: Improving retention rates with visuals and narration
  
• Automatic synthesis: AI identifies themes and relationships
• Professional output: Videos that can be presented without any design skills

Known limitations: They take longer to process than audio summaries, have limited visual customization, and produce best results with text-heavy inputs.

(Bindra & Magazine are co-founders of AI&Beyond)

Disclaimer: The tools and analyzes presented in this section have demonstrated clear value based on internal testing. Our recommendations are completely independent and not influenced by the tool creator.