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"publishedAt": "2026-02-19T12:23:21.000Z",
"site": "https://www.computerworld.com",
"tags": [
"Artificial Intelligence, Collaboration Software, Generative AI, Google Workspace, Office Suites, Productivity Software",
"Business Standard, Business Plus, or Enterprise",
"Google AI plan",
"Google Workspace Labs",
"Google Slides cheat sheet",
"simply make things up",
"Gemini web app",
"Gemini Canvas guide",
"Gemini sidebar",
"steps for using Gemini to generate slides",
"Google Slides cheat sheet: How to get started",
"5 quick tips for Google Slides",
"How to create documents (and more) with Gemini Canvas",
"Google Workspace: 7 great ways to use the Gemini AI sidebar",
"Google Workspace power tips: Tap into cross-app productivity",
"More Google Workspace tips and tutorials"
],
"textContent": "Gemini, Google’s generative AI assistant, has various tools you can access within Google Slides to assist you in creating and editing your presentations. Additionally, you can generate whole presentations in the standalone Gemini app and then export them into Slides to work on.\n\nAnyone with a Google account can use the Gemini app for free. To use Gemini within Google Slides, you need to be subscribed to a Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, or Enterprise plan or a Google AI plan. Alternatively, you can sign up for Google Workspace Labs with a free Google account to use some of the features described in this story.\n\n**Note:** If you use Google Workspace at work, your administrator may need to enable permission for Gemini to be used in Google Slides.\n\nIn this guide we’ll cover how to use all these features. If you’re new to Google Slides or need a refresher, see our Google Slides cheat sheet first to get up and running.\n\nAs when using any generative AI tool, remember that Gemini can make mistakes or simply make things up, so you should always check its output for accuracy.\n\n**In this article:**\n\n 1. Use Gemini to create a presentation\n 2. Use Gemini to create individual slides\n 3. Use Gemini to generate images for your slides\n 4. Use Gemini to edit images in your slides\n 5. Use Gemini to polish text in your slides\n\n\n\n## 1. Use Gemini to create a presentation\n\nYou can prompt Gemini to create an entire presentation with multiple slides. This isn’t a function built into Slides, as of this writing. Instead you do this through a feature called Canvas in the Gemini web app. Based on your prompt, the AI can generate a set of slides that you then export to Slides as a single presentation.\n\nOpen the Gemini web app in your browser. At the bottom of the chat box, click _Tools_. From the drop-down menu that opens, select _Canvas_.\n\nIn the Gemini web app, select the _Canvas_ tool to get started.\n\nHoward Wen / Foundry\n\nThen, inside the chat box, type your prompt: It should be detailed and specifically outlined. First you should state “Build a presentation” or “Create a presentation.” Next, you can describe general or specific information that you want to have on each slide. Consider these examples:\n\n * _Create a presentation for a digital marketing agency with the goal of selling its services to potential clients._\n * _Build me a presentation template that reports my company’s quarterly earnings. Include these slides in it:_\n * _Slide 1 is the intro with text explaining the purpose of this presentation._\n * _Slide 2 shows a chart template for Quarter 1._\n * _Slide 3 shows a chart template for Quarter 2._\n * _Slide 4 shows a chart template for Quarter 3._\n * _Slide 5 shows a chart template for Quarter 4._\n * _Slide 6 is the conclusion._\n\n\n\nYou can also click the _+_ symbol on the toolbar to attach a file from your Google Drive or upload one from your PC, such as a document or spreadsheet. Gemini will try to use this as a source to create a series of slides for a presentation. Examples:\n\n * _Build a presentation using the attached spreadsheet. Use the attached document to create slides for a presentation._\n\n\n\nWhen you’re finished writing your prompt, press the Enter key or click the right arrow icon at the lower right of the chat box. Gemini will get to work. It’ll generate a presentation that appears in the chat window above the chat box. You can preview it by scrolling through it.\n\nA preview of the generated presentation appears in the main window of the Gemini app.\n\nHoward Wen / Foundry\n\nIf you like what you see and want to export it to Slides, click the _Export_ or _Export to Slides_ button at the upper right of the presentation preview. The presentation will be saved as a Google Slides file in your Google Drive.\n\nFor more details about using Canvas in the Gemini app, including editing Gemini’s output, see our Gemini Canvas guide.\n\n## 2. Use Gemini to create individual slides\n\nWith a paid Google Workspace account, you can use the Gemini sidebar right in the Slides app to help you create and edit various elements of your presentation. For starters, you can have Gemini generate individual slides. These can serve as templates that you add your information to, or they can be initial drafts that include details specific to your needs.\n\nSee our Google Slides cheat sheet for detailed steps for using Gemini to generate slides.\n\n## 3. Use Gemini to generate images for your slides\n\nYou can also prompt Gemini to create an image and insert it onto a slide.\n\nWith your presentation open, navigate to the slide where you want to add an image, or add a new slide to put the image on.\n\nOn the vertical toolbar to the right of the slide, click the _Generate an image_ button (an icon of a picture with a sparkle at upper right). Alternatively, on the menu bar along the top, select _Insert > Image >_ _Generate an image_. The Gemini sidebar will open to the right of your presentation, showing a set of tools for creating images.\n\nWhen you select _Generate an image_ , the Gemini sidebar displays image creation tools.\n\nHoward Wen / Foundry\n\nInside the chat box, write a prompt that describes the image you want Gemini to create. Use your imagination!\n\n * _Draw an image of a US dollar symbol with an arrow pointing up behind it._\n * _Generate an image of a man pointing at a chalkboard with the word GOALS written on it._\n\n\n\nYou can also click _Add a style_ in the sidebar and select a specific art style for Gemini to use when rendering your image, such as _Photography_ , _Vector art_ , or _Watercolor_.\n\nGemini will generate four images based on your prompt and display thumbnails in the sidebar. Click one of these thumbnails to see a larger preview of how it will look on your slide. You can click the _<_ and _>_ buttons to cycle through the other generated images.\n\nPreviewing the images Gemini generated.\n\nHoward Wen / Foundry\n\nIf you decide on one that you like, click its _Insert_ button. The image will be placed onto your slide where the cursor is.\n\nIf you don’t like any of the images that Gemini generated, revise your prompt or write a new prompt in the chat box to have Gemini generate another round.\n\n## 4. Use Gemini to edit images in your slides\n\nGemini can help you make AI-generated alterations to images in your presentation. It can replace the background of an image, or you can edit the image in a variety of ways, such as having Gemini change its size or add elements to it that come from your imagination. While it may sound like these capabilities are meant to be applied to photographs, you can also experiment with charts or other illustrations to generate interesting results.\n\nWith your presentation open, navigate to the slide that has the image you want to edit. Select the image on the slide. On the small toolbar that appears below the selected image, click _Edit image_. Alternatively, you can right-click on the image and select _Edit image_ on the menu that opens.\n\nSelect the image you want to change and click _Edit image_ on the toolbar that appears below.\n\nHoward Wen / Foundry\n\nThis action will open the Gemini image editing sidebar to the right of your presentation. On it, there are two options that you can select: _Edit image_ and _Replace background_. Click the one you want to use.\n\nIn the Gemini image editing sidebar, your choices are _Edit image_ or _Replace background_.\n\nHoward Wen / Foundry\n\nInside the chat box, you’ll be shown an example prompt. Type in a prompt that describes the change that you want Gemini to make, and click the _Create_ button.\n\n**“Replace background” examples:**\n\n * _Set this chart against a cityscape at nighttime._\n * _Add drawings of small seashells as subdued elements behind this logo._\n\n\n\n**“Edit image” examples:**\n\n * _Widen horizontally this photo to the edges of the slide._\n * _Add a person sitting at this laptop._\n\n\n\nGemini will generate an altered version of the image based on your prompt and show a thumbnail in the sidebar. Click _View more_ to have Gemini generate another image.\n\nA thumbnail of the altered image appears in the Gemini sidebar.\n\nHoward Wen / Foundry\n\nClick a thumbnail to see a preview of how it will look on your slide. You can click the < or > buttons to cycle through the other generated images.\n\nIf you decide on one that you like, click the _Replace_ button. The AI-generated image will replace the one on your slide. Or you can click the down arrow to the right of the Replace button and click _Insert_. The generated image will be inserted where the cursor is.\n\n## 5. Use Gemini to polish text in your slides\n\nAnother way to use Gemini in Slides is to have it rewrite blocks of text on your slide. This text-polishing feature can make large passages more concise (and thus more legible when you present them to others) or change the tone of the writing.\n\nWith your presentation open, navigate to the slide that contains the text that you want to polish, such as a list, paragraph, or title. Click this block of text, then click the _Refine_ button (a pencil with sparkle icon) at the lower left of your selected text. This opens the Refine menu with the following options: _Shorten_ , _Rephrase_ , _More formal_ , or _Bulletize_.\n\nOptions for refining text on a slide.\n\nHoward Wen / Foundry\n\nIn some cases, you may find that Gemini has preselected one of these options for you. For example, if your text doesn’t fit into the space allotted to it on the slide, Gemini might show Shorten as the default option. You can click the down arrow next to Shorten to access the other refinement options.\n\nYou can select one of these options or click inside the box with the words _Modify with a prompt_ , where you can type a prompt that describes how you want Gemini to rewrite the selection. Examples:\n\n * _Make these words sound more casual and friendly._\n * _Rewrite this into a numbered list._\n * _Make this a little longer._\n\n\n\nAfter you’ve made your selection or entered your custom prompt, a rewrite will be generated and appear in a panel over the slide.\n\nYou can insert the rewritten text that Gemini generated or refine it in various ways.\n\nHoward Wen / Foundry\n\nIf you like the result, click the _Replace_ button. The original text on your slide will be replaced with the generated version. Or you can click the down arrow to the right of the Replace button and click _Insert_. The generated text will be inserted where the cursor is.\n\nIf you want to refine the generated text, you can either type a prompt in the “Refine with a prompt” text entry box or click the _Refine_ button again and select another rewrite option. To trigger Gemini to generate a different result from your original prompt, select _Retry_ from the Refine menu.\n\n#### **Related:**\n\n * Google Slides cheat sheet: How to get started\n * 5 quick tips for Google Slides\n * How to create documents (and more) with Gemini Canvas\n * Google Workspace: 7 great ways to use the Gemini AI sidebar\n * Google Workspace power tips: Tap into cross-app productivity\n * More Google Workspace tips and tutorials\n\n",
"title": "5 ways Gemini can help you make Google Slides presentations"
}