After trying Gemini's Deep research feature, I'm never going back



I've been spending time researching a bunch of new topics, whether it's on AI tools, no-code solutions, or how SMB's are thinking about technology. 

I recently came across a feature/service that completely changed how I do research. As a SMB "co" owner myself at GraceBlocks, I know how precious time is and so any little hack you can find to save you time is a big win. Here, I'm talking about Google's Gemini Deep Research feature. Seriously, it's a game-changer.

Having spent a lot of time building BrassRing, SmashFly and now GraceBlocks, it's always been on my "to do" list to research various topics.  I know it's important and I keep reading and reminding myself that Research is essential for making smart decisions, whether it's about competitor analysis, new technologies, or understanding market trends. The "big" companies have the money to pay dedicated people for this. They spend days, sometimes weeks, digging through websites, reports, and articles, trying to piece together a coherent picture.

But for us startups? If we find the time to do it, we do it ourselves, late at night, after a full day of putting out fires. It's exhausting 

Enter: AI-Powered Research (and My "Aha!" Moment)

I'd been hearing the buzz about the deep research tools, of course. But it wasn't until I tried Gemini's Deep Research feature (it's part of their paid Gemini Advanced plan, which is $20 a month) that it really clicked. Google isn't the only player in this space, you have the other big AI companies like OpenAI and Perplexity offering similar "deep research" offerings..

Here's how it works.  You type in what you want to research – a new technology, a competitor's strategy, anything – and Gemini does the heavy lifting. It doesn't just give you a list of links like a regular search. It actually reads dozens and often hundreds of websites and articles, analyzes the information, and synthesizes it into a concise, easy-to-understand report. We're talking about going from a week's worth of work to getting a solid overview in minutes.
I recently did a research request where it found and analyzed over 1100 websites! Seriously, that's impressive. 

Why This Matters to Small business owners (or anyone)

What does this mean for you? Here are things you should be doing, but probably aren't because it would have taken way too long

  • Competitive Intelligence: Want to know what your competitors are up to? Gemini can dig into their pricing, marketing strategies, customer reviews, and recent news, giving you a quick competitive snapshot.
  • Market Trends: Trying to decide whether to invest in a new piece of equipment or offer a new service? Gemini can help you research market demand, identify potential risks, and understand the competitive landscape.
  • Technology Exploration: Curious about no-code (wink, wink)? Or maybe you're looking into new CRM systems, or AI-powered marketing tools? Gemini can give you a comprehensive overview of the options, saving you hours of Googling.
  • Validating (or Invalidating) Ideas: Got a new product or service idea? Get a rapid analysis of the feasibility from an unbiased source.

I'm not exaggerating when I say this is a game-changer. A recent McKinsey report found that knowledge workers spend almost 20% of their time just searching for information! (Source: McKinsey Global Institute) Imagine what you could do with that time back.

My "Never Going Back" Moment:

For me, it was researching the no-code market for this very blog. I needed to quickly understand the different types of platforms, the key players, and the emerging trends. Normally, this would have taken me days of digging through websites, reading articles, and trying to make sense of it all. With Gemini's Deep Research, I had a solid overview in about 5 minutes. And the quality of the information was impressive.

It's Not Perfect, But It's a Huge Leap Forward:

Look, it's still AI. It's not going to replace human judgment or critical thinking. You still need to review the information and make your own decisions. But it dramatically accelerates the research process and gives you a massive head start.

The Bottom Line:

If you're an SMB owner who values your time and wants to make data-driven decisions, you owe it to yourself to explore AI-powered research tools. Whether it's Gemini, or a competitor, the potential to transform how you gather and use information is enormous. 

Here's the reality for all of us. The world is changing at a blazing speed. I've never felt this level of uncertainty about how things will emerge. But there's only one real choice in how to respond to these changes, and that is to embrace these new technologies and leverage them to the hilt. 

 Don't get left behind!

Have you tried any AI research tools? Share your experiences in the comments below!

Found this helpful? GraceBlocks is a flexibile tool we developed to manage our business and personal life, including things like automating the publishing of this blog post. It can do the same for you! Sign up for free to explore the possibilities at my.graceblocks.com. Have a specific project in mind? Click here to contact us.

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