Chatbots are becoming smarter with the addition of scheduled task features in Google Gemini and ChatGPT. Learn how you can automate repetitive tasks and effectively organize your day using these powerful artificial intelligence tools.
Article contents:
- Artificial intelligence as an advanced personal assistant
- Introducing scheduled tasks
- How to use scheduled actions in Gemini
- Managing scheduled actions in Gemini
- How to use scheduled tasks in ChatGPT
- Managing scheduled tasks in ChatGPT
- Frequently asked questions
Artificial intelligence as an advanced personal assistant
Developers of large generative chatbots continue to roll out new features at a rapid pace in an effort to make their bots the primary choice for assistance in various aspects of daily and professional life. The role of AI is no longer limited to answering questions or generating content on demand; it has evolved into a personal assistant capable of executing tasks proactively according to a schedule set by you, raising productivity levels and reducing the mental effort required to remember routine tasks.
Introducing scheduled tasks
One of the latest updates making these bots more useful is the ability to set up scheduled routines or tasks. This feature, now available in both Google Gemini and ChatGPT, allows you to request that a task be executed automatically at a specific time in the future, whether once or repeatedly. Want a weather and news report every morning at 7:00 AM? Or perhaps a dinner suggestion every evening at 7:00 PM? Or a summary of the top weekly events every Friday? Anything you can ask AI to do, you can now schedule.
How to use scheduled actions in Gemini
In Google Gemini, this feature is called “Scheduled Actions.” Currently, this feature requires a paid subscription to Google’s AI service (such as Google AI Pro, starting at $20 per month). You can keep up to 10 scheduled actions at a time.
To create a scheduled action, all you have to do is describe it and include scheduling details in your prompt using natural language. For example, you can ask Gemini: “Create an image of a cat playing with a ball of yarn, every Monday at 12 PM,” or “Give me a trivia question every evening at 7 PM.” Actions can be set to occur once or repeatedly on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
Managing scheduled actions in Gemini
Gemini must recognize your request to schedule something and will provide a summary for confirmation. The action runs regardless of whether Gemini is open at the time, and you will be alerted via a notification on your devices and an email. You can view and manage your scheduled actions on the web by clicking “Settings and Help” then choosing “Scheduled Actions.” In the mobile app, tap your account picture then “Scheduled Actions.” You can pause, delete, or edit actions (editing is currently available on the web).
How to use scheduled tasks in ChatGPT
The process is similar in ChatGPT, where the feature is called “Scheduled Tasks.” This feature also requires a paid subscription (such as ChatGPT Plus, starting at $20 per month), and allows up to 10 scheduled tasks.
To create a task, simply describe it: ask ChatGPT to “Create an innovative sci-fi movie poster every day at 5 PM,” or “Give me a good reason to go for a run every Saturday at 8 AM.” You can set tasks to be recurring or one-time in the future.
Managing scheduled tasks in ChatGPT
ChatGPT should identify your intent to create a scheduled task and confirm the details for you. On the web, you get a small summary box inside the chat. To view and edit tasks in bulk, you need the web interface. Click on your account picture, then “Settings” > “Notifications” > “Manage Tasks.” The same notification panel also lets you choose how to be notified when tasks are executed: via email alerts, push notifications on your devices, or both together, giving you full control over how you receive updates.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Do I need a paid subscription to use scheduled tasks?
Q: How many tasks can I schedule at once?
Q: Do scheduled tasks work if the app is not open?
