gemini-workspace

name	gemini-workspace
description	Drives the Gemini side panel inside Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive via browser automation: thread summaries, Help me write drafts, Sheets =AI(), Slides images, and questions about Drive files. Use when Gemini should act on live Workspace content rather than the standalone Gemini app. Trigger: Gemini Workspace, Gmail summarize, =AI() Sheets. Not for Google Vids, cinematic Veo/Flow, or accounts without the Ask Gemini icon.
version	1.0.1

Overview

The Gemini side panel operates on the user's live Workspace files. Open it with the Gemini spark/star icon (tooltip Ask Gemini) in the top-right of Gmail/Docs/Sheets/Slides/Drive. This skill covers driving that panel via browser automation (MCP tools). Use this skill — not the standalone gemini-app skill — when the task is about the user's own mail/docs/sheets/slides.

On Google AI Ultra, the Workspace side panel has the highest usage limits.

When to Use

• User wants to summarize a Gmail thread or ask "what needs my response?"
• User wants "Help me write" to draft or refine content in Docs or Gmail
• User wants the =AI() function in Sheets for classification, extraction, or generation over cell ranges
• User wants to generate images or draft slide text in Slides
• User wants to ask about a Drive file (including PDFs/docs) without opening it
• User explicitly mentions "Gemini in Gmail/Docs/Sheets/Slides/Drive" or "Gemini side panel"

Prerequisites

1. Eligible Google AI or Workspace plan — the Gemini side panel requires a qualifying subscription (e.g., Google AI Ultra, Gemini for Workspace). If the spark icon is absent, the account likely lacks an eligible plan.
2. Browser automation MCP server — the canonical automation loop is defined in google-ai-ultra/reference.md. Read that reference file first before executing any browser steps in this skill.
3. English-first AI features — Gemini Workspace features are English-first; the surrounding UI may be localized, which can change button labels.
4. Windows host (PowerShell) is the primary environment. All paths and commands assume Windows unless noted.

Procedure

Step 0 — Load the MCP automation playbook

Before driving the side panel, read google-ai-ultra/reference.md for the canonical MCP browser-automation loop (navigate → snapshot → click → type → wait → evaluate). All subsequent steps assume familiarity with that playbook.

Step 1 — Navigate to the target Workspace app

App	URL
Gmail	https://mail.google.com
Docs	https://docs.google.com
Sheets	https://sheets.google.com
Slides	https://slides.google.com
Drive	https://drive.google.com

browser_navigate → <app URL>

Step 2 — Open or select the target content

• Gmail: browser_snapshot → find a long thread (row shows a "(N)" message count); browser_click it.
• Docs: Open the target document.
• Sheets: Open the target spreadsheet; select the cell where =AI() will be used.
• Slides: Open the target presentation; select the slide.
• Drive: Navigate to the folder containing the target file.

Step 3 — Open the Gemini side panel

1. browser_snapshot → locate the top-right Ask Gemini spark/star icon.
2. Confirm the icon tooltip reads "Ask Gemini" (not Calendar or Meet) before clicking.
3. browser_click the icon to open the side panel.

The panel lives in a right-hand region with role="complementary".

Step 4 — Issue the request

Choose the appropriate action per app:

Gmail — Summarize a thread

1. browser_snapshot → click the Summarize this email chip if present.
2. If the chip is absent, browser_type into the panel's prompt box: Summarize this email thread, then submit=true.
3. browser_wait_for text="Summary".

Gmail / Docs — "Help me write"

1. browser_snapshot → click the Help me write chip or type the request in the panel prompt box.
2. For Gmail replies: type Draft a reply to this email and submit.
3. browser_wait_for the generated text to appear in the panel.

Sheets — =AI() function

1. In the target cell, type: =AI("prompt", range)
   • Example: =AI("Categorize this as Positive, Neutral, or Negative", A2:A100)
2. Press Enter; the function populates the cell range.
3. To ask Gemini to analyze or build formulas, type the request in the side panel prompt box.

Slides — Generate images / draft text

1. browser_snapshot → click the Generate image chip or type Generate an image of <description> in the panel prompt box.
2. For slide text: type Draft slide text about <topic> and submit.
3. browser_wait_for the generated content.

Drive — Ask about a file

1. Select the target file in Drive.
2. Open the Gemini side panel.
3. Type Summarize this file or What is this file about? in the panel prompt box; submit.
4. browser_wait_for the response.

Step 5 — Extract results

browser_evaluate → () => document.querySelector('[role="complementary"]')?.innerText

This returns the full text content of the Gemini side panel, avoiding truncation that can occur in browser_snapshot.

Capability Map

App	URL	Capabilities
Gmail	mail.google.com	Summarize a thread, "Help me write" a reply/draft, ask "what needs my response?"
Docs	docs.google.com	"Help me write"/refine/rewrite, summarize, generate content in place
Sheets	sheets.google.com	=AI("prompt", range) function for classification/extraction/generation over cells; ask to analyze/build formulas
Slides	slides.google.com	Generate images from a prompt; draft slide text
Drive	drive.google.com	Ask about a file without opening it; summarize PDFs/docs

Worked Example — Summarize a Gmail Thread (Full MCP Sequence)

1. browser_navigate → https://mail.google.com
2. browser_snapshot → find a long thread (row shows a "(N)" message count); browser_click it.
3. browser_snapshot → find the top-right Ask Gemini spark icon; browser_click it to open the side panel.
4. browser_snapshot → click the Summarize this email chip. If absent, browser_type into the panel's prompt box: Summarize this email thread, submit=true.
5. browser_wait_for text="Summary".
6. Extract: browser_evaluate → () => document.querySelector('[role="complementary"]')?.innerText.

Pitfalls

• No spark icon visible → the account lacks an eligible plan. Switch to an account with Google AI Ultra or Gemini for Workspace, or report the missing feature.
• No "Summarize" chip → type the request manually in the panel prompt box instead of relying on chips.
• Summary truncated in browser_snapshot → always extract via browser_evaluate returning innerText of the [role="complementary"] panel. Snapshots can cut off long responses.
• "Ask Gemini" greyed or unresponsive → the thread may be too short or still loading. Run browser_wait_for(time=3) and retry, or pick a thread with 3+ messages.
• Panel spins forever → wait, then re-snapshot. If still stuck, reload the page and reopen the thread.
• Wrong panel opened (Calendar/Meet) → always confirm the icon tooltip is "Ask Gemini" in the snapshot before clicking. Google Workspace apps have multiple top-right icons.
• =AI() not recognized in Sheets → ensure the spreadsheet is on an eligible account and the function is available in your region. English-first features may not be enabled for all locales.
• Localized UI labels — button and chip labels may differ from English defaults. Use browser_snapshot to read actual labels rather than assuming exact text.

Verification

Confirm the side panel operation succeeded with these checks:

1. Panel shows a Summary/Response heading — the panel displays a Summary heading (or equivalent response heading) with text referencing real content details (senders, decisions, file names).
2. Non-empty extraction — browser_evaluate returns a non-empty string (>50 chars) from the [role="complementary"] panel:

   browser_evaluate → () => document.querySelector('[role="complementary"]')?.innerText
   

   Expected: a string longer than 50 characters.
3. Content-specific detail — the summary or response names at least one specific detail from the source content (e.g., a sender name, a decision, a data point). This proves Gemini read the actual Workspace content rather than generating a generic response.

Related Skills

• gemini-app — for tasks in the standalone Gemini app (not tied to live Workspace files).
• google-ai-ultra — parent skill containing the MCP automation playbook (reference.md) used by this skill. Always read google-ai-ultra/reference.md before executing browser automation steps here.