Google Workspace Skills is rolling out across Google's ecosystem faster than ever. What's interesting here is that you're no longer confined to using Gemini in isolation. Instead, you can ask Gemini to build, refine, and validate custom skills for your Google applications without switching windows. It's a significant workflow improvement for teams relying on Google's suite.
Once you enable a skill, Gemini can recognize when it's the right tool for the job and apply it automatically. Alternatively, you can manually invoke the skill whenever you need it. Here's the breakdown of how to get started.
Creating Skills in Google Docs: Step by Step
A quick heads-up: this feature is still in beta and only available in select regions, so full rollout will take some time.
Step 1: Access the Skill Builder
Open Google Docs and locate the Gemini icon at the bottom of your screen. Click the three horizontal lines menu and select Skill builder to begin creating your skill.
From here, you'll instruct Gemini to generate a skill based on template documents you provide. In this example, we're creating a Proposal Automation Skill that learns from your existing proposal templates.
Create a proposal automation skill based on these examples: Full Cymbal Proposal, Cymbal Investment Proposal. Integrate HubSpot and past sales history for accuracy, analyze requests against historical sales, and maintain our brand voice. Once finalized, automatically share the document in the Chat.
The result? A new skill called Proposal Architect that automates the entire proposal creation and management workflow using Gemini and Google Workspace tools. This is exactly the kind of time-saver teams need.
Your newly minted skill automatically syncs across all Google Workspace applications, ready to be called whenever you need to generate content. On this screen, click Add to Workspace Studio to integrate the skill into your workspace.
Step 3: Activate Your Skill
Navigate to Workspace Studio, and you'll see your new skill displayed with details about its functionality—in this case, generating proposals and presentation slides for business use. Hit the Turn on button to activate it across your workspace.
Now jump over to Gmail (or any other Google app). Click the Gemini icon and draft a message. In the chat window, type your request for an email, then enter @ followed by your newly created skill name. Gemini will generate content aligned with that skill's training. The real concern is ensuring your skills are specific enough to produce consistently useful results—too broad, and you'll get generic outputs.
Description: Learn how to create and deploy custom Google Workspace Skills through Gemini without leaving Google Docs. Step-by-step instructions inside.
That celebrity photo circulating on social media? The product shot in an online ad? That suspiciously perfect portrait on a dating profile?
Any of these could have been generated by artificial intelligence. And as we head into 2026, fake images are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
Here's the good news: AI image generators like Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, and GPT Image 2 still make predictable mistakes—if you know what to look for. This guide walks you through 11 reliable methods to detect AI-generated imagery.
AI image generators—including Midjourney—have long struggled with rendering hands correctly. Fingers often appear too long or too short:
Sometimes the hand itself has too many or too few digits:
Or the hands look warped and malformed. In this example, a woman has four fingers on one hand, with the fifth digit appearing to sprout from her skirt:
Here's what's important to know: Don't rely blindly on this trick anymore. The latest generation of models—GPT Image 2, Midjourney V8.1, and FLUX.2—now render hands with impressive accuracy. This image, created with GPT Image 2, features anatomically correct hands with natural skin texture:
So here's the takeaway: deformed hands are strong evidence of AI generation, but perfect hands don't prove an image is authentic.
2. Missing or Duplicated Elements
Beyond hands, other objects frequently appear incomplete or repeated. Take this lion, which only has one ear:
Or this T-Rex, which somehow sprouted three arms:
3. Unnaturally Flawless Skin
Many AI image generators produce skin that's suspiciously perfect. That means zero wrinkles, blemishes, facial hair, or moles—essentially digital airbrushing taken to an extreme:
That said, this particular image was created with Midjourney and isn't an extreme example. It could also be a lightly Photoshopped photograph.
With other tools, this "perfect skin" problem becomes far more obvious and jarring.
4. Garbled or Nonsensical Text
Most AI image generators struggle to render readable text accurately. Midjourney included.
Letters often appear distorted, duplicated, scrambled, or missing entirely.
In this logo example, the word "Munchkin" should be spelled clearly, but instead it's mangled:
The newest generation has caught up here. GPT Image 2 now leads the pack in text rendering accuracy, even correctly displaying German umlauts, as shown in this AI-generated sign:
So garbled text mainly reveals images from older or cheaper models.
5. Illogical Architecture
AI models often struggle with architecture, especially complex structures like castles or fortifications.
This castle image looks decent at first glance:
But look closer and you'll spot several inconsistencies:
Stairways that defy logic
Towers that appear warped or asymmetrical
Windows that are distorted or misaligned
Rooflines and dormers that bend unnaturally
Chimneys in odd locations
Brickwork laid incorrectly
And more...
6. Unnatural Lighting and Shadows
Simulating light and shadow realistically is a complex task that trips up most AI models. So if you spot an image where the lighting and shadows don't quite match up, it might be AI-generated.
In this DALL·E 3 image, the shadows cast by beachgoers are inconsistent and look wrong. Some shadows are too long, too short, cut off, or too dark. Others don't align with the sun's position, or they're missing entirely:
7. Check the Filename
If the filename hasn't been changed before uploading, you can often determine whether an image was AI-generated—and sometimes even which tool created it.
With DALL·E 3 (replaced by GPT Image and fully discontinued by OpenAI in May 2026), it was even more obvious—not only the prompt but "DALL·E" itself appeared in the filename. Many such files are still circulating online:
8. Examine the Metadata
Beyond the filename, you can also inspect an image's metadata to determine whether it was AI-generated.
Real photographs contain camera information—brand, model, and lens used—plus technical data like aperture, shutter speed, and focal length:
AI-generated images lack this camera metadata. Instead, they increasingly carry embedded provenance information:
C2PA Content Credentials: OpenAI embeds C2PA metadata into all images generated via ChatGPT or the API (GPT Image). You can verify this free at contentcredentials.org/verify.
SynthID: Google watermarks images from Gemini and Imagen with an invisible marker that persists through cropping, screenshots, and light editing. In the Gemini app, you can directly ask whether an uploaded image carries the SynthID watermark, though the accuracy isn't guaranteed—a July 2026 investigation found Gemini sometimes carries over verdicts from the first image in a conversation.
Both methods have limitations, but they're currently the most reliable first-pass checks for suspicious images.
Note: Of course, metadata can be manipulated and added to AI images after the fact. Conversely, real photos can have their metadata stripped—something many image compression tools do by default.
9. Verify the Source
Whenever you encounter an image online, always check where it came from. Who uploaded it? Where did they source it? Have any credible news outlets independently confirmed the image?
If you're uncertain, run a reverse image search using Google Images. Click the camera icon ("Search by image") on the right side of the search bar:
This shows whether the image has appeared elsewhere previously or if similar versions exist online. You can also check whether credible news outlets have reported on the event the image allegedly depicts.
10. Look Closely at the Details
AI image quality improves constantly. The best ones today are almost indistinguishable from real photographs. But they still typically show subtle tells.
AI images are trained on existing photos, so the models often struggle with uncommon details that rarely appear in training data.
Take this example. Most of the image looks fairly realistic, but the fingers on the person's right hand have an unnatural appearance—a helpful hint that something's off. If the hands don't tip you off, examine the text on the F1 jacket more closely. Those letters are complete nonsense, a common giveaway in AI images, since the technology still struggles with small details like text and logos.
11. Be Suspicious of Perfection
Another effective way to spot AI images is to notice whether they look unnaturally flawless.
AI-generated images often lack the natural texture and imperfections inherent in real photographs. This gives them an overly processed appearance, like they've been run through aggressive smoothing filters or blemish removal.
This image might initially remind you of a famous pop star, but the face lacks natural texture and detail. It's too sharp, too smooth, too perfect—all red flags suggesting AI generation.
The background can also be a giveaway. AI images often feature impossibly perfect or fantastical settings. For instance, a flock of flamingos in the background might seem normal, but in this case, it signals another detail suggesting something's amiss with the image.
Description: Learn how to spot AI-generated images. From wonky hands to impossible architecture, here are the giveaways that reveal synthetic photos.
ChatGPT has become the go-to tool for countless tasks—content creation, data analysis, market research, and beyond. But here's the limitation: if you need to dig into specialized information, discover relevant websites, or pull data from multiple sources, ChatGPT alone falls short. This is where Exa comes in.
Exa is a ChatGPT plugin that supercharges your research and search capabilities. By pairing Exa with ChatGPT, you get a powerful tool that enhances source discovery, enables deeper investigation, and provides access to specialized information you won't find through standard ChatGPT queries. Let's walk through how to set up and use Exa on ChatGPT to expand your research potential.
Setting Up Exa on ChatGPT: Complete Installation Guide
Step 1: Install the Exa Plugin
Open ChatGPT and click on the Plugins section. Then search for "Exa" using the search bar. Once you find the Exa result, select it.
Now click "Install plugin" to add Exa to your ChatGPT account.
Next, you'll need to create an Exa account as shown in the prompt.
Once your Exa account is ready, authorize ChatGPT to access it. Click the "Authorize ChatGPT" button to complete the connection.
Step 2: Start Using Exa in Your Searches
Return to the ChatGPT chat interface and type @Exa in the message box, then select the Exa app from the dropdown that appears.
Now you can enter your search request or research query. To get the best results, follow this proven formula:
Search Topic + Geographic/Subject Scope + Source Type + Desired Output Format
Find the latest reports on e-commerce trends in Vietnam for 2026. Prioritize research studies, industry reports, and data with cited sources.
Give Exa a moment to process—you'll receive detailed, specialized information tailored to your request.
Here are some example prompts to get you started.
Finding In-Depth Research and Specialized Materials
Search for research studies and reports on artificial intelligence applications in business for 2025–2026.
Prioritize:
- Reports from established organizations.
- Research with concrete data and statistics.
- In-depth analytical pieces.
- Sources with clear publication dates.
Compile the top 10 relevant sources with titles, URLs, and key takeaways for each.
Investigating Market Trends and Business Opportunities
Research the Vietnam cosmetics market in 2026. Look for:
- Emerging consumer trends.
- High-growth product segments.
- Online shopping behavior patterns.
- Brands making an impact.
- Market reports with quantified data.
Focus on credible sources and verifiable information. Organize findings into a structured report by category.
Description: Connect Exa to ChatGPT to unlock deeper research capabilities. Follow our step-by-step guide to find quality sources and conduct thorough investigatio
Integrating Metricool with ChatGPT opens up a powerful workflow for anyone managing social media accounts. Instead of bouncing between platforms to check metrics, you can now leverage ChatGPT to pull data directly from Metricool, ask questions about performance, and get actionable recommendations—all without leaving the chat interface. What's interesting here is how this combination transforms social media management from a time-consuming manual process into something much more conversational and accessible. This guide walks you through the entire setup process and shows you exactly how to use ChatGPT to analyze your social media performance, track key metrics, and build smarter marketing strategies.
How to Manage Social Media with Metricool on ChatGPT
Step 1:
Open ChatGPT and click on the Plugins option in the left sidebar. Type Metricool into the search box that appears. Select Metricool from the results.
Next, click Install plugin to connect your Metricool account to ChatGPT.
Step 2:
The Metricool interface will load. If you don't have an account yet, create one now.
Once your Metricool account is set up, authorize ChatGPT to access it by confirming the permission request.
Review and approve the requested access permissions.
Step 3:
Head to the Metricool website and connect all your social media accounts that you want to track and manage. Follow the on-screen prompts to link each platform.
https://app.metricool.com/brands/connections
Step 4:
Type @Metricool in the ChatGPT chat box and click on the Metricool option that appears below to activate the plugin.
You're all set. Now you can start asking ChatGPT questions about your social media performance and get instant analysis of your connected accounts.
Sample Prompts: Performance Overview
Give me a complete breakdown of my social media performance over the last 30 days. Which channel performed best? Suggest 5 specific ways I can improve.
Analyze my Facebook performance for the past 30 days.
Show me my posts with the highest engagement rates.
How much did my Instagram follower count grow this month?
Tracking Content Performance
Which of my posts is currently performing best?
Compare how my Facebook and Instagram content are performing relative to each other.
Look at my low-engagement posts and tell me why they underperformed.
Building Your Marketing Strategy
What's my current posting schedule across all social platforms?
Create a Facebook content plan for the next week.
Based on engagement data, when should I be posting for maximum reach?
Generating Reports
Summarize my social media performance for last month.
Compare this month's results with last month's numbers.
Give me 5 actionable recommendations to boost my marketing results.
Description: Learn how to connect Metricool to ChatGPT and streamline your social media management with AI-powered analytics and insights.
Here's something worth knowing: if you've granted Google's Gemini AI access to your Gmail or Google Photos to get better answers, that same personal data gets fed into ad personalization. The real concern is that Google is currently testing ads within AI Mode for anyone who's connected apps and shared personal information with Gemini. If this bothers you, here's how to lock things down.
Want to keep your personal information out of Google's ad targeting system? Follow these steps to regain control.
Disconnecting Your Apps from Google Search Personalization
Disconnect Gmail and Google Photos from Google Search
Start by severing the connection between your apps and Google's search service.
Step 1:
Head to the Search Personalization settings page using the link below—this takes you straight to the control panel.
Scroll down to find the Personal Intelligence section, then click on Connected Content Apps to review what's connected.
You'll see a list of all the apps currently linked to your account.
To prevent Google Workspace and Google Photos from feeding your data into personalized search results, disconnect them. Click the Disconnect button next to each app you want to remove.
Removing App Connections in Gemini Itself
Beyond Google Search, take a look at what's connected directly within Gemini. This step gives you control over which data Google's AI assistant can pull from when personalizing your responses.
Open the Gemini app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), then select the gear icon for settings. Next, navigate to Personal Intelligence.
Select Connected Apps and toggle off Google Workspace, Google Photos, and any other services you'd rather not share with Gemini.
Turning Off Personalized Ads in Google
Want to prevent Google from using your account data and activity history to customize ads? You can disable personalized advertising through Google's My Ad Center.
Visit Google My Ad Center using the link below and sign in if prompted.
