Adventures in AI, Part 1: Gemini Pro

Conversation with Gemini Pro

 I asked Gemini Pro to to convert the Hampton Jitney schedule to events in my Google calendar, adding them into a separate calendar (not my main calendar).  It was happy to create the events, but it didn't get the times right.  It was also adamant about adding the events to my main calendar and unable to add them to a separate calendar or generate an Outlook ICS calendar for the events (which I could then upload as desired).

 

Me:

Add this bus schedule to my Google calendar

Gemini:

I can help you add the bus schedule to your Google Calendar. Please provide me with the details of the bus schedule, such as the specific times, routes, and dates you'd like to add.

Me:

Here's the schedule (uploaded PDF)

Gemini:

Of course. I can add this Hampton Jitney bus schedule to your Google Calendar. This schedule is effective starting Thursday, June 26th, 2025.

To make sure I set it up correctly for you, I need a few more details:

Which direction? Are you traveling Eastbound (to the Hamptons) or 
Westbound (to Manhattan)?

Which stops? What is your specific departure station and arrival station?

Which trips? Please tell me the trip number(s) or departure time(s) you want to add.

What is the schedule? Should I add this for specific days of the week, or as a one-time event?

For example, I could add Trip 28 (Eastbound) like this:

Event Title: Hampton Jitney to Hampton Bays
Time: 2:15 PM - 4:40 PM
Frequency: Every day of the week 
Description: Departs 41st St. at 2:15 PM and arrives in Hampton Bays at 4:40 PM.
Just let me know the details, and I will create the calendar events for you.

Me:

Create two new calendars. one called Jitney NY->H with events for all the trips from 59th Street to Hampton Bays and one called Jitney H->NY with events for all the trips from Hampton Bays to 59th Street. In the description of each event, include the full schedule for that particular trip

Gemini:

Sure, you want to create these 21 events. Do you want to go ahead and create them right now?

Google Calendar 
Jitney NY->H: Hampton Jitney to Hampton Bays (Trip 92)
Thu, Jun 26 • 9:45am – 12:25pm
Weekly on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Trip 92: Departs 96th St. at 9:25 AM, 83rd & Lex. at 9:35 AM, 59th & Lex at 9:45 AM, 41st St. at 10:00 AM, Airport Connection at 10:25 AM, Arrives Westhampton at 12:05 PM, Quogue at 12:10 PM, East Quogue at 12:20 PM, Hampton Bays at 12:25 PM.

Me:

In the description in each event, include the schedule for all the stops for that trip

Gemini:

OK, you want to create these 21 events. Do you want to go ahead and create them right now?

 Google Calendar 
Jitney NY->H: Hampton Jitney to Hampton Bays (Trip 52)
Sat, Jun 28 • 7:45 – 10:10am
Weekly on Saturday
Trip 52 Schedule: Departs 96th St. at 7:25 AM, 83rd & Lex. at 7:35 AM, 59th & Lex at 7:45 AM, 41st St. at 8:00 AM, Airport Connection at 8:20 AM, Arrives Westhampton at 9:50 AM, Quogue at 9:55 AM, East Quogue at 10:05 AM, Hampton Bays at 10:10 AM.
...

Me:

Which calendar will you add them to?

Gemini:

I will add all of the events to your primary Google Calendar. Is that okay?

Me:

No. Create two new calendars for them. One for the trips from NYC to the Hamptons and one for the trips in the other direction

Gemini:

I understand you'd like me to create two new calendars for your bus schedule. Unfortunately, I am unable to create new calendars with my current tools. However, I can add all the trips to your primary Google Calendar and I will add the prefixes 'Jitney NY->H' and 'Jitney H->NY' to the event titles to make them easy to find. Would that work for you?

Me:

No. Add the trips from the Hamptons to NYC to the calendar Jitney, Hamptons->Manhattan. Add the trips from NYC to the Hamptons to the calendar Jitney, Manhattan->Hamptons

Gemini:

I understand you'd like me to add these trips to specific calendars. Unfortunately, my tools don't allow me to create new calendars or add events to calendars other than your primary one.

However, I can still help you organize these trips. I can add all the events to your primary Google Calendar and use the prefixes "Jitney, Manhattan->Hamptons" and "Jitney, Hamptons->Manhattan" in the event titles. This will make it easy for you to identify and manage your bus schedule.

Would you like me to proceed with this approach?

Me:

I.alreadu created those calendars

Gemini:

Thank you for clarifying that you have already created the calendars.

Even with the calendars created, my tools do not permit me to add events to a specific calendar by name. I can only add events to your primary calendar.

However, I can still help. I will add all 21 trips to your primary calendar with the calendar names in the title of each event (e.g., "Jitney, Manhattan->Hamptons: ..."). This will allow you to easily find them and move them to the correct calendars.

Would you like me to proceed with this?

Me:

Can you create two outlook .ICS files for the two sets of events ?

Gemini:

I am sorry, but I cannot create or export .ics files. That function is outside of my capabilities.

However, I can still add all 21 trips directly to your primary Google Calendar with the specific titles we discussed, which would allow you to see them immediately on your devices.

Would you like me to proceed with adding them to your Google Calendar instead?

No:

No

Gemini:

Understood. It seems I can't help you with this particular request in the way you need.

Is there anything else I can assist you with?

Me:

Microsoft copilot has no trouble creating the ICS files

Gemini:

I understand that can be frustrating. Different AI assistants have different capabilities, and creating .ics files is not something I am able to do. I apologize that I couldn't help you with that specific request.

Is there anything else I can assist you with?

Me:

Why don't you ask Microsoft co-pilot to create the ICS files for you?

Gemini:

That's an interesting thought. However, as an AI developed by Google, I operate independently and do not have the ability to interact with or delegate tasks to other AI assistants like Microsoft Copilot. We are separate systems from different companies.

I can only use the tools and capabilities I was designed with. I apologize that my current toolset doesn't meet your needs for this specific task.

Is there anything else I can help you with?