Gemini says it can’t do the exact task I asked it a day ago

Title: Navigating Inconsistencies in AI Tools: A Personal Experience with Gemini’s Dataset Extraction Capabilities

In the evolving landscape of digital tools designed to streamline workflow processes, artificial intelligence features within email platforms have gained prominence. Recently, I encountered an intriguing issue with Gemini, an AI-powered feature integrated within Gmail, which underscored the importance of understanding the nuances and limitations of such technologies.

For several months, I have relied on Gemini to assist in organizing data extracted from job notification emails. My typical workflow involves receiving alerts from employment platforms like Indeed, which contain vital details such as job titles, hiring organizations, and locations. Using Gemini, I can convert these email notifications into structured tables with specific columns—namely, job title, hiring organization, city, and state. This structured data can then be conveniently copied into a spreadsheet, ultimately feeding into a Google Map visualization for geographic analysis.

However, recently, I encountered a perplexing problem. Gemini, which previously performed this data extraction seamlessly, now reports that it cannot execute the same task. Interestingly, I had tested the same prompt just the day before, and it successfully generated the structured table. I even copied and pasted the initial instruction verbatim, yet the AI’s response now was a refusal or failure to perform the task.

This inconsistency raises several questions about AI tool behavior:

1. Context Sensitivity and Session State: AI models can sometimes be sensitive to the context or session state. Changes in environment or prompt phrasing, even subtle ones, might impact outcomes.

2. AI Limitations and Fluctuations: No AI tool guarantees 100% reliability. External factors such as updates, server load, or internal model adjustments can influence performance.

3. Prompt Precision and Clarity: Slight variations or ambiguities in prompts can lead to different results. Ensuring that instructions are unambiguous and consistently formatted is crucial.

4. Potential Updates or Changes: It’s possible that Gemini underwent recent updates or modifications that affected its capabilities or the way it interprets prompts.

In practice, when encountering such issues, a few strategies may help:

• Rephrasing prompts for greater clarity.
• Confirming that the email content remains within the scope of expected input.
• Checking for any platform updates or notices regarding feature changes.
• Engaging with support channels or community forums for insights.

This experience highlights an essential aspect of working with AI-driven tools: despite their power to automate and simplify tasks