I used to think AI presentations were just a gimmick, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Recently, I started letting Gemini take the wheel in Google Slides – and it’s been a total game-changer.
Thanks to Gemini, I have gone from dealing with layouts and stock photos to generating polished, cohesive presentations in a fraction of the time.
If you are still building slides the old-fashioned way, you are working harder than you need to.
I thought Google Docs was enough until I paired it with Gemini
The secret weapon for flawless documents
Starting with text prompts in Google Slides
The part I used to dread the most wasn’t the actual presenting — it was that first hour spent staring at a blank white slide.
I would waste so much mental energy just trying to figure out how to structure the narrative and where the headers should go.
Since Gemini works slide by slide, I have developed a power-prompting rhythm. Instead of dealing with text boxes, I feed it a specific goal for each new slide.
For example, I can use the prompt below to create a new slide in no time:
I need a slide about Overcoming Challenges. Create a layout with a placeholder for a large image on the left and two short sentences of text on the right.
In another example, I can use the closing prompt like:
Generate a next steps slide for a client proposal. Include a checklist of three items: Contract Signing, Onboarding Call, and Project Kickoff.
It’s a five-second way to end a presentation on a high note without manually dragging checkboxes around.
The magic moment for me was realizing I didn’t have to be a designer. I just describe the layout I want and the data I have, and Gemini handles the alignment, font sizing, and spacing.
It turns the most tedious 10 minutes of my workflow into a 10-second prompt.
However, there is a major limitation here. Unlike Copilot in PowerPoint, Google Slides can’t create an entire presentation from a single text prompt. You must write a prompt for each slide, which can be a hit or a miss.
At any point, you can type @ and enter the file name to pull it up from Google Drive and ask Gemini to refer to content from it.
Visual storytelling without the search
One of my favorite things about using Gemini in Google Slides is that I have practically said goodbye to stock photo sites.
I used to spend way too much time hunting for images. Now, I just create exactly what I need directly on the slide.
I simply open Gemini in Google Slides and ask it to create an image. For example, instead of a boring picture of a handshake, I try to capture a feeling using the prompt below.
Create a minimalist, high-contrast photograph of a mountain climber reaching the summit at sunrise. Use a cool blue and orange color palette with plenty of negative space on the left for text.
Sometimes a slide just needs a vibe rather than a specific object. In that case, I can use a prompt like below.
Create a 3D abstract render of flowing silk ribbons in corporate navy and silver, floating in a dark void. The lighting should be soft and cinematic to give it a premium, tech-focused feel.
My golden rule for prompts: I always mention the style (like photorealistic watercolor, or flat design) and the lighting.
It’s the difference between a generic-looking image and something that looks like I hired a designer for the afternoon.
Creating an infographic using Gemini in Slides
In the past, an infographic meant opening a separate design tool, exporting and importing, and contact resizing.
Now, I use the Insert > Help me visualize > Infographic feature to generate high-quality, data-rich visuals that look like they came from a professional design agency.
For instance, I can use a prompt like the one below to create an eye-catching infographic in no time:
Generate a photographic pie chart infographic illustrating a juice blend composition, using real fruit slices (orange, lemon, grapefruit) as the chart segments on a neutral off-white background with an elegant sans serif font.
In another example, I can use a prompt like the one below to develop an infographic:
Create a split-screen comparison infographic. Left side: “The Old Way” with a cluttered, gray icon. Right side: “The New Way” with a bright, organized, and glowing icon. Maintain 40% white space for a clean, premium look.
The feature is still in beta, though. But in my experience, it worked as expected. The final output depends on the kind of prompt you use.
Go beyond bullet points
Gemini isn’t just a tool; it’s a productivity multiplier. It has allowed me to stop focusing on the busy work of slide design and start focusing on the impact of my messages.
If you haven’t tried the Gemini integration in Google Slides yet, you are leaving hours of your week on the table.
It’s been a game-changer for my process, and I can’t wait to see how it evolves from here. Aside from Google Slides, you can even use Gemini to create notes in Google Keep.