Automate, accelerate, and innovate inside Google Workspace
Today, AI and automation are finally meeting where people already work: Google Workspace. In my latest presentation, Google Apps Script & Gemini — Power Up, I explored how anyone—beginner or advanced—can use simple JavaScript plus Google’s Gemini models to build smart tools directly inside Sheets, Docs, Gmail, and Drive.
If you’re curious about AI-powered automation or you’re ready to modernize your workflow, this guide highlights everything we covered.
🔧 What Is Google Apps Script?
Google Apps Script is a cloud-based JavaScript platform that lets you automate and extend Google Workspace.
As shown in the presentation (page 2) Google Apps Script and Gemini P…, Apps Script can:
- Automate repetitive tasks
- Connect Sheets, Docs, Drive, Calendar, and Gmail
- Build custom menus, triggers, web apps, and add-ons
- Integrate APIs—now including Gemini
Best of all? No servers. No setup. Just open Extensions → Apps Script and start coding.
💡 What You Can Build (Examples from the Presentation)
Pages 3–5 of the deck showcase the wide range of real-world use cases Google Apps Script and Gemini P…:
✅ Automation
- Convert Sheets → PDF
- Schedule daily emails
- Run processes on timers
✨ Custom Sheet Functions
Imagine typing:=GETWEATHER("Miami")=CURRENCYCONVERT(100, "USD", "EUR")
(Yes, you can build these!)
📝 Forms & UI Tools
- Pre-fill Google Forms
- Build interactive sidebars and menus
- Create dashboards and micro web apps
📧 Gmail Automation
- Send templated messages
- Create Gmail drafts
- Build custom Gmail add-ons (more on this below!)
📊 Featured Project: Sales Report → PDF (Automatic)
Pages 7–8 highlight a complete workflow your team will love Google Apps Script and Gemini P…:
- Add sample data to your sheet
- Create a Google Doc dynamically
- Insert a table
- Insert a chart
- Export the Doc as PDF
- Email it—automatically
This is a perfect example of how Apps Script replaces manual reporting.
⏰ Triggers: Let Your Scripts Run Themselves
Pages 9–10 demonstrate simple vs. installable triggers Google Apps Script and Gemini P…:
- onOpen / onEdit: Run instantly when a user interacts
- Time-driven triggers: Run hourly, daily, weekly
- Form submits: Perfect for notifications and cleanup flows
This is where automation shines—your tools work even while you sleep.
🧩 Building Custom Menus
(Page 11) Google Apps Script and Gemini P…
You can add your own menu items directly inside Sheets. Example:
- “Create Test Data”
- “Show Welcome Message”
- “Reload Menu”
This gives your tools a professional, polished feel.
📂 Working with Files: PDF Text Extraction
Pages 12–13 introduce a clever Apps Script + OCR workflow Google Apps Script and Gemini P…:
- Extract totals from PDF invoices
- Summarize them
- Email the results
A simple solution for accounting or finance teams drowning in documents.
🔗 Fetch External API Data
Pages 14–15 show how Apps Script connects to public APIs like RandomUser API Google Apps Script and Gemini P…:
- Fetch 50 users
- Parse names, emails, phones
- Insert automatically into Sheets
This is ideal for mock data, prototyping apps, or practicing API integration.
🤖 Gemini + Apps Script: Your AI Workflow Begins
The second half of the presentation dives into connecting Sheets, Docs, Drive, and Gmail to Gemini.
Pages 16–20 show:
⚙️ The Core callGemini_() Helper
A simple REST call that:
- Sends a prompt
- Gets a Gemini response
- Parses the text reliably
📝 Generate Google Docs with AI
Create new Docs from prompts such as:
“What is the future of AI?”
Gemini writes the content for you.
📚 Summarize Google Docs Automatically
- Gather all Docs in a folder
- Generate summaries
- Email them as a combined digest
Great for weekly updates or executive briefings.
🖼 Auto-Describe Images
- List images in a Drive folder
- Convert to Base64
- Send to Gemini
- Store AI-generated descriptions in a Sheet
Game changer for accessibility, metadata, or digital archiving.
📄 A Beginner-Friendly Gemini Integration Checklist
From pages 23–28 Google Apps Script and Gemini P…:
- Get your API key (AI Studio)
- Store it in Script Properties
- Build the core helper
- Test your first call using Logger
- Create Sheets custom functions
- Add a Sidebar (“Prompt Pad”)
- Build Docs tools (summarizers, generators)
- Build Gmail tools (reply drafters, smart assistants)
📬 Gmail Smart Reply Assistant (Showcase Project)
Pages 34–37 highlight one of the most powerful examples from the deck: a Gmail Add-on powered by Gemini Google Apps Script and Gemini P….
💥 What It Can Do
- Read the thread you have open
- Generate a summary
- Highlight key points
- Suggest a polished reply
- Adjust tone: professional, friendly, concise
- Insert the reply directly as a draft
All inside Gmail. No copy/paste. No AI apps. No switching.
🧪 Mini Gemini Exercises
Page 37 includes fun starter ideas:
- Turn a messy list into bullet points
- Explain code step-by-step
- Generate quiz questions
Great for both beginners and educators.
🌱 How I Started with Apps Script
(Page 38) Google Apps Script and Gemini P…
In 2015, I was trying to capture tweets into a Google Sheet—without a server. Apps Script solved that for me. Since then, I’ve built tools, taught thousands of developers, and explored how Apps Script + AI can empower everyone.
🌐 Want More?
The final pages link to more resources:
- Website: https://basescripts.com/
- GitHub: https://github.com/lsvekis
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/svekis/
🎯 Final Thoughts
Apps Script was already one of the most powerful automation tools available inside Google Workspace.
Now, with Gemini integrated directly via API:
- Your Sheets can think
- Your Docs can write
- Your Gmail can reply
- Your Drive can describe
- Your workflows become intelligent
If you’re ready to start building AI-powered tools—or want more tutorials—follow along at basescripts.com and stay tuned for more guides, examples, and templates.
