Gemini Spark, Google's personal AI agent that works on tasks for you, has been renamed Task. Google's help centre says people kept asking Gemini to just help them finish tasks, so it changed the name, and you'll now find it in the Chat and Task toggle next to the prompt box. Your existing tasks and schedules are still there, in the sidebar.
If you went looking for the Spark tab and it had vanished, that's why. Spark launched in May 2026 as a beta for Google AI Ultra subscribers in the US, came to the Gemini Mac app at the end of June, and now lives on as Task.
Here's what it does, who can use it, and the safety habits Google itself recommends before you hand an agent your inbox.
What Gemini Task (formerly Spark) does
A normal Gemini chat answers questions. Task is built to do the work: you describe a goal and when you want it done, and Gemini works through the steps using your connected apps, skills, chats, the websites you're signed into, Personal Intelligence and your location.
- Declutter your inbox by summarising or archiving newsletters and unsubscribing from lists
- Build an urgent to-do list after time off
- Watch flight and hotel prices and alert you when they drop within your budget
- Research a topic with cited sources and package it into a PDF, document, spreadsheet or presentation
- Run a task on a schedule, such as a custom news digest that follows the stories you care about
Who can use it
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 or over |
| Account | A personal Google Account. Work and school accounts can't use tasks for now |
| Plan | Google AI Pro or Google AI Ultra |
| Settings | Keep Activity switched on, and opted in to Personal Intelligence |
| Where you use it | The Gemini mobile app, the Gemini app on Mac, or gemini.google.com |
| Countries | Wherever Gemini Apps are supported, except the European Economic Area, Nigeria, Switzerland and the United Kingdom |
That last row is the one that surprises people. If you're in the UK, you can't use tasks yet, even on a paid plan. It's worth knowing before you upgrade for this feature alone. And although Google now has a Gemini app for Windows, the help page lists only mobile, Mac and web for tasks.
How to create a task
- On your computer, go to gemini.google.com, or open the Gemini app on a Mac.
- Below the text box, click Task.
- Describe what you want done, and when. You can say around a specific time or after an event.
- Type @ to pick a skill you've already set up, if you want one used.
- To add files, click Upload and tools, then Upload files, Add from Drive or Add Notebook.
- Click Submit, then check in on the task thread for anything Gemini needs from you.
You can change direction while a task runs by typing new instructions in the thread, and Google says Gemini updates its work without losing progress. To see progress, click the progress chip at the top of the thread to open its work panel. New to it? Type set up, get started or interview me in a task and Gemini walks you through your first skills and tasks.
How it uses a browser, and when you take over
For jobs on websites, like shopping, booking travel or reserving a table, Gemini either drives your own Chrome browser on your desktop or a separate remote browser in the cloud. With your own browser, it can reach every site you're signed into. When it hits a sign-in page, it asks you to use Sign in with Google where possible, or to take over and sign in yourself.
| Browser | What to know |
|---|---|
| Your local Chrome | Keep your device and Chrome awake until the task finishes, or Gemini may switch to the remote browser |
| Remote browser | Keeps working if you close your device; pauses for steps like signing in until you take over |
| Saved remote data | Cookies with sign-in details are kept for next time; delete them in Settings, then Browser |
What not to put in a task
Google's own guidance is blunt, and I'd follow it to the letter. Don't type sign-in details, payment details or anything sensitive into the task thread; if a site needs them, take control of the browser and enter them on the page yourself. Avoid scheduling tasks you'd consider sensitive, because if a schedule runs while you're offline you might not be able to stop an unintended action.
A first task worth trying
Inbox tidy, with a safety brake
Every Monday at 8am, go through my inbox from the past week.
List newsletters I haven't opened in a month and suggest which to unsubscribe from.
Don't unsubscribe from anything until I confirm.
Research to a file
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Research the three biggest changes to Instagram for business accounts this year.
Cite every source and give me a two-page PDF summary with a short action list for a small business.
Tools that work with it
Tasks can draw on Gmail, Google Drive, Gemini Notebook, Chrome and your connected apps, plus any skills you've built. If you're comparing AI agents, ChatGPT agent mode, Claude and Perplexity are the names most people weigh against it.
Another Google feature that uses Gemini is live translation in calls, covered in our Google Meet translation guide.
My take
The rename makes sense: Task tells you what it does, Spark didn't. It can take real busywork off your plate, but the country list matters, and so does Google's warning about sensitive actions. Start with read-only jobs like research and summaries, and add actions once you trust it. Set up a few skills in Gemini first, because tasks get much better when they can call them, and my Gemini guide covers the basics. If you'd like help deciding which AI agents are worth it for your business, that's what I do in my one-to-one AI sessions.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Gemini Spark?
Google renamed it Task. You'll find it in the Chat and Task toggle next to the prompt box, and your existing tasks and schedules are still in the sidebar.
Is Gemini Task available in the UK?
Not yet. Google says tasks are available wherever Gemini Apps are supported except the European Economic Area, Nigeria, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Do I need a paid plan for Gemini tasks?
Yes. You need a Google AI Pro or Ultra subscription, a personal Google Account, Keep Activity on and Personal Intelligence switched on.
Can I use Gemini tasks with a work account?
Not for now. Google says tasks aren't available if you sign in with a work or school Google Account.
Can Gemini tasks use my browser?
Yes. Gemini can use your local Chrome browser on desktop or a remote browser in the cloud, and it asks you to take over for steps like signing in.
