Gemini's AI agent is as good as Google's demo — but is it worth the cost?

Google's new Gemini Spark AI agent can handle tasks on your behalf — even multi-step ones — and work in the background while you walk away from your computer. The demo claims it's always under your direction and checks with you before major actions.

The Verge tried it last week: Spark is shockingly good at doing things on your behalf. But the author wasn't convinced it's worth the financial cost or the potential privacy tradeoffs. The service tiers add up fast, and the privacy guarantees feel paper-thin for an AI that's always listening.

Why this matters for us: Brown folks who need task automation will love Gemini — but the cost and privacy questions make it a luxury, not a must-have.