One Cool Tip Newsletter

January 4, 2026

Your daily dose of tech-savvy brilliance!

😀Greetings! Happy Sunday, Cool Tipper!


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Cool Tip Theme: Thinking with Gemini 3 Pro



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AI Scams Are Targeting Older Adults. Here's How to Spot Them


Scammers are now using artificial intelligence to impersonate loved ones, fake videos, and craft eerily convincing emails. If you're helping older adults stay safe online, this is a must-read.


  • Voice cloning scams can mimic a family member’s voice using just a short audio clip. One woman received a fake ransom call using AI-generated voices of her in-laws.
  • Deepfake scams use AI to create fake videos or photos that look real, including “proof of life” images in kidnapping hoaxes.
  • Phishing emails are now personalized with AI, making them harder to detect and more likely to bypass spam filters.
  • Fake websites powered by AI can look identical to real ones, tricking users into sharing sensitive info.


Red Flags to Watch For:


  • Unusual requests for personal info.
  • High-pressure messages or urgent demands.
  • Payment requests via gift cards or crypto.
  • Slightly “off” language or visuals in calls, emails, or videos.


How to Stay Safe:


  • Create a family code word to verify identity.
  • Call back using known numbers.
  • Limit personal info shared online.
  • Learn AI basics with free tools like IBM SkillsBuild.


Share this alert with your family, friends, and community groups. Staying informed is the best defense.


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Today's Cool Tip

How to Use "Thinking with 3 Pro" in Google Gemini


Unlock deep reasoning, self-correcting logic, and dynamic visual layouts with Google's most powerful AI mode yet.


Have you ever stared at a complex problem and wished you could see the actual thought process behind the answer? 


Here's a Cool Tip:  Think with Gemini 3 Pro.


Google has just rolled out "Thinking with 3 Pro," a new mode in the Gemini app and Google Search that does exactly that, pausing to reason, plan, and even self-correct before it speaks.


What Is "Thinking with 3 Pro"?


"Thinking with 3 Pro" is a specialized toggle available within the Gemini interface that activates Google's Gemini 3 Pro model, released in late 2025. 


Unlike the standard "Fast" mode (powered by Gemini 3 Flash), this mode dedicates significantly more compute power to "ponder" your query. 


It breaks down multi-step problems, writes and tests code internally, and generates dynamic visual layouts, like interactive charts or custom simulations—right in the chat window.


What You’ll Gain


  • Transparent Logic: See the "Thought Signatures" where the AI shows its reasoning steps.
  • Higher Accuracy: Reduced errors in math, coding, and logic puzzles due to internal self-correction.
  • Dynamic Visuals: Generate on-the-fly infographics and interactive tools instead of just text.
  • Deep Research: Handle queries that require synthesizing data from dozens of sources.


Step-by-Step Instructions


Here's how to do it.


On Desktop (Web)


  1. Navigate to Google Search, www.Google.com.
  2. Select AI Mode.
  3. Select 'Thinking with 3 Pro' from the AI Mode dropdown.
  4. Or Navigate to gemini.google.com.
  5. Select 'Thinking' or 'Pro'.
  6. Type a complex prompt (e.g., "Create a 7-day meal plan for a family of four, optimizing for zero food waste by reusing ingredients across multiple recipes").
  7. Google generates the output.


fig. 1 - Thinking with 3 Pro

On iOS & Android (Gemini App)


  1. Open the Google app or Gemini app.
  2. Tap the Model Switcher pill button near the bottom of the screen.
  3. Choose 'Thinking' (indicated by a brain icon).
  4. Enter your prompt.


Pros and Cons


Pros


  • Superior Reasoning: Solves complex math and logic riddles that stump standard models.
  • Self-Correction: If the model detects a logic error during its "thought process," it backtracks and fixes it before showing you the result.
  • Interactive Outputs: Can render playable code snippets or data visualizations directly.


Cons


  • Slower Speed: Responses can take 10–30 seconds to start while the model "thinks."
  • Usage Limits: Free users have a limited number of "Thinking" queries per day; heavy use requires a Google AI Ultra subscription.
  • Overkill for Chat: Not necessary for simple questions like "What is the capital of France?"

Feature Access


  • Availability: Currently available globally in English to all users on the Gemini App and Web.
  • Free Tier: Includes a daily cap of "Thinking" prompts (resets every 24 hours).
  • Subscription: Google AI Ultra subscribers get significantly higher limits and priority access during peak times.
  • Rollout: Full "Deep Think" features rolled out as of December 2025.


Score

Criterion | Score (0–10) | Justification
Value 9
Essential for complex tasks where accuracy matters more than speed.
Usability 8
The toggle is easy to find, though the wait time requires patience.
Wow Factor 10
Watching the AI "self-correct" its own logic in real-time is genuinely futuristic.
Total: 27/30  🌟 Excellent
This is a massive leap forward for power users, offering a level of transparency and reliability that makes it a viable alternative to hiring a research assistant.


Key Takeaways


Use Thinking with 3 Pro for math, coding, and complex planning, not for casual chat.


Expand the "Thinking" dropdown to verify how the AI arrived at its answer.


Free users should save their daily "Thinking" allowance for their hardest problems.


Cool Tip Snapshot


  • Feature Name: Thinking with 3 Pro
  • Platform(s): Web, Android, iOS
  • Quick Benefit: Solves complex problems by "thinking" before speaking.
  • Access Type: Free (Limited usage), Subscription (higher usage limits)


Try It Yourself


Open Gemini right now, switch to "Thinking" mode, and ask it to "Solve this riddle: I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with wind. What am I? And explain your logical steps."


READ MORE



Read the Full Cool Tip.

Check out these Cool Tips & Tricks for Google Gemini:


  • Check the Work: Expand the "Thinking" dropdown to see the exact logic steps the AI took.


  • Force Correction: If the logic looks wrong, type "Review your last step" to trigger a self-correction.


  • Code Buddy: Use Thinking mode for debugging; it writes test cases internally before giving you the code.


  • Math Wizard: Solves word problems better by breaking them into variables first.


  • Travel Planner: Asks itself "Check opening times" during planning to avoid suggesting closed venues.


  • Data Analyst: Can read uploaded PDFs and cross-reference pages to find contradictions.


  • Creative Writer: Uses reasoning to maintain plot consistency in long stories.


  • Visual Thinker: Ask for a "Mind Map" and it will generate a text-based hierarchy or image layout.


  • Battery Saver: Switch back to "Flash" mode for simple questions to save your daily "Thinking" quota.



  • Deep Search: Automatically verifies its own facts with Google Search during the thinking phase.


ICYMI - In Case You Missed It ...

View and Manage Visited Places in Maps on iPhone


Your iPhone keeps a quiet record of the places you visit and gives you a simple way to review, organize, or delete that history. If you travel often or jump between work sites, this tool can save time and help you stay organized.


Read the Full Cool Tip.

Read the Newsletter Version.

Looking for your next adventure?


Call Denise at Travel For You.

314.660.3039


Sign Up for the Monthly Newsletter


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See You Tomorrow

Tomorrow's Cool Tip is waiting to amaze you.


Until then, go forth and conquer the tech world with your newfound knowledge!


Be sure to visit www.OneCoolTip.com for Cool Tech Tips for a Cooler Life!


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Enjoy!




Rodger

Chief Cool Tipper

onecooltip.com@gmail.com


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