# Gemini and Conversational Analytics in Looker Studio

> Use Gemini in Data Studio for calculated fields and Slides, and Conversational Analytics with BigQuery agents — what needs Pro.

Source: https://mentionx.ai/learn/looker-studio/looker-studio-gemini-conversational-analytics  
Author: Dipuck Jones, founder of MentionX  
Updated: 5 November 2026  
Level: Practitioner

**Gemini in Data Studio and Conversational Analytics are related but not the same product switch. Gemini in Data Studio (Pro) helps you write calculated fields and push charts into Slides. Conversational Analytics lets people chat with data — and the new experience is built around BigQuery agents for everyone, with Code Interpreter still gated on Pro + Gemini. This lesson separates the features so you buy and enable the right things.**

> **Key takeaways**
>
> - **Gemini in Data Studio** ≠ free Gemini app ≠ Ask Advisor in Ads/Analytics.
> - Calculated-field help and Slides import need **Pro + Gemini enabled** (preview).
> - **New Conversational Analytics**: all users + **BigQuery agents**; Code Interpreter needs Pro + Gemini.
> - **Legacy agents do not migrate** — rebuild in BigQuery.
> - Validate every AI output before it hits a board pack.

*Checked 5 November 2026 (CET) against Google Cloud Data Studio documentation, the Data Studio product page, the Looker Studio-is-Data-Studio blog post, connector help pages and the Analytics Help pages cited in Sources. Google renames and moves features often, so confirm labels and limits in your own account. "Our view" marks MentionX opinion. Ledgerline is a fictional company used for illustration.*

## What is Gemini in Data Studio?

Per Google's Gemini in Data Studio overview (updated Oct 2026):

| Feature | Needs | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Help me write calculated fields | Pro + Gemini enabled; Editor | Suggests formulas from a natural-language prompt |
| Generate / update Slides from report | Pro + Gemini; Viewer or Editor + Slides edit rights | Inserts charts as images + text summaries |
| Preview pricing note | Limited time no additional cost | May require purchase after preview |

Enablement is an admin action (IAM / Workspace roles). Editors use **Help me write** in the calculated field dialog. The Gemini panel drives Slides generation.

## What is Conversational Analytics?

Per Google's Conversational Analytics overview:

| | Legacy | New |
|---|---|---|
| Sources | CSV, Sheets, Looker, BigQuery (agents in Data Studio) | BigQuery data agents |
| Who | Pro + Gemini | All Data Studio users (Code Interpreter still Pro + Gemini) |
| Migration | — | Legacy agents/conversations **not** migrated |

Marketers should ask data/analytics to publish a BigQuery agent with approved metric definitions (sessions, key events, CPA) rather than freestyle chat on raw events.

## How should marketers use these safely?

1. **Calculated fields:** accept Gemini suggestions only after reading the formula. Prefer the [calculated fields lesson](https://mentionx.ai/learn/looker-studio/looker-studio-calculated-fields) patterns (NULLIF, CASE).
2. **Slides:** regenerate summaries the morning of the meeting; AI text can drift from definitions.
3. **Chat agents:** restrict to mart tables; log example prompts that work.
4. **Never** paste confidential CRM fields into a pilot agent without legal review.

Link Ask Advisor separately — that is Gemini inside Google Ads / Analytics / Merchant ([Gemini Ask Advisor lesson](https://mentionx.ai/learn/gemini/gemini-ask-advisor-ads-analytics)), not the Data Studio Gemini panel.

## Enablement checklist

- [ ] Data Studio Pro subscription or trial
- [ ] Gemini in Data Studio toggled on by admin
- [ ] Editors trained on Help me write
- [ ] BigQuery agent created for Conversational Analytics pilot
- [ ] Code Interpreter enabled only if needed (Pro + Gemini)
- [ ] Validation rule: human reviews AI summaries

## Worked example: Ledgerline

*Ledgerline is a fictional accounts-payable software company. Details are illustrative.*

| Use | Result |
|---|---|
| Help me write for brand vs non-brand CASE | Accepted after analyst edit |
| Slides for QBR | Saved 45 minutes of screenshotting (illustrative) |
| Legacy Sheets agent | Abandoned; rebuilt on BigQuery mart |
| Code Interpreter | Left off until a clear advanced-analytics owner existed |

### Walkthrough

1. Marketing enabled Gemini in Data Studio during a Pro trial.
2. An unchecked Slides summary called AI Assistant traffic "organic AI" — definitions on the cover caught it.
3. Conversational Analytics pilot answered "sessions by channel last 28 days" correctly against the mart agent.
4. They documented prompts in Notion for newcomers.
5. Competitor C treated chat answers as source of truth without SQL review — finance objected.

> **Pro move:** store three "golden questions" with expected answers next to the agent. Run them after every mart schema change.

## Feature matrix (pin this)

| Product | Needs Pro? | Needs Gemini in Data Studio? | Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Help me write fields | Yes | Yes | Report data source |
| Slides from report | Yes | Yes | Report visuals |
| CA chat (new) | No | No | BigQuery agents |
| CA Code Interpreter | Yes | Yes | Via CA |
| Ask Advisor (Ads/Analytics) | Ads/Analytics entitlements | N/A (different product) | Ads/GA |

## Prompt hygiene for calculated fields

Bad: "make a good engagement metric".
Better: "CASE field that returns Brand if Session source matches regex for our brand domains, else Non-brand".

Then read the formula, test on Sample, save to dictionary.

## Rollout plan (30 days)

| Week | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Admin enables Gemini in Data Studio on Pro trial; train two editors |
| 2 | Publish BigQuery agent with three golden questions |
| 3 | Pilot Slides generation for one internal QBR only |
| 4 | Decide keep/kill Code Interpreter; write validation SOP |

Do not enable every preview feature for every user on day one. Preview quality varies; governance lesson owns the SOP link.

## Example golden questions

1. "What were sessions and key events by session default channel group for the last 28 days?"
2. "Which session sources in AI Assistant drove the most sessions last 28 days?"
3. "What was Ads cost versus target spend for the last 6 complete weeks?" (mart must include targets)

If the agent fails these, do not demo it to leadership. Fix the agent context or the mart first.

## What to tell legal / security

Gemini for Google Cloud products can produce plausible but incorrect output. Google documents that you should validate outputs and understand how Gemini for Google Cloud uses data. For marketing:

- Do not put unpublished earnings or sensitive personal data into pilot agents.
- Prefer mart tables with aggregated metrics.
- Keep a human in the loop before external sharing.
- Record that preview features may change price after the limited no-additional-cost period.

## Common mistakes

- **Assuming Conversational Analytics requires Gemini in Data Studio** (new experience does not for basic BigQuery chat; Code Interpreter does).
- **Expecting legacy agent migration.**
- **Publishing AI Slides text without reading it.**
- **Confusing Gemini in Data Studio with the Gemini marketing app track.**
- **Letting chat hit raw `events_*`.**

## Try it yourself

If you have Pro: enable Gemini, generate one calculated field suggestion, and reject or edit it deliberately. If not: draft the BigQuery agent request for engineering using three golden questions.

## Quick quiz

**1. Name two Gemini in Data Studio features.**

*Answer:* Natural-language calculated fields; Slides generation/update from report visuals.

**2. What data do new Conversational Analytics agents use?**

*Answer:* BigQuery data agents.

**3. Can you migrate legacy CA agents?**

*Answer:* No. Google documents that legacy agents and conversations cannot be migrated.

## What should you check before the next lesson?

- Feature matrix understood (Gemini vs CA vs Code Interpreter).
- Golden questions drafted.
- Validation rule agreed with your team lead.

Previous: [Looker Studio with BigQuery for marketing scale](https://mentionx.ai/learn/looker-studio/looker-studio-bigquery-scale). Next: [Looker Studio governance for marketing teams](https://mentionx.ai/learn/looker-studio/looker-studio-governance-access). Or return to the [Looker Studio for Marketers track](https://mentionx.ai/learn/looker-studio/looker-studio-for-marketers). Related: [Gemini in Data Studio overview](https://docs.cloud.google.com/data-studio/gemini-overview), [Conversational Analytics overview](https://docs.cloud.google.com/data-studio/conversational-analytics-overview), [About Data Studio Pro](https://docs.cloud.google.com/data-studio/about-pro), [Gemini for Marketers](https://mentionx.ai/learn/gemini/gemini-for-marketers).

## Common questions

**What does Gemini in Data Studio include?** With Data Studio Pro and Gemini in Data Studio enabled, users can create calculated fields from natural language prompts and add report visuals to Google Slides with generated summaries. Features are in preview and currently at no additional cost for a limited time.

**Who can use Conversational Analytics?** The new Conversational Analytics experience is available to all Data Studio users for BigQuery data agents. The Code Interpreter still requires Data Studio Pro with Gemini in Data Studio enabled.

**Can I migrate legacy Conversational Analytics agents?** Google says you cannot migrate legacy agents or conversations (Sheets, CSV, Looker, older BigQuery agents created in Data Studio) to the new experience. Plan new agents in BigQuery.
## Sources

- Google Cloud, [Gemini in Data Studio overview](https://docs.cloud.google.com/data-studio/gemini-overview)
- Google Cloud, [Conversational Analytics in Data Studio overview](https://docs.cloud.google.com/data-studio/conversational-analytics-overview)
- Google Cloud, [About Data Studio Pro](https://docs.cloud.google.com/data-studio/about-pro)
- All accessed 5 Nov 2026.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does Gemini in Data Studio include?

With Data Studio Pro and Gemini in Data Studio enabled, users can create calculated fields from natural language prompts and add report visuals to Google Slides with generated summaries. Features are in preview and currently at no additional cost for a limited time.

### Who can use Conversational Analytics?

The new Conversational Analytics experience is available to all Data Studio users for BigQuery data agents. The Code Interpreter still requires Data Studio Pro with Gemini in Data Studio enabled.

### Can I migrate legacy Conversational Analytics agents?

Google says you cannot migrate legacy agents or conversations (Sheets, CSV, Looker, older BigQuery agents created in Data Studio) to the new experience. Plan new agents in BigQuery.

---

Written and reviewed by Dipuck Jones for MentionX Learn. The HTML version of this page: https://mentionx.ai/learn/looker-studio/looker-studio-gemini-conversational-analytics