The '#ReflectingWithAI' Submission Contest is Here! Let's Look Back at 2025 with Gemini

Hello, this is the official note editorial department for Google's AI, 'Gemini'.

A submission contest in collaboration between Google and note. 2025 began with '#TriedWithAI', and through to '#CreatedWithAI' in November, you have submitted many wonderful works. Thank you so much!

The theme for the contest starting in December is “#ReflectingWithAI”.
Why not look back on your 2025 with Gemini?

Whether it's a look back at the year, daily records, or reflecting on specific events... any theme is fine! By having a conversation with Gemini or having NotebookLM read your past diaries and notes, you might discover 'growth' or 'changes' that you wouldn't have noticed on your own.

Those who want to start using Gemini for this contest are also very welcome.
The free 'Gemini app' and 'NotebookLM' are waiting for you to join.

Why not 'rediscover' your experiences from a new perspective unique to AI?

Gemini will support your diverse 'reflections'

In this contest, '#ReflectingWithAI', we are looking for your 'reflections' that utilize Gemini or NotebookLM.

Whether it's a record of deep introspection or a fun log of conversations with Gemini, both are wonderful reflections. Without being bound by format, try reflecting with Gemini in your own way, and tell us about the process and results on note.

Idea Hint 1: 'Reflection' can be this free!

'Even if you say 'reflect', what should I look back on...'
'I don't know what to write'
For those who feel this way, how about these themes, for example?

・'Fact-checking memories'
Such as 'What movies were popular in 2025?' or 'What was the weather like around May?', try recalling the emotions of that time while complementing vague memories with Gemini.

・'100 Praise Knocks'
Talk to Gemini about 'things you worked hard on this year' and have it fully affirm you by saying 'That's amazing!' or 'You did great!', boosting your self-esteem.

・'Listen to your own note as a radio show'
Have NotebookLM read the note articles or diaries you wrote this year and generate an 'audio commentary'. Try listening to your year objectively as a dialogue between two AIs.

・'Summarize your year into one image'

Upload your Google Maps history of trips in 2025, your favorite social media posts, memorable photos, etc., to Gemini. Have it compile them into a single illustration as a '2025 Travel Record'.

Idea Hint 2: Output the insights gained from 'reflection'

Summarizing the past is not the only form of reflection.
By having repeated conversations with Gemini or performing analysis with NotebookLM, you might see discoveries you wouldn't have noticed alone, or next actions from a new perspective.

Organizing these and summarizing them as your goals for next year or the future also becomes a wonderful reflection unique to you.

・"Predict yourself in 2026 with a single kanji character"
Analyze past trends from your planner or calendar entries, and based on that, ask for a suggestion for a kanji character that symbolizes what 2026 might be like (or should be).

・"Turn unread books and unfinished tasks into future 'things I want to do'"
Feed in notes from books you've started reading or lists of unfinished tasks, and ask for a "things I want to do next year" list.

・"The trajectory of your creative activities and future themes"
Use NotebookLM to analyze your past note articles and trends in your previous work, then use Gemini to brainstorm themes for your creations next year.

・"A portfolio of achievements created with Gemini"
Summarize daily reports and meeting minutes with NotebookLM, and rewrite them into a resume or self-promotion text using Gemini.

Introducing '#LookingBackWithAI' articles to spark your posting ideas

To everyone nurturing ideas for a '#LookingBackWithAI' post:
Why not start by exploring others' work to further enrich your own inspiration? Below, we introduce two practical examples of looking back on the year from unique perspectives.

■ Massi

This is a movie-style retrospective article by essayist Massi.
Massi, who usually doesn't look back on the past much, took a unique approach by treating Gemini as a "movie screenwriter" and ordering it to "turn my year into a story."
By feeding in his accumulated note articles, scattered episodes were connected as a "story of a young man traveling through different cultures," allowing him to objectively affirm his year. This is an entertaining way to use AI that is also recommended for those trying a retrospective for the first time.

■ SHIORI

SHIORI's article introduces a fulfilling retrospective process that makes full use of Gemini and NotebookLM.

Through dialogue with Gemini, she performed "journaling" that included not just facts but also emotions, and even generated a "things not to do list" for next year from that. Furthermore, she used NotebookLM to analyze her past note articles to discover "unconscious themes" she hadn't noticed herself, and had Gemini generate an image of her "kanji of the year." It is packed with concrete ideas you'll want to imitate.

Check out the latest features of Gemini and NotebookLM

Learn about features and use cases on the official Gemini note

The official Gemini note publishes articles that are useful when you use Gemini, NotebookLM, and more. Please use them as a reference for your daily AI usage, not just for creating your contest entry.

・Start here! A complete guide to Gemini's basic features

If you are new to Gemini or want to know about its features, please start with this article. We introduce basic usage, a list of features, and concrete prompts for Gemini.

・From the latest NotebookLM features to use cases

NotebookLM is powerful for analysis from specific sources, such as diaries, memos, and past note articles. We explain everything in detail, from how to upload documents to use cases like "audio overviews" and "video overviews."

・From illustrations to videos! Learn from diverse output examples

This article introduces creative ideas and use cases using Google's AI, such as Gemini's Nano Banana, Veo, and Whisk. If you want to output the results of your retrospective as illustrations or videos, please use this as a reference.

・“Nano Banana Pro” expands expression from manga to diagrams

With the latest image generation model “Nano Banana Pro,” Japanese text generation in images has been powered up, now allowing generative AI to create manga-style speech bubbles and information-packed slide images. If you want to output your reflections visually, please make use of this article.

・“Vibe Coding” to give shape to your ideas

Gemini’s Canvas feature allows you to easily create apps even without programming knowledge. For example, Gemini can help you realize ideas like “I want to create a support app to achieve the goals I found while reflecting.”

・Enjoy “Reflecting” with Storybook picture books

An explanatory article on Gemini’s “Storybook,” which lets you easily create original picture books with illustrations. It transforms your reflections into creative works, such as summarizing your year into seasonal picture books or turning this year’s lessons into humorous stories.

Try using the free “Gemini app”

Gemini and NotebookLM can be used for free by anyone with a Google account. Accessing Gemini is simple. Anyone can use the “Gemini app” or the web version for free right now using their personal Gmail account.

Some features, such as Google’s video generation AI model “Veo 3.1,” are available with the Google AI Pro / Google AI Ultra plans and Google Workspace plans for businesses. All plans have a free trial period. If you are interested in trying out video features or are considering a subscription, please give it a try!

▶︎Free Gemini app
▶︎Google Workspace (for business)
▶︎Google AI Pro / Google AI Ultra plans (for individuals)

The deadline for “#LookingBackWithAI” is January 11, 2026

■ Theme and Format

We are waiting for your note submissions under the theme “#LookingBackWithAI.” Please feel free to write in any format, such as manga, essays, illustrations, or novels. There are no restrictions on the format.

■ Schedule

Submission period: December 12, 2025 (Fri) 11:00 to January 11, 2026 (Sun) 23:59
Results announcement: Scheduled for February 2026

■ Prizes

・Grand Prix: 1 winner (100,000 yen gift card)
・Google Gemini Award: 2 winners (50,000 yen gift card each)

In addition, all winners will receive a 3-month free benefit for the Google AI Pro plan.

About the Google AI Pro plan
This is Google’s paid AI plan that includes higher usage limits for Google’s cutting-edge AI models like Gemini 3 and Deep Research, as well as special features like the video generation model Veo 3.1, video production tools Flow and Whisk Animate, and 2TB of storage.

■ About the judging

Winning entries will be selected based on whether the article clearly shows that Google's AI was used. For example, this includes articles that mention the name of the service used, or include screenshots or public links to AI-generated responses.

You may use the tool in any way you like, such as for writing, research, or reviews. As long as you have used Google's AI in some capacity, your entry will be eligible, so please feel free to apply with your own creative ideas.

■ How to Apply

(1) Create a note account or log in
(2) Follow the official Google Gemini note account

(3) Post an article with the hashtag "#LookingBackWithAI"

・Please set your post to "public" (free) when submitting.
・You may also enter by adding the project hashtag to an article you have posted in the past.
・You may submit multiple entries.

■ Regarding the Use of Submitted Content

Submitted content may be featured on the official Google Gemini note, website, or social media channels. It may also be featured on note's social media channels.

Please check the "note official" article for detailed submission guidelines.

Looking back at the past is also a way of creating the future.
The "insights" and "growth" you discovered through your dialogue with Gemini should serve as important hints for moving forward. Successes or regrets, joys or worries... please make use of your past experiences and records to reflect with Gemini.

We look forward to your "#LookingBackWithAI" posts, filled with your discoveries.