Generative AI Introduced to Google Workspaces

Google Workspace just got a whole lot easier to use with Generative AI 

On Tuesday, Google Workspace made an exciting new announcement – they will be weaving generative AI into their systems to help users “create connect and collaborate like never before.” While AI has been a part of the Google Workspace system for a long time, predicting what word you will want to type next and who you will want to send your latest email to, this is introducing a completely new era for AI and Google Workspace.

There will be many new features introduced, including: 

  • Draft, reply, summarise, and prioritise your Gmail 
  • Brainstorm, proofread, write, and rewrite in Docs 
  • Bring your creative vision to life with auto-generated images, audio, and video in Slides 
  • Go from raw data to insights and analysis via auto completion, formula generation, and contextual categorisation in Sheets 
  • Generate new backgrounds and capture notes in Meet 
  • Enable workflows for getting things done in Chat

[Credit: Google Workspace Blog]

The systems will be tested in Google Docs and Gmail to begin, with the expectation that it will be incorporated into Slides, Sheets, Meet and Chat as well, after Google Workspace receives feedback from their test audiences. 

Google Workspace expects the generative AI to be helpful on Google Docs, specifically because when you open a blank document it can be very daunting. The idea is for these new features to help you get started on writing, and also save you some time if you are in a hurry. 

The generative AI will also have the option to rewrite what users have already written in their email, Google Doc, etc. There are many different options to choose from, including formalise, elaborate, shorten, bulletize, “I’m feeling lucky” (which makes the writing a little more whimsical), and write a draft. 

One thing that is very important to Google Workspace is that the user is still in control. “We’re designing our products in accordance with Google’s AI Principles that keep the user in control, letting AI suggestions that you’re able to accept, edit, and change.” 

Because this was just announced on Tuesday and is still very much in the testing phase, Google Workspace recognises that this product is still a work in progress. They are waiting to hear feedback from their test audiences in the United States before making this widely available throughout the platform. 

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