Google Workspace is getting a major AI boost, with new features added to apps like Docs, Sheets, Meet, and more. The goal is to simplify daily tasks and boost productivity for businesses of all sizes. From writing assistance in Docs to better summaries in Chat, here are seven new AI features now rolling out across Workspace:
1. Workspace Flows: Automate Tasks with Custom AI Agents
The tech giant is launching a new Workspace Flows feature, an AI-backed automation tool that can review customer queries, research solutions, draft replies, and pull content from Google Drive.
It also allows the creation of custom AI agents, which the company likes to call Gems. These agents can be used to review marketing copy or process internal approvals. The best part about Gems is that it doesn’t require any coding knowledge. Users just have to describe what they want in simple language, and the Flow will create the automation for them. At the moment, the feature is available in alpha.
2. Listen to Your Docs
Google Docs is getting a new audio feature that will allow users to listen to docs content. The feature will generate a full audio version of the document and create podcast-style overviews for quick summaries. Currently, the feature is not available, but it’s expected to arrive in the coming weeks for alpha users.
3. Help Me Refine: Writing Suggestions in Docs
As the name suggests, the ‘Help Me Refine’ feature will act as a writing coach. It will suggest ways to improve structure and clarity, provide feedback on argument strength, and provide formatting tips for consistency.
The tool aims to go beyond fixing typos. It is designed to help users improve their writing skills over time. According to Google’s official blog post, the feature will arrive in alpha later this quarter.
4. Help Me Analyze in Sheets
Google Sheets is probably one of the most used Workspace apps. With the Help Me Analyze feature, it now has a built-in AI analyst. This analyst will help you spot trends in your data, suggest next steps, and create interactive charts.
Typically, only spreadsheet experts benefit from advanced formulas and data insights. But with this new AI feature in Sheets, everyone on the team will be able to access and understand key insights. It’s set to roll out later this year.
5. AI Video Generation in Google Vids
Google’s new app, Google Vids, now allows users to generate original video clips using the Veo 2 model. It allows the creation of realistic motion and styles, which is perfect for creating training videos, product explainers, or presentations. The best part about this tool is that it doesn’t require any complicated video editing software or anything. Unfortunately, the company has not revealed any specific timeline for this feature, but it’s expected to arrive soon.
6. Smarter Meetings with Gemini in Google Meet
Gemini is one of the most powerful AI models out there, and Google Meet is one of the most used video conferencing apps. Now, the tech giant is bringing its Gemini capabilities to Meet. It now acts as a meeting assistant, which takes care of things like quick summaries, topic-specific recaps, and more. The feature will arrive later this quarter.
7. @Gemini in Google Chat
Today, every team uses Google Chat for many of its daily conversations, and sometimes, it becomes impossible for an individual to keep track of all the messages that are coming. That’s where the ‘@Gemini’ feature comes into play. It allows users to summarize conversations, highlight important decisions and questions, and suggest next steps. At the moment, this feature is coming as an experiment with Google Labs in the coming weeks.
Bonus: Better Data Privacy Controls
Google is also introducing data residency options for Gemini in Workspace. This allows businesses to choose where their data is processed (like the US or EU), helping meet compliance standards such as GDPR and ITAR.
That’s all for now. These updates clearly show Google’s push to make AI in Workspaces more powerful, accessible, and useful. How well these features perform in real-world use remains to be seen, but on paper, they seem promising and tackle several everyday challenges businesses and employees deal with regularly.
