Google adds more AI tools to its Workspace productivity apps

Google continues to convey its flagship AI fashions to its productiveness apps, increasing its Gemini options. 

The corporate right this moment introduced a number of updates to its Workspace merchandise, together with the addition of Audio Overviews and new streamlined strategies for monitoring conferences. 

Audio Overviews, which was first launched in Google’s common NotebookLM, permits folks to create podcasts on their chosen analysis matter. 

Now, by way of Gemini, customers can create audio information primarily based on uploaded paperwork and slides. They’ll additionally generate audio overviews inside deep research reviews. These podcast-style audio information are downloadable. Audio Overview generates voices and grounds its discussions solely on the supplied paperwork. 

Google beforehand instructed VentureBeat that its exams confirmed some folks desire studying by way of listening, the place data is offered in a conversational format. 

The corporate additionally launched a brand new characteristic referred to as Canvas in Gemini, which lets folks create drafts and refine textual content or code utilizing the Gemini mannequin. Google mentioned Canvas helps “generate, optimize and preview code.” Canvas paperwork may be shared with Google Docs. 

Up to date calendars

Google additionally streamlined how customers can add occasions and conferences to their calendars. Gemini will detect if an e mail incorporates particulars of occasions and might immediate folks so as to add it to their calendar. The mannequin will floor emails with potential appointments if the consumer misses them. 

Some plug-ins for Google, corresponding to Boomerang, supply related options that show appointments above the topic line. The Gemini-powered calendar characteristic will open a Gemini chat window alerting the consumer of the occasion. 

Pointing AI fashions to floor information or occasions from emails has change into a cornerstone of enterprise AI assistants and brokers. Microsoft’s new brokers parse by way of emails for enter. Startup Martin AI has an AI assistant that manages calendars, emails and to-do lists.  

Melding generative AI with productiveness

Google added Gemini chat to Workspace final yr to combine the standalone chat platform with Gmail, Google Docs and Calendars. This introduced Google nearer to Microsoft’s Copilot, which added AI fashions to its productiveness platforms, together with Outlook.  

Enterprises proceed so as to add AI options to the office, and it’s potential that if their staff usually entry issues like Gemini on their Gmails and use AI fashions for analysis, AI adoption charges could also be even larger.