Google brings generative AI to Workspace

Google, not to be outdone by the massive push Microsoft has invested in OpenAI technologies and debuting a ChatGPT-enabled Bing, has announced it is bringing generative artificial intelligence capabilities to its Workspace office productivity suite.

The new features will debut across the entire Workspace suite of applications, including GMail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and more. Although the generative AI capabilities of Workspace are not yet public, Google teased a preview:

The new capabilities could dramatically change the way that professionals and students collaborate.

• Draft, reply, summarize, and prioritize your Gmail. Google’s new AI-powered Gmail features will allow users to draft emails, reply to emails, summarize emails, and prioritize emails. The features will use Google AI to understand the context of emails and make suggestions to users.
• Brainstorm, proofread, write, and rewrite in Docs. Google’s new AI-powered Docs features will allow users to brainstorm, proofread, write, and rewrite documents. The features will use Google AI to understand the context of documents and make suggestions to users.
• Bring your creative vision to life with auto-generated images, audio, and video in Slides. Google’s new AI-powered Slides features will allow users to generate images, audio, and video for their presentations. The features will use Google AI to understand the context of presentations and make suggestions to users.
• Go from raw data to insights and analysis via auto-completion, formula generation, and contextual categorization in Sheets. Google’s new AI-powered Sheets features will allow users to auto-complete formulas, generate formulas, and categorize data. The features will use Google AI to understand the context of data and make suggestions to users.
• Generate new backgrounds and capture notes in Meet. Google’s new AI-powered Meet features will allow users to generate backgrounds and capture notes in video meetings. The features will use Google AI to understand the context of meetings and make suggestions to users.

Google’s all in with Generative AI for Developers

New tools such as Generative AI App Builder and upgrades to support generative AI in Vertex AI, Google Cloud’s machine learning platform for training and deploying ML models and AI applications, open new possibilities for developers.

The tools support AI developers in both foundational models and a new low-code environment for building AI models. The new developer tools will allow developers to build AI models using Google AI’s large language models. The low-code environment will allow developers to build AI models using a visual interface.

Google’s new AI-powered features in Google Workspace are part of the company’s effort to make its productivity apps more intelligent. The features are designed to help users save time, be more productive, and create better content.

There is no official word if the generative AI capabilities will come standard, or as a subscription upgrade for existing Workspace customers.

Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian commented at the formal announcement that the plan is to make “these solutions available broadly to our enterprises, to small businesses, to consumers — and even to people who subscribe to Google One.”

Google just announced that private VPN services are now available to every Google One subscriber, regardless of the One tier chosen. Previously, it was only available for Premium tier.

All of Google’s AI efforts continue to follow the company’s AI Principles. A notable statement especially given that Microsoft just laid off their AI ethics team earlier this week.

Disclaimer: The author of this article is a current employee of Google. This article does not represent the views or opinions of his employer and is not meant to be an official statement for Google, Google Cloud, or the Alphabet holding company.