Google announced on Tuesday local time that it will introduce a series of new artificial intelligence functions driven by Gemini into core Workspace applications such as Docs, Sheets, Slides and Drive, using information from Gmail, Chat and Drive to help users quickly generate fully formatted documents, slides and table drafts within the application.The goal of the new features is to make these applications more personalized and "do-able" so that users no longer have to frequently switch to separate AI tools or chatbots and can complete more work in a familiar interface.
In Docs, Google launched the "Help me create" tool. Users only need to describe the desired content in natural language, and Gemini will follow the instructions to retrieve relevant information from Drive, Gmail and Chat to generate the first draft. For example, a user can ask Gemini to "draft a newsletter for a community association based on my January homeowners association meeting minutes and a list of upcoming events," and the system will automatically organize the content and complete the formatting. After generating the first draft, users can also use the "Help me write" tool to refine specific paragraphs, such as improving clarity of expression, adding details, etc., without rewriting the entire article.
For scenarios where multiple people collaborate and the writing style is inconsistent, Docs has added a "Match writing style" function, and Gemini will give modification suggestions to make the tone and writing style of the full text more consistent. At the same time, Docs also launched the "Match the format" tool, which supports using another document as a template to quickly apply its structure and style. For example, after users find a travel itinerary template they like, they can let Gemini automatically fill in their itinerary details. The system will extract data from air ticket confirmations, hotel reservations, car rental information and other content in the email and fill it in the corresponding locations.
In Sheets, Google hopes to upgrade Gemini from a "tool used in sheets" to a collaboration partner. Users only need to enter a prompt, and Gemini can grab relevant data from Gmail, Chat, and Drive and generate a formatted spreadsheet. For example, users can ask Gemini to "help me plan my move to Chicago, create packing lists for each room, organize contact information for utilities such as water and electricity, and create a moving company quote tracking sheet based on quote emails in my inbox."
For more complex tasks, Sheets adds a "Fill with Gemini" function to fill in the form more quickly. This function can not only generate customized text in batches, classify and summarize data, but also grab information from Google search in real time to fill in forms. Taking the management of university applications as an example, users have established an application progress tracking form for each institution. They only need to set the required information columns, such as deadlines, tuition fees, etc., and Gemini can automatically retrieve and fill in these fields from the Internet without having to manually query them one by one.
In terms of Slides, Gemini can now generate fully editable slide pages in presentations that match the overall theme based on the user's existing files, emails, and web page content. If users are not satisfied with a certain page, they can use natural language to ask Gemini to make adjustments, such as "Make the color matching consistent with the entire set of PPT" or "Make this page more concise." Google said that in the future Slides will also support the generation of an entire set of presentations directly from a single prompt, automatically leveraging relevant contextual content when needed. For example, users can ask Gemini to "generate a 5-slide presentation for my upcoming trip to Tokyo."
At the same time, Google is also redefining the role of Drive, hoping that it will no longer be just a file storage space, but a more active collaboration partner. When conducting natural language searches in Drive, the system will provide an "AI Overview" similar to Google search at the top of the search results, summarizing the key information in the most relevant files and marking the source. Users can quickly locate the required content without opening the documents one by one. The new "Ask Gemini in Drive" feature also allows users to ask complex questions within documents, email, calendars, and the web. For example, users can first select all documents related to tax returns and then ask "What questions should I ask my tax advisor before filing taxes this year?", and the system will generate detailed suggestions based on actual data.
Google said that these new features will be gradually rolled out to users in the form of a beta version from now on, and the first batch will be open to Google AI Ultra and Pro subscribers. Features in Docs, Sheets, and Slides will be available globally in English, while new capabilities in Drive will be available in English first in the United States.