Google is expanding its artificial intelligence (AI) features throughout Google Workspace, which includes Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Meet, and Chat, for business and enterprise plan customers at no extra charge. However, the company indicated that there may be a minor increase in plan costs, rather than requiring separate payments for AI features. For instance, a customer previously on the Workspace Business Standard plan with the Gemini Business add-on paid $32 per user each month. Under the new structure, they will now pay $14 per user monthly, which is £2 more than the original Workspace rate without Gemini, as explained by Jerry Dischler, President of Cloud Applications at Google.
In a recent blog post, Dischler noted that the organisation has seen over 100,000 customers adopt generative AI in the past year to enhance productivity, creativity, and innovation among employees. The rollout of AI capabilities for Google Workspace Business and Enterprise customers will incorporate Gemini, which integrates AI into Google services such as Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Meet, Chat, and Vids, enabling faster workflows. Key functions will include:
– Summarising and drafting content
– Information retrieval
– Professional content creation
– Meeting enhancement through note-taking and audio/video improvements
The Gemini Advanced feature will also support learning, brainstorming, coding, research, and data analysis. Users will have the capability to build “Gems,” a specialised team of AI assistants, for repetitive or specific tasks on their laptops or mobile devices.
Additionally, NotebookLM Plus allows users to upload sources for immediate insights and audio summaries, along with the ability to share customised notebooks to facilitate quicker learning. A statement from Dischler highlighted that the company sees AI as a transformative shift in workplace productivity, rather than just another tool.
Google Workspace currently boasts over 3 billion monthly active users worldwide and over 10 million paying customers, as referenced by Sumedha Chakraborty, Country Head for Google Workspace in India and South Asia, during the inaugural Google Workspace Media Summit in Bengaluru last month. The summit underscored the swift adoption of AI in the workplace, with 31% of leaders anticipating significant transformations within less than a year.
Almost 70% of enterprises are using Gemini, Google’s sophisticated AI model, specifically within Docs or Gmail, by utilising the ‘Help me write’ feature, while over 75% of users are generating images directly within Slides. According to findings from Forrester’s Total Economic Impact study, Google Workspace saves enterprises an estimated 171 hours per user each year, which translates to approximately 21 working days annually.
