Google confirms AI testing for Gmail and Docs 'in the coming weeks' as battle with Microsoft continues

Google said it will be testing AI in Gmail and Google Docs with a limited number of testers in the coming weeks. The test will involve new AI writing features for the aforementioned apps that will allow users to generate different pieces based on just simple prompts. Interestingly, Google says the power of generative AI will be coming to other Workspace apps as well - signaling its determination to counter Microsoft's flurry of AI initiatives in its products.

Microsoft's AI initiatives have thrust Bing and Edge into the spotlight, reportedly leading to Google declaring a "Code Red." To make matters worse, the software giant officially announced last week that it will integrate artificial intelligence into its business applications. In what it calls Dynamics 365 Copilot, Microsoft has introduced automation across different applications, including Dynamics 365 Sales, Viva Sales, Dynamics 365 Customer Service, Dynamics 365 Customer Insights, Dynamics 365 Marketing, Dynamics 365 Business Central and Microsoft Supply Chain Center . That puts more pressure on Google, but it's now ready for a fight.

On Tuesday, the search giant said it will also apply AI to its different apps, including Slides, Sheets, Meet and Chat. However, like Bard, this AI initiative will start with testing using Google Docs and Gmail. In a recent announcement, the company shared how generative AI will come into play in both apps.

"In Gmail and Google Docs, you just enter a topic you want to write about and a draft is instantly generated for you," wrote Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian. "So if you're a manager onboarding a new employee, Workspace can save you the time and effort it takes to write that first welcome email. From there, you can elaborate or shorten the message, or adjust the tone to make it more interesting or More professional — with just a few clicks."

According to Google, other AI experiences will be tested throughout the year before these features are made public, giving users the following features:

• Draft, reply, summarize, and prioritize Gmail messages
• Brainstorm, proofread, compose, and rewrite in Docs
• Use automatically generated images, audio, and video in slides Your creative vision comes to life
• Go from raw data to insights and analysis with autocomplete, formula generation and contextual categorization in Sheets
• Generate new context and take notes in Meet
• Enable workflows to complete tasks in chat

Google’s AI integration plans look promising. As shown in demos it posted, users appear to be able to use natural language in their commands, prompting the AI to perform various tasks. These include summarizing long email conversations, taking important notes in meetings, composing responses and personalized messages for each person, creating presentations, and even generating images. However, as Google points out, the work that generative AI will produce is only a “first version” of a “draft.” In the meantime, users can choose to refine or "rewrite" drafts using other AI customization features that Google will include in the app, such as Gmail's "I feel lucky" option for a more interesting tone. Ultimately, given that these AI features will be added to apps widely used by professionals and businesses, Google is highlighting the undeniable truth about AI and its flaws.

“Artificial intelligence cannot replace the ingenuity, creativity, and wisdom of real people,” said Johanna Voolich Wright, vice president of product management at Google Workspace. "Sometimes AI makes mistakes, sometimes it delights you with offbeat stuff, and it usually needs guidance."

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