Google Workspace is expanding beta testing for generative AI in Google Docs and Gmail to the first public testers before the public rollout.

In the past month, Google announced that it would introduce artificial intelligence into its dominant products, which have taken up a significant place in everyone’s lives. I agree that those products are already advanced, with features like Smart Compose and Smart Reply. The pace of Google’s future vision was especially driven by Microsoft’s chat medium. It is highly likely that Google will introduce AI to Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Meet, Chat, and Slides very soon.

However, at the time of the announcement, Google said they would test a few AI tools over Gmail and Docs, limited to selected US-trusted testers. The latest announcement states that such a test program will be expanded to 10 times the previous level. We found that many users don’t know what Google intends to do despite both announcements being made publicly. Mostly newbies confuse between both these announcements. To help those users relax, we will discuss this here.

Google expands Docs testing for generative AI: For US testers only

If you know the basic theme behind Google Workspace, you’ll know that they aim to create a place where people can work together effectively. For that purpose, they’ve added numerous things that can convert a team effort with a pinch of smart work. Gmail’s Smart Compose and Smart Reply are examples. The next generation is based on AI and related tools. ChatGPT, Microsoft Bing, and similar products have already started.

Especially after Microsoft Bing’s artificial intelligence (GPT-4) announcement, Google took action. Google adopted LLM AI (large language model) known for converting large language into small natural text. It was announced in March 2023 that a few AI tools would be tested with trusted US testers. These testers include small businesses, students, and other professionals. At that time, it was a small group, but with the latest announcement, it has now increased to 10 times the previous number of users.

AI Testing with US users is called Labs in Google Workspace. Currently, they are testing two major tools. The first is from Google Docs, and the second is from Gmail. More specifically, it is creating a job description (in Google Docs) and converting meeting notes into email (in Gmail). Meanwhile, with these AI tools, you can draft and reply in Gmail, rewrite in Docs, analyze in Sheets, and add new backgrounds in Meet. So, let’s

Create quick job descriptions

Users can create job descriptions using the AI tool in Google Docs. Traditionally, HR professionals face a lot of issues while drafting plenty of job descriptions daily. But according to Google Workspace, such things can be eliminated with the “Help me” button. To be specific, just tap on the “Help me” button at the bottom of the Google Docs screen, enter your topic, tap on “Create,” and then tap on “Insert” to add that AI-generated description to Docs.

Note that PC users can create job descriptions using AI through the “Help me” button, and on mobile, it is from the floating action button. With these four tools, you can customize the job description based on AI. They are Formalize (for a formal tone), Elaborate (to explain), Shorten (to shorten or summarize), and I’m feeling lucky (to make creative content). Depending on what documents support, you can create other types of content.

Convert meeting notes to email

Sometimes, when a virtual meeting is conducted, new decisions are made. Following this, minutes (meeting notes) are prepared for each of the decisions. And as a responsible executives, we need to circulate such decisions or notices through emails to all members of the company and significant shareholders. As a result, Google added a “Help me write” button to Gmail. With this option, you can turn ordinary meeting notes into a formal email.

What you need to do is open your Gmail app, write up/copy the meeting notes there, tap on the “Help me write” button, tap on “Formalize,” and you will see the AI-generated email. Now, when you click on “Replace,” you will see that AI-generated email in the compose field. In any case, if you want more customization, from the same “Help me write” button, you can use “Elaborate,” “Shorten,” and other tools similar to Docs. Likewise to Docs, here also you are not limited to meeting notes, you can create an email on any subject.

Apart from these intelligent AI tools, Google plans to do a lot to ease the user with AI tools. For that, the first phase has already begun testing, which includes the above-mentioned features. But you should note there are a few more things that Google wants to serve throughout this year. These are given below –

• Ability to draft, reply, summarize, and prioritize your Gmail
• Especially for content creators, proofread, write, and rewrite in Docs
• Option to create auto-generated images, audio, and video in Slides
• Google Sheets allows in-depth review and analysis using auto-completion, formula generation, and contextual categorization
• Create optimistic backgrounds and capture notes in Meet
• Google Chat will offer workflows to organize

To conclude, this testing program is presently for US-selected users and testing these two AI tools. However, Google expanded the testers but it is yet to confirm when it will be available for global users. But one thing confirmed is all these AI tools will be available to everyone this year. So this was the present status and potential details about the Labs in Workspace Program. It would be interesting to see what Google plans to contribute to the AI Era in the near future.

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