Google Workspace is getting a boost with a variety of new features and an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered video creation tool announced at Cloud Next ’24.
Here’s a breakdown of five key announcements designed to enhance collaboration, communication, and document management:
1. Introducing Vids: The AI-Powered Video Creator for Work
Vids is a brand new addition to the Workspace family, aiming to revolutionize video creation for businesses. This AI-powered tool simplifies the process by generating storyboards, suggesting scenes, and even adding background music.
Users can customize their videos with pre-recorded voiceovers or even use their own voice, making Vids a one-stop shop for video creation, editing, and writing. Vids will be released in Workspace Labs in June.
2. Breaking Down Language Barriers in Meetings with Automatic Caption Translation
Workspace is making communication across borders seamless with the introduction of automatic caption translation in Google Meet.
This feature, available in June, will automatically translate captions into a user’s preferred language, expanding support to a total of 69 languages. For an additional cost, the AI Meetings and Messaging add-on will offer even more features, including “Take notes for me.”
3. AI Security: Protecting Sensitive Company Information
Data security receives an upgrade with the new AI Security add-on. This tool empowers IT teams to automatically identify and classify sensitive files across Google Drive, using privacy-preserving AI models that can be trained on a company’s specific data.
This ensures continuous evaluation and protection of sensitive information. AI Security is available now for select Workspace plans.
4. Streamlining Spreadsheets and Documents
For spreadsheet enthusiasts, Sheets is receiving a makeover with a new tables feature. This update offers a sleek and organized way to format and manage data. Additionally, pre-built templates for project management, event planning, and inventory management will be available, eliminating the need to start from scratch.
Docs users will also benefit from a new tabs experience for better information organization within documents. The ability to personalize documents with full-bleed cover images adds a touch of polish.
These features will be rolling out to all Workspace users in the coming weeks.
5. Enhanced Email Creation with Voice Prompts and AI Assistance
Creating emails on the go just got easier with voice prompting in “Help me write” on the Gmail mobile app. For Gemini users (a premium tier within Workspace), a new “instant polish” feature in Gmail helps transform quick notes into a more complete email draft with a single click.
These features will be available to Gemini Enterprise and Business customers, as well as Google One AI Premium subscribers.
By incorporating AI and introducing user-friendly features, Google Workspace says it aims to empower teams to collaborate, communicate, and manage information more effectively.