Key Points:
- Enhanced Productivity: The Gemini AI side panel integrates with Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive, offering features like content summarization, brainstorming assistance, and data organization.
- Streamlined Workflow: Access AI-powered functionalities directly within your workspace, eliminating the need to switch between applications.
- Paid Functionality: Currently available to Google Workspace customers with Gemini add-ons and Google One AI Premium subscribers.
Google is revolutionizing the way you work with the official rollout of the Gemini side panel across its Workspace applications and Gmail. This innovative AI assistant empowers you to streamline your workflow and achieve peak productivity.
Previously known as Duet AI, the Gemini side panel leverages the power of Gemini 1.5 Pro to provide a plethora of functionalities within each Workspace app. Here’s a glimpse of what Gemini can do for you:
- Docs: Refine and write content, brainstorm ideas, summarize information, and generate content based on existing files.
- Slides: Effortlessly generate new slides, create custom images, and summarize presentations.
- Sheets: Organize and track data with ease. Gemini can help you create tables, generate formulas, and answer task-specific questions within Sheets.
- Drive: Summarize multiple documents simultaneously, delve deeper into project topics, or glean quick project insights – all without the hassle of navigating through numerous files.
- Gmail: Summarize email threads, generate draft responses, solicit writing assistance, and unearth specific information from emails within your inbox or Drive.
Accessing Gemini’s capabilities is a breeze. Simply click the “Ask Gemini” icon situated beside your profile picture on the web interface. The side panel will launch, offering suggested queries and automatically summarizing the content you’re currently working on.
This rollout integrates seamlessly with existing inline AI features like “Help me write,” “visualize,” and “organize,” further empowering your workflow.
While previously available through Workspace Labs and the Gemini for Workspace Alpha program, the side panel is now in general release and will be progressively rolled out to the following users in the coming weeks:
- Google One AI Premium subscribers
- Google Workspace customers with Gemini Business and Enterprise add-ons
- Google Workspace customers with Gemini Education and Education Premium add-ons
For Gmail users, a new wave of AI functionalities is also arriving. The web interface will introduce the Gemini side panel, enabling features like summarizing email threads and drafting new emails. This intelligent tool provides “proactive prompts” alongside the ability to ask “freeform questions,” leveraging the prowess of advanced models like Gemini 1.5 Pro (as detailed in a recent Google blog post).
The mobile app experience is also receiving an upgrade, with Gemini offering the ability to summarize email threads.
While undoubtedly valuable, it’s crucial to note that these functionalities are currently restricted to paid Gemini users. To access them, you’ll need a Google Workspace subscription with a Gemini Business or Enterprise add-on, a Gemini Education or Education Premium add-on, or a Google One AI Premium subscription.
It’s also advisable to exercise caution when relying solely on these tools, particularly for critical work communications. As with any AI technology, there’s always a potential for inaccuracies. Double-checking any important emails that Gemini assists with before hitting send is a wise practice.
With the introduction of the Gemini side panel, Google is ushering in a new era of intelligent productivity. By harnessing the power of AI, Gemini empowers you to work smarter, not harder.
