Google is enhancing its Workspace productivity apps by integrating more features powered by its Gemini AI model. Among the latest updates are audio summaries, improved calendar management, and new tools for drafting content or code, all designed to boost user efficiency and accessibility.
One of the standout additions is Audio Overviews, which was first seen in Google’s NotebookLM. This feature now allows users to generate downloadable, podcast-style audio files from documents, slides, and research reports using Gemini. The tool converts content into spoken summaries that stay grounded in the uploaded materials, catering to users who prefer to learn through listening.
Another major feature is Gemini Canvas, a workspace for creating and refining drafts using the AI model. Whether working on text or code, users can generate, optimize, and preview their work. These drafts can be easily exported to Google Docs, offering seamless collaboration and document sharing.
Google is also simplifying calendar use. Gemini can now scan emails for event-related information and prompt users to add appointments to their calendars. If users miss an event email, Gemini surfaces it and opens a chat window to alert them. This proactive approach helps prevent overlooked meetings and mimics features found in plug-ins like Boomerang, but with native Gemini integration.
These updates follow Google’s strategy of embedding AI more deeply into its productivity tools, similar to Microsoft’s approach with Copilot in Office apps. The expansion of Gemini across Gmail, Docs, and Calendar signals a broader move toward AI-powered enterprise software that supports real-time collaboration, automation, and data-driven assistance.
Google’s ongoing enhancements position Gemini as a core component of the modern workplace, offering users smarter ways to interact with their digital tools. As AI becomes a more regular part of everyday tasks, features like these may help drive broader adoption, especially among users already embedded in Google’s productivity ecosystem.
