Google is adding voice AI to Gmail, Docs, and Keep, whether users like it or not

[Alfonso Maruccia]

What just happened? Google introduced its Gemini Audio AI models earlier this year, during the latest developer-focused I/O conference. Now, the advertising corporation is going to bring these additional features to three of its most popular mobile apps for Workspace customers.

Google is significantly expanding Gemini Live's reach to Gmail, Docs, and Keep, at least for paying customers of the enterprise-focused Workspace service. The Alphabet company highlights how these new capabilities will enrich its customers' day-to-day lives with a new option to use their apps and personal data, but not all users seem ecstatic about the idea of talking to a mail client on the phone.

The newly announced features are based on Gemini Live's conversational AI models, so they are conveniently named Gmail Live, Docs Live, and Keep Live. Thanks to Gmail Live, customers can quickly recall important details about a meeting or their kids' school events. They will just need to ask the app what they want in natural language, and Gmail will (hopefully) bring the right details to the conversation.

Docs Live does not necessarily work on pre-existing data. The AI feature is designed to be a "co-writer" for new document projects, helping users lay out a first draft based on "rough" thoughts and ideas. Furthermore, Docs Live can also extract "relevant" details from other Workspace apps (Gmail, Drive, Chat, etc.) if the user grants specific permissions to do so.

Finally, Keep Live is conceived as a novel way to turn whimsical, undefined notes and ideas into more organized and therefore "actionable" notes. Google is inviting users to "dump" their mind's content in the company's note-taking app, and then ask Gemini Live's AI engine to turn a stream of consciousness into a more useful list of data or ideas. Google added that Gemini should be able to understand everything being said.

Gemini Live's new conversational features for Gmail, Docs, and Keep are already rolling out to eligible subscribers of Google AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra plans. Furthermore, they should arrive soon for business customers using Google's Workspace productivity suite.

While some people consider talking to a mobile app a rather natural way to interact with computers and personal devices, others see it differently. Some early reactions to Google's new conversational features highlight the ever-growing number of AI tools that are now being proposed to interact with Android apps, while one disgruntled user said that "chatting" with an email app is definitely not the most appealing thing to do on a phone.

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Google is adding voice AI to Gmail, Docs, and Keep, whether users like it or not

 

[psycros]

So now AI is going to take your stream-of-consciousness ramblings and pound them into some kind of legible message. Welp, so much for communication skills. I'm hating the clankers and their techno-baron masters more by the hour.

 

[GeoffreyA]

These people never grasped how it's done in Star Trek. There, occasionally, an officer will ask the computer something and get a short answer. The rest of the time, they work directly on their laptops, tablets, or stations. It's as if "Computer" is a last resort.

Janeway: "Computer, locate Commander Chakotay."

Computer: "Commander Chakotay is not aboard Voyager."

Janeway: "What!"

Computer: "He and Ensign Kim left the shuttle bay 36 minutes ago."

Janeway: "Tom, hail their shuttle."

 

[jwdR311]

Ugh, the noise level in the office is about to go up again. It's loud enough with everyone talking to their computers for their Teams meetings.

 

[wiyosaya]

I can imagine the e-mail that "Gemini" will send. Gemini is, in popular culture after all, commonly associated with a dual personality.
I'm glad I don't use G-mail. Google is, IMO, turning it into a POS with this "enhancement."

 

[Anton Longshot]

Back in the day I owned a PDA (remember those? Boy I'm OLD.) that understood voice commands.
Worked pretty well too.
BUT...I didn't like using it so I stopped after five minutes and never used it again.
Nothing has changed. Voice-controlling a computing device feels unnatural to me.
So thanks but no thanks,Google.
This being Google it will likely enter the Google Graveyard in a month or so.
End of story - time for the Next Thing.

 

[airbornex]

We've officially reached the point where "just type it" is considered too much friction, but sitting in an open office narrating your grocery list to Keep out loud is somehow the future.

 

[Win7user]

Google is NO ONES friend...