(Credit: Google)
Microsoft may be pulling back on Copilot integration a touch, but Google is full speed ahead on Gemini, particularly inside its Workspace apps.
One of those updates will help you make sense of comments inside a crowded Google Doc. Gemini will be able to scan and summarize comments and suggest document changes based on what collaborators post. It will also be able to generate responses to comments and draft replies to threads on a user’s behalf.
Examples provided by Google include saying, "Summarize all comments from Sarah" or "Based on the comments, what are the unresolved issues?"
You can submit queries from the bottom bar or the Gemini side panel in Google Docs. Google might also nudge you to summarize comments when you open a new doc or automatically generate a reply when you click into an existing comment thread.
Comment functionality is rolling out now on enterprise plans, as well as Google AI Pro and Ultra for consumers.
Another new feature relates to text visualization. Google Docs users will be able to generate and modify images, diagrams, and infographics within a document using Gemini.
"These images leverage the context of your document, so you can generate relevant visuals to accompany your writing without ever leaving Docs or relying on external tools," Google says. "Plus, you can refine your existing visuals and graphics using simple natural language prompts."
It currently only works on the web, but is available on enterprise plans and Google AI Pro and Ultra for consumers.
Voice Controls for Gemini macOS
Google released a dedicated macOS Gemini app in April and has been rolling out updates for it ever since. Today’s update introduces system-wide voice control. By pressing the Fn key, users can now interface with Gemini in any window simply by speaking aloud.
By default, the command enables intelligent dictation, but users can also opt into Gemini reasoning. Once activated, Gemini will be able to access your screen and perform tasks on your open windows based on verbal and cursor cues. According to Google, Gemini’s key voice-activated features are extracting and summarizing information based on highlighted content, composing and rewriting selected text, and generating and editing images.
The new voice capability is rolling out globally in English, with more languages to come.
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I’m a New York-based writer currently serving as PCMag’s Editorial Intern. I cover the impact of technology and internet culture on our daily lives, with a specialization in video games and cultural criticism.
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