It’s been almost two years since Gemini made its debut in Google Docs, and in many ways, the AI tool has changed how we interact with the Workspace app. Gemini has also become more powerful in Google Docs and other Workspace apps over time, allowing users to be more productive.
After introducing a major Gemini update for Google Docs in October last year, Google has now come up with another exciting Gemini update for its word processor. And this time around, it aims to improve accessibility in Google Docs by allowing users to quickly ‘understand the most important parts of the content.’
Gemini in Google Docs gets better at summarizing content
In its Workspace updates blog post, Google has announced support for Gemini-powered Audio summaries in Google Docs. As the name suggests, this will be particularly handy in situations where you prefer listening to a summary instead of reading a long document. But this isn’t only about providing you with the key points of a document in an audio format.
The new Gemini-powered tool also includes the option to personalize the audio experience. For example, you can select different voices like narrator, persuader, coach, and more. You’ll also be able to choose a playback speed that suits you best, with support for speeds up to 2x. It also shows a seek bar, allowing you to skip ahead to a specific part of the summary and go back to replay something that you may have missed.
It’s also easy to access the new Audio summary tool in Google Docs. All you have to do is click the Tools option, select Audio, and click Listen to document summary. There is no admin control for this feature, nor do end users need to enable anything in settings to use the Audio summary capability. However, the new Gemini feature won’t be available to everyone.
Google has confirmed that the Audio Summary feature will be available for Workspace customers of the following plans:
- Business Standard and Plus
- Enterprise Standard and Plus
- Google AI Ultra for Business add-on
- Google AI Pro for Education add-on
- Google AI Pro and Ultra
However, even if you are subscribed to any of the above plans, don’t be surprised if you don’t see the Audio summary feature right now. While the rollout started on February 12, Google may take longer than 15 days to become available for everyone. So, if you don’t see the Gemini tool on Google Docs, wait a few more days.
