Google’s artificial intelligence writes letters in Gmail

The implementation of artificial intelligence in popular web-based services used by hundreds of millions and even billions of users worldwide is happening at an accelerated pace. An interesting innovation in this field is coming from the internet giant Google.

Cloud services from Google Workspace (Mail, Docs, Drive, etc.) are currently used by 3 billion people. They help users save time using AI by creating document summaries or protecting them from malware and phishing attacks.

Now Google Workspace apps in it will be enhanced with generative AI. Selected users, the so-called “trusted testers” have already been given access to a range of AI assistive features when writing texts in the Docs and Gmail apps.

Google sees Workspace’s mission as bringing people together, and believes that advances in generative AI are making that mission possible in new ways, helping users:

• design, respond, summarize and prioritize in Gmail;
• creatively create and modify files in Docs;
• automatically generate images, audio and video in Slides;
• automatically analyze data in “Tables”;
• create new backgrounds and take notes in Meet;
• enable workflows when completing tasks in Hangouts.

Generative AI in Docs and Gmail will help users write a letter by simply entering a subject and getting a ready draft that they can then refine and edit, relying on more AI suggestions as needed.

For common scenarios, AI can help users find the right tone and style—whether they’re writing a resume, a vendor request, or a report from a recent meeting. And for informal communication, Gmail offers the “Feeling Lucky” option.

As the use of AI chatbots in recent months has shown, artificial intelligence can make mistakes, distort data and even refuse to communicate. But Google believes that artificial intelligence will not replace the ingenuity, creativity and initiative of people.

Therefore, the main principle that Google adheres to in the introduction of AI is to give full control of the situation to the user – he can reject, accept, edit or change the suggestions of AI. In addition, IT departments will receive administrative tools to fine-tune company AI policy.

Building AI features requires care, careful experimentation, and many iterations based on user feedback. Google says it takes AI responsibly by building controls against abuse, protecting the privacy of user data and respecting customer control over data management.

All new generative AI capabilities in Google Workspace will first be offered to trusted testers for a year of continuous testing before going public. The testing program will begin in the United States in English only and will then be open to consumers, small businesses, enterprises and educational institutions worldwide in multiple languages.