Google announced on Tuesday a range of new AI features powered by Gemini for its productivity apps, including Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides and Google Drive.
The new capabilities allow users to generate fully formatted first drafts, presentations and spreadsheets by drawing on information stored in Gmail, Chat and Drive. The aim is to make the tools more personalised and efficient, enabling users to complete tasks directly within the apps without switching to separate AI chatbots or external tools.
A new “Help me create” feature in Docs allows users to describe what they want to produce, after which Gemini gathers relevant information from Drive, Gmail and Chat to generate a first draft. For instance, users could ask Gemini to draft a neighbourhood association newsletter using meeting minutes and upcoming event details stored in their files and emails.
Once a draft is generated, Gemini can refine individual sections without regenerating the entire document. Users can also rely on the “Help me write” feature to improve clarity, expand content or add missing details.
Docs is also introducing a “Match writing style” function designed to unify tone and voice in documents created by multiple collaborators. Gemini analyses the text and suggests edits to ensure consistency throughout the document.
Another new capability, “Match the format,” allows users to replicate the structure and styling of another document. For example, if a user finds a travel itinerary template they like, Gemini can automatically fill it with their own trip information by pulling details from emails such as flight bookings, hotel reservations and car rentals.
In Sheets, Google says Gemini is evolving from a simple tool into a collaborative assistant. With a single prompt, it can gather relevant information from Gmail, Chat and Drive to automatically generate a fully structured spreadsheet.
For example, users planning a move could ask Gemini to create a packing checklist by room, a contact list for utility providers and a spreadsheet to track moving company quotes found in their email inbox.
Sheets is also gaining a “Fill with Gemini” feature that can automatically populate tables. The tool can generate custom text, summarise and categorise data, or pull real-time information from Google Search.
For instance, students tracking college applications could create columns for deadlines, tuition fees and other details, then allow Gemini to automatically fill in the table by retrieving the relevant information from the web.
