Google Enhances Drive with Gemini AI: Folder Summarization Feature Rolls Out

Gemini Can Summarize Google Drive Folders -- But Don't Give It Anything Too Personal

Google's latest Gemini AI integration lets you request a summary of an entire Google Drive folder. The response can help locate particular files in a folder or provide insights into the theme of its contents. To get a summary, navigate to a Google Drive folder and click the new "Summarize this folder" button. You can also do so from the document list outside the folder. Right-clicking a folder will bring up the "Summarize this folder" option in the context menu. The button starts a conversation with Gemini. The folder summary will appear in a sidebar. You can then drop further queries like "Summarize files in @-folder" or "What is the theme of the content in @-folder." You can also open the Ask Gemini panel and drag and drop a folder into it to initiate a summary request. Currently, the feature can summarize and respond to questions for text documents, PDFs, spreadsheets, and presentations. It can also respond to questions about photos. While some users with loads of documents and files may find the feature helpful, others may not like the idea of giving a generative AI tool full access to view and analyze their personal documents and photos. Google's Gemini data usage policy states that Google will use your Gemini apps conversations, "your location," "related product usage data," and your feedback to develop its next AI products. Your chats are disconnected from your Google account before they're viewed. But Gemini conversations are also read by human reviewers, so Google warns not to give it any confidential information or anything you wouldn't want a person to see (or Google to feed into its next AI model). You can delete the files from the chat after the fact, though, and Google says it's not currently training its AI tools on your uploaded files. Google Drive's "Summarize this folder" command is currently available to paying users of Gemini AI, which includes Google One AI Premium subscribers and Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, and Education Premium users. Google began rolling it out on Dec. 11, and it might take up to 15 days to reflect on all eligible accounts. Gemini AI first appeared in Google Drive as a sidebar assistant earlier this year. While it could initially summarize individual documents, it could not summarize an entire folder. The Gemini sidebar is also available for other Google products, such as Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Gmail.

Gemini AI can now summarize what's in your Google Drive folders

Gemini's integration into Google Drive is getting a little more useful. In addition to summarizing documents or answering questions about a project, the AI assistant can now generate summaries of everything inside a folder. With the feature, you can open a folder and select the new "Summarize this folder" button at the top of the page. Gemini will then give you a breakdown of the folder's contents. As noted by Google, you can use Gemini to find specific files inside a folder, or ask questions about it, like "What is the theme of this folder?" You can also drag and drop a folder into the Gemini sidebar, as well as right-click on a folder and choose "Ask Gemini." For now, Google says Gemini can only provide information about text documents, PDFs, spreadsheets, and presentations. However, when 9to5Google tested the tool, it found that Gemini could identify images in a folder, too. Google first brought Gemini to the sidebar in Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides in June. Gemini's folder summary feature is rolling out now to Google One AI Premium subscribers, along with Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, and Education Premium users.

This might be the most useful Google Drive AI feature yet

Google has launched an update that allows users to summarize entire folders in Google Drive with its Gemini AI feature. This capability, currently limited to the web version of Google Drive, is available for certain Workspace tiers and Google One AI Premium subscribers. By utilizing the "Summarize this folder" button, users can quickly gain insights into the contents of folders, making file management more efficient. The new feature enables users to summarize or search through folders containing text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and PDFs. To use this feature, users can click the designated button at the top of the folder page or utilize natural navigation gestures by either dragging and dropping a folder into the Gemini sidebar or right-clicking to select "Ask Gemini." Google has advised users that Gemini's summarization will take a few weeks to be available to all eligible accounts. As noted in updates from Google, Gemini's integration with Google Drive first became visible in June 2024. This new functionality enhances previously existing capabilities by providing a streamlined interface for managing files -- especially beneficial for individuals juggling multiple projects or academic requirements. Users can ask Gemini specific questions about the folder's content, such as, "What is this folder about?" or "What are the key themes in these documents?" For enhanced usability, Google has introduced an "@" command, enabling users to specify folders more efficiently with prompts like "summarize files in @-folder." This feature is aimed at optimizing user interactions and reducing time spent searching for information within extensive file collections. It is important to highlight that the summarization feature is currently exclusive to Google Workspace users on Business, Enterprise, Education, and Education Premium plans, as well as Google One AI Premium subscribers. Reports indicate that not all users might see this functionality immediately due to the rollout being gradual. The integration underscores Google's commitment to embedding AI within its applications, enhancing overall productivity for its users. The Gemini AI in Google Drive is designed to handle summarization tasks for text-based files but may also possess some capabilities to identify images within folders. However, Google has not officially confirmed this aspect. Observers have noted that the introduction of such AI-driven features marks a significant step toward simplifying file management, indicating a possible shift in how users will interact with digital content in the future. Users navigating the Google Drive interface will notice the addition of the Gemini AI feature designed to assist with folder management. The prominent "Summarize this folder" button allows for quick access to overviews of contained documents, potentially saving substantial time for users with large amounts of data to sift through. This is particularly valuable in professional settings where time management is critical. In offering the ability to summarize entire folders, Google aims to streamline the user experience. The intuitive controls make it easy for users to engage with the tool without extensive training. The inclusion of both right-click context menus and drag-and-drop functions enhances accessibility, making it a friendly interface for all users, regardless of their technical proficiency. Google raises the bar with Gemini 2.0 AI platform Providing prompt insights into file contents not only improves efficiency but also aids users in maintaining organization within expansive projects. By enabling quick responses to specific queries through the Gemini AI, Google helps users refine their search for relevant information in a more structured manner. While the summarization functionality is limited to specific user tiers for the time being, Google continues to explore possibilities for extending Gemini features throughout its various platforms. As more users begin to interact with this tool, the analytics collected may inform future updates and expansions, though concrete details remain to be seen. Google's enhancements in this area indicate a commitment to advancing user capabilities while maintaining a focus on utility and performance. In the coming weeks, it is expected that more users will experience these new Gemini features, but specific timelines for broader rollouts are still unconfirmed, suggesting a period of adaptation as the updates take hold.

You can now ask Gemini to summarize entire Google Drive folders

This feature is rolling out to Google Workspace customers with Gemini plans and Google One AI Premium subscribers. Google has been steadily weaving its Gemini assistant into its apps and services, and the updates just keep coming. This time, it's Google Drive's turn to get a boost with a fresh feature that uses Gemini to summarize the contents of entire folders. Gemini can already help summarize documents, extract quick facts, and even analyze PDFs. Now, it can extend convenience to entire folders, adding another layer of efficiency for users juggling multiple files and projects. The newly announced folder-summarization feature enables users to gain quick insights into a folder's contents through the Gemini side panel. This update comes right after the announcement of Gemini's latest iteration, Gemini 2.0. As Gemini continues to evolve, it's clear that Google is intent on turning it into an indispensable companion across its apps.

Gemini now summarizes entire folders in Google Drive

Gemini has been a powerful addition to Google Workspace, allowing users to enhance how they interact with productivity tools like Docs or Sheets. Google Drive is the latest to see a new Gemini feature that will summarize Google Drive folders before you open them on the web app. Google has been pushing Gemini to be more useful with some exciting success. The company just announced Gemini 2.0, which marks a new step towards that goal and Gemini 1.5 is a prime example of how well it can integrate itself into tools we already use, like Google Drive. In addition to its slew of abilities, Google Drive for web just added a new Gemini feature that can summarize entire folders. This can be done in cases when large folders are present, but the user doesn't want to dig through all of it quite yet. By right-clicking on the folder and hitting "Summarize this folder," Gemini will open the side panel and list all of the perceived contents of the folder in a short summary. Users can also drag the folder into the Gemini side panel to get Google's AI to do a deep dive. In our testing, the tool works accurately to give a quick rundown of what's in the folder. That includes folders that are full of PDFs, text documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, according to Google. In our case,it was able to identify images in a folder. When asked to summarize our folder of pictures, Gemini listed the content of the images, including known logos and branding. Google says the feature will be released gradually beginning yesterday, December 11. That will include Google One AI Premium accounts, and Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, and Education Premium accounts, and users should see the new feature in two weeks or less.

Gemini in Google Drive picks up an exciting new trick

Google Gemini's next extension could bring Samsung's One UI apps into the fold [Update] Summary The Google Gemini integration in Drive now allows users to summarize entire folders, saving some valuable time in the process. This feature is currently limited to Google Drive on the web, with no info on whether it will make it to the mobile apps. The ability to scan Drive folders is available exclusively to users on some Workspace Enterprise and Education tiers or the Google One AI Premium subscription. ✕ Remove Ads Google Drive is an integral part of the Workspace ecosystem, so it wasn't shocking when the Gemini side panel made it to the app, and also to Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and Slides. The Gemini integration works differently in each Workspace app, with Gmail letting you summarize emails or draft your own, while Google Drive lets you scan through documents to uncover the relevant content. Frequent users of Google's file storage app now have another Gemini feature to look forward to. Related 5 ways to use Gemini in Gmail and Google Drive Essential Gemini tricks for smarter email and file management Posts1 Writing on the Workspace Updates blog, Google said Drive users will now be able to leverage Gemini to summarize entire folders. It's currently limited to the web version of Gemini, with Google not saying if or when it intends to roll it out to the Drive mobile apps. ✕ Remove Ads There's a new pill-shaped "Summarize this folder" button sitting alongside the row of filters (Type, People, Modified). Users can also manually mention a folder using an "@" command, Google says, providing sample prompts like "summarize files in @-folder" and "what is the theme of the content in @-folder" to make things a tad easier. Not available to all Google Drive users Source: Google Natural navigation gestures are also supported, so you can click the folder you want to summarize and tap the Summarize this folder button or right-click on a folder and click Ask Gemini in the context menu. Perhaps the easiest way to get Gemini to summarize an entire folder is to drag and drop the desired folder to the side panel. Google has published a support page detailing this newly added capability in Drive. ✕ Remove Ads Google clarifies that Gemini in Drive will only be able to summarize or find specific details from folders containing text-based documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and PDFs. Unsurprisingly, this Gemini feature in Drive is exclusive to paying customers, so you must be on either the Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, or Education Premium tiers or carry a subscription to Google One AI Premium. This new Gemini addition will no doubt make life easier, particularly for users who spend a lot of time going through folders that contain documents, PDFs, spreadsheets, etc. Google says it may take up to two weeks to appear widely for all users, so be patient if you've not seen it yet. ✕ Remove Ads