Google Expands Gemini AI Access to Millions of Workspace Users

Millions more Google Workspace users are getting access to Gemini AI

Google has announced its Gemini generative AI-powered assistant is set to be included in Google Workspace Business, Enterprise and Frontline plans, significantly expanding the platform's user base. The offering promises compliance with an organization's security and privacy policies and extra controls for IT admins. Aparna Pappu, GM and VP of Google Workspace, explained the company hopes to make the widely promised productivity benefits of GenAI accessible to even more workers. Those looking to integrate Gemini into the suite of office apps will still need to buy an add-on, which costs from $20 per month on an annual basis for the Gemini Business subscription. Being a business-focused product, Google promises not to use organizational data, user prompts or generated responses to train or improve its AI models. Admins will also have control over how long Gemini stores user-generated content in order for companies to adhere to their data retention policies. Moreover, SOC 1/2/3, ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 certifications on top of the HIPAA support announced earlier in 2024 should also get Gemini into the hands of more users, particularly in highly-regulated industries like healthcare and finance. To coincide with the Gemini for Workspace updates, Google has also rolled out a new security advisor tool designed to give administrators actionable recommendations against cyber threats and other security-related issues. According to internal research surrounding the use of Gemini, users saved an average of 105 minutes per week. Three-quarters of daily Gemini users also noted that their quality of work had improved.

Google Workspace users just got a big AI freebie - Gemini

Business, Enterprise, and Frontline users will get access to Gemini for work with security protections at no extra cost. Here's how. If you're a Google Workspace user, you probably spend much of your workday in Google's suite of productivity apps to help streamline your work processes. Now, Google is making its standalone AI chatbot available to Workspace users to make those tasks easier and save you time in the long run. Also: Gemini Live is finally hitting Android phones - how to access it for free On Tuesday, Google announced that it will include the standalone Gemini app in Workspace Business, Enterprise, and Frontline plans. This app will be optimized to include enterprise-grade data protections to keep the organization's information safe. The addition of Gemini is significant because, before, organizations had to purchase the Gemini for Workspace add-on, priced at $20 per user per month in Gemini Business and $30 for Gemini Enterprise. The add-on is still the only way to access Gemini within the Google suite apps, which includes Gmail, Docs, Drive, Slides, Sheets, and Meet. However, the standalone app offers much of the same Gemini assistance, such as help creating text and sheet formulas, generating images for Slides, explaining Documents, and more. The only difference is that instead of being integrated within the app, users would have to switch back and forth between windows. Also: Google's Gemini AI chatbot is now available to younger students in Workspace Google also addressed people's major concern with integrating AI within their workflow and giving it access to sensitive company data by announcing new industry certifications for Gemini for Workspace, including SOC 1/2/3, ISO 27001, and ISO 27701, all industry security and privacy standards. Additionally, Google unveiled a new security advisor meant to act as a personal security expert and offer IT administrators actionable insights, threat prevention, and data controls to fend off cyber threats. Also: 5 ways to start using Gems in your workflows, according to Google The advisor will send the insights, such as detailed recommendations to optimize security, to the IT administrator's inbox. This offering will begin rolling out to all Workspace Business edition customers over the next few weeks.

Google adds Gemini chat app to it's Workspace

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More Google is adding Gemini chatbot to its business productivity suite, Google Workspace, as the company expands, increasing access its enterprise-grade AI app. "With enterprise-grade data protections built in, employees everywhere can now save time and deliver higher quality work -- securely and compliantly -- with an AI-powered assistant at work," said Aparna Pappu, vice president and general manager Google Workspace in a blog post, ahead of Gemini at Work today. Workspace users in the Business, Enterprise and Frontline plans will automatically get access to the Gemini app. Workspace offers enterprises access to a large swathe of Google products Gmail, Docs and Calendars but with the option of using their own domains and enterprise-level security. (Editor's note: VentureBeat uses Google Workspace). Access to the Gemini app lets users ask the chatbot questions about company information or suggest actions based on the organization's policies. In many ways, the Gemini app being on Workspace is reminiscent of Microsoft's Copilot bundle that lets Microsoft productivity suite users chat with Copilot. Pappu said companies on Workspace "will have choice and control" over how the Gemini app retains information and responds to user prompts. Google reiterated that any data, prompts or generated responses will not be used to train its Gemini models. This is not the first time Google has added generative AI features to Workspace. For an additional fee, Workspace users can add Gemini (the AI model) to Gmail, Docs, Drive and other apps directly so the model can make email suggestions or take notes during Google Meets. It also previewed Google Vids, an AI video generation platform for enterprise users on Workspace Labs. New security insights on Workspace Google also announced a new toolkit for Workspace customers to secure their businesses. Pappu said the security advisor is a "personal security expert that can offer business-tailored insights, actionable guidance and additional threat prevention and data protection controls." The advisor will send security insights to the IT administrator's inboxes. The feature will be available to Workspace Business users "over the next few weeks." Along with the new security insights, Google also announced it secured new industry certifications for Gemini for Workspace. Its AI solutions are now SOC 1/2/3, ISO 27001 and ISO 27001 compliant. It previously gained HIPPA compliance for Gemini earlier this year. Improving the quality of work Pappu said a recent Google survey of enterprise customers showed 75% of daily users of the Gemini model on Workspace said it has improved their quality of work and has saved 105 minutes per week. Google highlighted the impact of Gemini on its customers in the Gemini at Work event. Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian said the company's seen massive adoption from organizations with more than two million developers building with its AI platforms and an increase of around 36 times in API usage of the Gemini models. Kurian said many of its customers had begun building AI agents and applications that boosted their productivity. "We're inspired by the ingenuity and speed with which our customers are embracing gen AI. And we continue to work hard to partner with customers to help them deliver real business value in the form of incremental leads, conversions, sales, and profits," Kurian said.

Google's Gemini will be included in Workspace Business, Enterprise, and Frontline plans

Google announced in a press note that its standalone AI-powered Gemini app will be included in Workspace Business, Enterprise, and Frontline plans. "Through the admin console, customers will have choice and control over how the Gemini app handles user prompt and generated response retention, while having our assurance that Gemini does not use your organization's data, user prompts, or generated responses to train or improve Gemini models," stated Google, adding, "As we've said since the beginning of our generative AI journey, your data is your data." Meanwhile, the search giant is facing legal action over its alleged scraping of users' personal data in order to build its various generative AI products. Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Google Pixel 9 Pro XL compared | Specs, features, AI, prices, and all you need to know Google claimed that while using built-in AI across its apps, users saved an average of 105 minutes per week, according to its study of enterprise customers. The company has already partnered with brands including Airtel, Asteroid Institute, CMA CGM, Eiage Partners, Hudson River Trading, Humana, LG AI Research, Motorola, New AIM, Nova Scotia Health, and Telefonica. Published - September 25, 2024 01:51 pm IST Read Comments

Google's Gemini AI set to boost productivity in workspaces

Google is integrating its Gemini AI into its Workspace suite aiming to transform how businesses operate. Announced during the recent "Gemini at Work" event, the move aims to make advanced AI capabilities accessible to millions of users without requiring additional purchases. Gemini AI is already being used in various industries. Google says that companies using the platform are saving an average of 105 minutes per user each week. The event highlighted nearly 50 success stories from notable organisations like Snap and Volkswagen US. Volkswagen has introduced a virtual assistant in its myVW app, enabling drivers to ask questions about their vehicles and receive instant, context-aware responses by using their smartphone cameras. Google highlights that security also remains a key focus for it. Gemini now meets stringent SOC and ISO standards, reassuring companies about data protection as they adopt AI, says company. Google has added enhanced features, such as automated threat detection, that contribute to safeguard against cyber threats, which is increasingly crucial in today's digital landscape. Google highlights the benefits of AI agents, intelligent systems designed to proactively assist users in achieving specific goals. These agents can be categorized into six types: Customer Agents, which enhance shopping experiences; Employee Agents, which streamline workplace tasks; Data Agents, which provide insights for research; Security Agents, which protect data and ensure compliance; Creative Agents, which support design and production; and Research Agents, which synthesize information to generate new insights. By leveraging these AI agents, companies can boost productivity and improve user experiences across various applications, says Google. Google is also rolling out a new Customer Engagement Suite that merges its Contact Center AI with generative AI, helping businesses improve customer interactions across multiple channels. This suite is expected to streamline operations and enhance user experience while cutting costs.

The Gemini app is finally available to Workspace users

The search company says it won't use your organization's data to train Gemini. Google has offered AI features to Workspace users for a while now, but the Gemini app itself hasn't been available to these users. Thankfully, that's changing today. Google announced at its virtual Gemini at Work summit that the standalone Gemini app will now be available for Workspace plans. The app will be available on the Business, Enterprise, and Frontline plans. The search colossus says customers can choose how the Gemini app handles the retention of prompts and responses via the admin console. Google also claimed that it won't use your company's data, prompts, or generated responses to train Gemini. This isn't the only news from Google's virtual summit, as the company also announced Gemini would power Snapchat's My AI chatbot. This enables multi-modal functionality, such as taking a photo or video of something and asking the chatbot about it.

Google's Gemini AI might soon appear in your corporate Workspace

Google says that Gemini is subject to the same enterprise terms as other core Workspace services like Gmail and Docs, and won't use an organization's data, generated responses, or user prompts to train or otherwise improve its Gemini AI model. Workspace Administrators will also "soon" be able to manage if Gemini stores generated responses and user prompts, and limit how long these will be stored for. Gemini for Workspace now also carries SOC 1/2/3 and ISO 27701 industry security and privacy standards certifications, giving organizations some peace of mind when implementing the chatbot for corporate use. And to bolster security against malware, phishing, and other online threats, Google is introducing a new "Security Advisor" tool that "delivers insights directly to an IT administrator's inbox." Security Advisor includes a range of safe browsing and data protection features for Chrome, Gmail, and Google Drive, and will be rolled out to paying Workspace customers "over the next few weeks."