Google Integrates Gemini AI into Workspace, Adjusts Pricing Structure

Google adds AI tools to Workspace for free but raises prices

Google is offering AI features in Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and more at no additional cost, while simultaneously raising prices for its Workspace plans. This shift, announced on Tuesday, aims to enhance accessibility to its generative AI tools as part of the Gemini initiative amidst intensifying competition with Microsoft and OpenAI. Previously, users had to pay an additional $20 per user per month for the Gemini Business plan to access Google's AI capabilities. Now, these features are integrated into the standard Workspace offerings. However, Google is increasing the base subscription price from $12 to $14 per user per month, according to Jerry Dischler, Google's president of cloud applications. The exact price increases may vary due to the complexity of company contracts. The Workspace AI encompasses a variety of tools, including email summaries in Gmail, automatic designs for spreadsheets and videos, an automated meeting note-taker, and the NotebookLM research assistant. Additionally, the Gemini bot, noted as a powerful AI tool, allows users to perform typical chatbot functions as well as search for information across documents and files. Google raises the bar with Gemini 2.0 AI platform Dischler emphasized that Google currently offers the most vertically integrated AI product in the market. He noted that cost concerns often deter companies from fully utilizing AI features, stating, "Most of the time, when we talk to companies who are using AI, their big impediment is cost reasons... All right, now you get the AI. You have the value." Dischler mentioned that new features are set to roll out quickly, reflecting an evolving app roadmap. This shift is not exclusive to Google; Microsoft also announced in November that its previously $20 monthly upgrade for Copilot Pro AI features would be included in standard Microsoft 365 subscriptions, although this is currently limited to Personal and Family plans in select regions. Both companies recognize this as an opportunity to familiarize users with their products while attracting new customers. Google Workspace is rolling out advanced generative AI features to Business and Enterprise customers without requiring any add-ons. These features, available to Business customers starting today and to Enterprise customers later this month, include: For additional information, users can visit the Workspace blog.

Google Workspace opens up Gemini for all - but you'll have to pay more

However overall Google Workspace subscription costs will increase slightly Google has revealed it is bringing its Gemini AI tools to all enterprise users, but they will have to pay a higher subscription fee for the privilege. The company announced all Gemini features for its Google Workspace suite of office software, including Docs, Sheets, Slides and more, will now be free to use for Workplace Business and Enterprise subscribers, meaning no additional add-ons are needed. However the price of all Google Workspace tiers will rise as a result, with cost increases coming across the board. "We believe AI is foundational to the future of work and its transformative power should be accessible to every business and every employee, at an affordable price," Jerry Dischler, President of Cloud Applications, Google, wrote in a blog post announcing the news. "That's why today we've decided to include the best of Google AI in Workspace Business and Enterprise plans, bringing the latest generative AI capabilities to our business customers without the need to purchase any add-ons." Google says it has already seen over 100,000 customers use Gemini within their workplace, unlocking "employee productivity, creativity, and innovation". This includes summarization, drafting, and information search functions across the whole Google Workplace suite, as well as access to Gemini Advanced chat for more complex tasks. Previously, subscribers had to pay an extra fee for access to Gemini in their Workplace plan, with an add-on costing from $20-30 per month. The company says that removing the need to pay for these additional services will help organizations of all sizes get to grips with AI, as well as resulting in significant savings - for example, using the Workspace Business Standard plan with a Gemini Business add-on previously cost $32 per user, per month, but will now total $14 per user, per month -- only $2 more than was being paid for Workspace without Gemini. The new pricing structure is effective now for new Google Workspace customers, and for existing customers, monthly subscription pricing will be updated starting March 17, 2025, or at the renewal date of their an Annual/Fixed-term plan, whichever is later. Google says "very small business customers" are exempt from the changes, and users can start a "no-cost" trial today - more information on pricing can be found on Google's site here.

Google's integration of Gemini AI across Workspace delivers price hikes for some, savings for others

Gemini 2.0 Advanced lands on mobile nearly a month after desktop Summary Gemini AI is now bundled into all Google Workspace Business and Enterprise plans. The separate $20 Gemini add-on is being eliminated, and its features are now included in the standard Workspace subscriptions. This bundling comes with a $2 price increase for all Workspace tiers. Users who previously paid for the Gemini add-on will see significant savings while others who didn't will now pay $2 more per month. New pricing takes effect immediately for new customers, but existing customers won't see changes until March 17, 2025, or their next renewal date. ✕ Remove Ads Free Google accounts are perfect for personal use, while paid Workspace accounts and the services and features they come with truly shine in a professional or business setting. Workspace users can use their company's domain name as their Gmail account, use third-party app integrations, and unlock exclusive features within Google Meet, Chat, Drive, and Docs. Additionally, these accounts also get early and often exclusive access to new Gemini AI capabilities. Related Google Workspace: Everything you need to know about Google's collaborative workplace platform Google Workspace is essential for WFH and hybrid work Posts Regardless of your Workspace plan (Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, or Enterprise), full access to Gemini's suite of tools for Google Workspace has always been locked behind a $20 Gemini add-on, similar to how Google One AI Premium unlocks certain Gemini features for personal accounts. Google knows that the added cost on top of the regular Workspace account monthly fee has deterred users from purchasing the add-on, and it is now opting for a different approach. ✕ Remove Ads The tech giant is doing away with the add-on, and bundling the full suite of Gemini features into all Workspace accounts -- regardless of your wants and needs. The forced inclusion is accompanied by a $2 price hike across tiers and gives all Workspace users access to AI assistance in Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Meet, Chat, Vids, and more. Additionally, it also unlocks access to Gemini Advanced and NotebookLM Plus. A mixed bag with differing impacts As announced in a blog post, the new pricing takes effect tomorrow, Thursday, January 16, for new users. "For existing customers, monthly subscription pricing will be updated starting March 17, 2025, or at renewal date with an Annual/Fixed-term plan, whichever is later," wrote Google. It is unclear whether existing customers will continue to pay $20 extra for their add-on until March 17/plan renewal date. ✕ Remove Ads So, for example, a Business Standard user who previously paid $32 per month for Workspace ($12) and the Gemini add-on ($20) will begin paying only $14 for the same functionality come March 17 -- marking significant savings. Conversely, those who had no need to utilize Gemini will now be forced to pay $2 extra for their Workspace plan. This might be Google's way of getting AI into more users' workflows, regardless of their prior interest or need.

Google increases Workspace plan base prices while adding Gemini features

Google has added AI features to its regular Workspace accounts for business while slightly raising the baseline prices of Workspace plans. Previously, AI tools in the Gemini Business plan were a $20 per seat add-on to existing Workspace accounts, which had a base cost of $12 per seat without. Now, the AI tools are included for all Workspace users, but the per-seat base price is increasing from $12 to $14. That means that those who were already paying extra for Gemini are going to pay less than half of what they were -- effectively $14 per seat instead of $32. But those who never used or wanted Gemini or any other newer features under the AI umbrella from Workspace are going to pay a little bit more than before. Features covered here include access to Gemini Advanced, the NotebookLM research assistant, email and document summaries in Gmail and Docs, adaptive audio and additional transcription languages for Meet, and "help me write" and Gemini in the side panel across a variety of applications. Google says that it plans "to roll out even more AI features previously available in Gemini add-ons only."

Google is going to stop charging you extra for Gemini features

Summary Google Workspace users can now access all AI features without needing to pay for an additional add-on. The inclusion of Gemini AI has resulted in a price hike across all Workspace tiers. New price tiers kick in immediately for new users, with changes for existing customers starting in March 2025. Up until now, Google Workspace subscribers had to pay an additional $20 on top of their plan to access all the AI features within Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Meet, and other tools. Today, Google announced in a blog post that Business and Enterprise subscribers will no longer need to purchase the add-on to use all Google AI features. These include AI assistance across all Google Workspace tools like Gmail and Docs, and gives access to Gemini Advanced and NoteBookLM Plus. Related Google Gemini: What is it, and how does it work? Google Gemini is the company's answer to generative AI, but how does it work and what can you do with it? Posts There's a catch though While users will no longer need to pay an additional cost for the Gemini add-on, Google has decided to increase the price of all Workspace tiers. For example, someone subscribed to the Workspace Business Standard plan with the Gemini Business add-on would have been paying $32 before this change (with the Business Standard plan priced at $12). Now, the same customer will pay $14 per month to enjoy Google AI's capabilities. That's a $2 hike. The new price tiers will take effect immediately for new users subscribing to a Google Workspace plan. Existing customers will see the updated pricing starting March 17, 2025, or at the renewal date of their Annual or Fixed-term plan -- whichever comes later. The new Gemini features for Google Workspace Business customers will start rolling out today, with Enterprise customers receiving them later in January. As mentioned above, these features include AI assistance in Google Workspace tools to simplify tasks like summarizing information, finding key details from emails, and catching you up on meeting conversations if you join late. Additionally, users will be able to leverage Gemini Advanced to tackle complex tasks like data analysis and coding and even build Gems -- teams of AI experts to help automate repetitive tasks. Lastly, this update includes access to NoteBookLM Plus, an invaluable tool to make sense of complex topics. While this change means that users who aren't interested in using the AI tools as part of their workflow will still be affected by the price hike for no reason, it goes to show how Google is positioning AI as an integral part of its Workspace offering.

Google raises the price of Workspace plans, includes its AI features for free

Google announced on Wednesday that all AI features in Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and Meet are now available to Workspace customers at no extra charge, though the plan will see a $2 per month increase per user. This change simplifies access to Workplace AI tools, including email summaries, automated note-taking, chatting with the Gemini bot, and more. Previously, customers who wanted to use all of the AI features needed to pay an additional $20 per user per month for the Gemini for Workplace plan on top of the $12 for the Workspace Business Standard plan. Now, the standard plan is $14 per user per month. The new pricing takes effect for new customers immediately, and existing customers will see changes starting March 17, 2025. Small business customers are exempt from these pricing changes for now. Customers who previously purchased the Gemini for Workspace add-on will continue to have access to the features but will no longer be charged for the subscription after January 31. The latest update is part of a competitive push against Microsoft and other companies making the move to integrate AI capabilities into their standard offerings. In November, Microsoft bundled its Copilot Pro AI features with the standard Microsoft 365 subscription.

Google Adds Gemini AI to Workspace Apps, But There's a Catch

Google is adding Gemini AI to its Workspace apps in a broader push to encourage people to use Gemini at work. Workspace Business customers will get access to the AI capabilities on Thursday, while Enterprise customers will get access to it later this month. Users can now summon Gemini within Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Chats, Vids, and other apps in the suite. The AI assistant can be used to summarize the inbox in Gmail, take notes in Meet, find files in Drive, and as a research partner in Docs, among other things. Before this change, Workspace customers had to pay an extra $20 to get Gemini AI. Now, Google has added the AI features as part of the subscription without an additional charge but will increase the price of the Workspace Business Standard plan by $2, taking the subscription fee for each user from $12 to $14 a month. The limited Business Starter plan will cost $7 per user, while the top-tier Business Plus plan will cost $22 per user. These revised rates will take effect for all customers starting Mar. 17. Those who have already purchased a Gemini Workspace add-on will no longer be billed for it after Jan. 31. It's unclear if customers can opt out of the AI package and stick to their existing Workspace plan. However, it's possible to turn off Gemini if you don't want to use it.

Google integrates AI into Workspace plans, raises subscription prices

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. What just happened? All of Google's AI features for Workspace are now available at no extra cost. This decision marks a significant shift from the previous model, where users had to pay an additional $20 per user, per month for the Gemini Business plan to access these capabilities. However, this change comes with a caveat. As Google integrates these AI features into the standard Workspace subscription, it's also implementing a price increase across all Workspace plans. Jerry Dischler, Google's president of cloud applications, said companies can expect to pay approximately $2 more per month per user for the AI-enabled Workspace compared to previous pricing. The base subscription price will increase from $12 to $14 per month. The newly included Workspace AI suite offers a range of tools designed to boost productivity and creativity. Users will now have access to email summaries in Gmail, generated designs for spreadsheets and videos, an automated note-taker for meetings, the NotebookLM research assistant, and writing tools across various apps. Perhaps most notably, users will also gain access to the Gemini bot, which Dischler describes as Google's most powerful AI tool to date. Dischler emphasized the strategic importance of this move, highlighting that Google's AI product is currently the most vertically integrated option available in the market. By making these features accessible to all users, Google aims to demonstrate the value of its AI capabilities on a broader scale. He noted that cost has been a significant barrier for companies considering AI adoption, and this decision directly addresses that concern. The integration of AI features is expected to have a profound impact on the development of Workspace apps. Dischler indicated that app roadmaps are already evolving, with new features set to be released at an accelerated pace. Other providers of AI-powered office suites have made similar moves. For instance, Microsoft announced late last year that its Copilot Pro AI features, which were previously a $20 monthly upgrade, would now be included in standard Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions, albeit with limited availability. This shift in pricing strategy reflects a broader trend in the tech industry. Giants like Google and Microsoft are prioritizing the widespread adoption of their AI tools, even at the cost of short-term revenue. The underlying strategy is to familiarize users with new ways of interacting with their products and potentially attract new customers. These companies are betting that the initial investment in rolling out these AI features will yield significant long-term benefits.

Google Workspace plans now cost more thanks to AI features you may or may not want

The price hike is effective immediately for new customers while existing subscribers will see changes starting in March. In a bid to bring its AI features to more users, Google is integrating all the tools offered as part of the Gemini for Workspace add-on into the standard Workspace Business and Enterprise plans. As part of this move, the company will offer its suite of AI tools in Gmail, Docs, Meet, Sheets, etc., to all Workspace subscribers at no additional cost. However, there's a catch. While Google will no longer charge an additional $20 per user per month for the Gemini AI features, it is increasing the price of all Workspace plans by around $2 per user per month. This new pricing goes into effect immediately for new customers, whereas existing customers will see changes starting March 17, 2025. Although a $2 price hike is a bargain for those already paying for the Gemini add-on, it's an unnecessary expense for Workspace subscribers who don't use Google's AI tools. Thankfully, Google has confirmed that very small business customers "are not subject to pricing changes at this time." The updated Workspace Business and Enterprise plans will offer users access to various AI tools, including email and document summaries, image generation, adaptive audio in Meet, enhanced smartfill in Sheets, access to NotebookLM Plus, and more. These features will roll out to Workspace Business edition subscribers today and for Enterprise edition customers later this month.

Google Workspace business users getting full Gemini experience, price increasing

Previously, Google charged an additional $20+ per user/month for Gemini in Gmail, Docs, Meet, and other Workspace apps. The full Gemini experience is now coming to Google Workspace business users as part of a price increase. In the past, Workspace users only got access to the Gemini app as part of their productivity subscription. To access the Gemini side panel in Gmail and Drive, companies had to pay $20 or $30 per user/month for Gemini Business or Gemini Enterprise, respectively. That separate Gemini Add-on is now going away. Google is adding the integrated Gemini experience to Workspace Business and Enterprise plans. *pooled storage per user Google is making this change because it sees AI as a "foundational shift in how work gets done" and that future productivity advancements will be born out of it. As such, it doesn't make sense to silo off AI into a different tier. Meanwhile, Google is undercutting competition that has this per user per month model. Workspace Business (Standard and Plus) and Enterprise users will get Gemini in: You also get access to Google Vids and NotebookLM Plus with team sharing. Meanwhile, users are bumped up to Gemini Advanced with 1.5 Pro and access to creating custom Gems. The entry Workspace Business Starter, which offers 30GB (instead of 2 TB) of storage, will get access to the Gemini side panel in Gmail, non-Advanced Gemini, and non-Plus NotebookLM. In terms of security and privacy, Google won't "use your data, prompts, or generated responses to train Gemini models outside of your domain without permission." With the addition of Gemini, all Google Workspace tiers are getting a price increase. In general, Google tells us that plans will increase by a couple of dollars per month. The pricing example Google provided at launch is as follows: For example, a customer using the Workspace Business Standard plan with a Gemini Business add-on previously paid $32 per user, per month. Now, that same customer will pay just $14 per user, per month -- only $2 more than they were paying for Workspace without Gemini. We have to see what other plans will look like, but the $2 increase in the scenario above seems compelling for what you're getting. This new pricing will come into effect as follows: Notably, this full access to Gemini is rolling out starting today to Workspace customers before the price increase. Workspace Business customers can expect the Gemini side panel, Help me write, Take notes for me, Gemini Advanced and NotebookLM Plus as soon as it's rolled out to their accounts, with Google targeting full availability over the coming days. The rollout for Workspace Enterprise begins at the end of the month to give admins time to adjust settings as needed. Meanwhile, Google is getting rid of the Gemini Business, Gemini Enterprise, AI Meetings and Messaging, and AI Security Add-ons. As of today, there are no changes to Workspace Individual, Education, Google Workspace for Nonprofit, or consumer accounts.

Google Workspace price increase bundles Gemini AI

What's that? You don't want to pay $20 for Gemini? Well then Google will just put it in anyway and raise the price. Hooray? The big tech giants are all-in on AI. Regular users and corporate customers...not so much. But Google isn't letting a little thing like reality stop it from injecting its Gemini AI product into every nook and cranny of your life. Instead of charging $20 per user for Gemini in Workspace, Google is just including it from now on. With a price increase. Wonderful. "We believe that AI is not just another tool; it's a foundational shift in how work gets done," says Google's President of Cloud Applications in a blog post. What a shock, the guy selling melons thinks everyone should be buying melons. "...By removing the need to pay for an add-on to access our latest generative AI capabilities, we're simplifying our plans and pricing to bring the added value of Google AI to all Workspace customers." The $20-per-user Gemini upgrade is going away, as at least some AI tools are integrated into all Workspace business tiers. AI-powered features like "Help me write" will be coming to all Workspace users, though more advanced AI tools will still be reserved for the Business Standard and Business Plus tiers. It isn't all wine and roses. The Business Standard tier will increase from $12 to $14, per user per month, "only $2 more than they were paying for Workspace without Gemini," in Google's words. That's nice, Google, but surely at least some people would prefer the choice to decline the raised price. An upsell of $2 instead of $20 is great, but a mandatory price increase is not. Google didn't say how much the price would go up for Business Plus or Business Enterprise. As TechCrunch notes, Google was probably pushed to make a more visible integration of Gemini after Microsoft began bundling Copilot features into Microsoft 365 plans. Pricing for new Workspace business users begins tomorrow, but existing subscribers will have until March 17 before they see the price increase. "Very small business customers are not subject to price increases at this time," says the announcement, though how Google makes that distinction isn't immediately clear.

Google Gemini Now Available on Google Workspace

On Thursday, Google announced that its best generative AI capabilities will now be included in Workspace Business and Enterprise plans, eliminating the need for add-ons. This brings AI-powered tools to businesses of all sizes, helping them enhance productivity, creativity, and innovation. "AI is foundational to the future of work," said Jerry Dischler, president of cloud applications at Google. "Our goal is to make the transformative power of AI accessible to every business at an affordable price." The new AI features are available in Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Meet, Chat, and other Workspace tools and will assist users in tasks such as drafting documents, summarising emails, and taking meeting notes. Additionally, users will be able to interact with Gemini Advanced, a next-gen AI tool that can aid in research, coding, and data analysis. "Businesses that embrace AI are gaining a significant competitive edge. Generative AI has reduced the burden of mundane tasks and has become a strategic partner for businesses, helping them bring their best ideas to life," Dischler said. The update was rolled out to Workspace Business customers starting Thursday and will be extended to enterprise customers later this month. Pricing has been simplified as part of the integration. For example, if a customer on the Workspace Business Standard plan with the Gemini Business add-on previously paid $32 per user per month, under the new plan, they would be required to pay only $14. Google has emphasised its commitment to data security and privacy. "We don't use your data, prompts, or generated responses to train Gemini models outside of your domain without permission," Google stated. Additionally, Gemini adheres to privacy and security certifications, including SOC 1/2/3, ISO 27001/17/18, and HIPAA compliance. The pricing changes take effect immediately for new customers, and they will be updated for existing customers starting March 17. Small businesses are not currently affected by these pricing changes. The company encourages users to start a no-cost AI trial and learn more through upcoming webinars. "Today is just the start," said Dischler. "We'll continue to introduce new AI features throughout the year to empower our customers and help them innovate for the future."

Google Hikes Workspace Prices, Adds Gemini Features to All Plans

Google has not specified the regions where the price will be hiked Google Workspace subscription prices for businesses were hiked in select regions on Thursday. The company said that the overall value of the subscription is being increased as the artificial intelligence (AI) services across different Workspace apps will now be available across all plans. This means those paying for any Workspace subscription will now get to use all the Gemini AI tools. Previously, the Gemini-powered AI features were available with a separate monthly add-on plan priced at $20 in the US and Rs. 1,950 in India. In a blog post, the Mountain View-based tech giant announced the restructuring of the Business and Enterprise Workspace subscription plans. So far, companies would have to pay the standard subscription charges to access the different Workspace apps and an additional add-on fee to access the integrated Gemini tools. However, Google has now ditched the Gemini add-on and bundled these features into the Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, and Enterprise subscriptions. In the US, the price hike is $2 (roughly Rs. 173), and the lowest tier now costs $14 (roughly Rs. 1,200) instead of $12 (roughly Rs. 1,040) a month. Notably, in India, the prices appear to not have been changed. However, the pricing page now lists AI features among the plans' benefits. Justifying the price hike, Google said, "A customer using the Workspace Business Standard plan with a Gemini Business add-on previously paid $32 per user, per month. Now, that same customer will pay just $14 per user, per month -- only $2 more than they were paying for Workspace without Gemini." With this, Workspace users can access Gemini in Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Meet, Chat, Vids, and more. Additionally, they will also get access to the Gemini Advanced chatbot and access all the Gemini models available to paid subscribers. The subscription will also offer access to NotebookLM Plus, the premium version of Google's AI-powered research assistant platform. The new changes offer a significantly increased value to those organisations that were either already paying for the Gemini add-on or were planning to get the AI tools. However, the businesses that were happy with just the basic Workspace features will now have to pay an increased amount for them.

Google integrates Google AI to Workspace Business and Enterprise plans

Google today announced the inclusion of its advanced AI capabilities in Workspace Business and Enterprise plans, making the latest generative AI tools available without the need for additional add-ons. This move aims to help businesses enhance productivity, creativity, and innovation by utilizing AI across key Workspace tools, as outlined in the company's announcement. Jerry Dischler, President of Cloud Applications at Google, emphasized the transformative potential of AI in the workplace. "For over 20 years, Google Workspace has supported businesses of all sizes in achieving growth and innovation," Dischler said. He further explained that Google views AI not just as another tool, but as a fundamental shift in how work is done. Over the past year, more than 100,000 customers have adopted generative AI, helping them reduce time spent on mundane tasks while boosting creativity and productivity. With the integration of Google AI into Workspace, users can now access advanced AI features across a variety of applications: Data security is a top priority for Google. Dischler assured businesses that Google AI is designed with robust security measures in place. Google does not use customers' data to train AI models without permission, and customer data is neither sold nor used for advertising. Gemini adheres to strict enterprise-grade controls, ensuring that only authorized data is accessed. Furthermore, it meets comprehensive safety, privacy, and security standards, including certifications for SOC 1/2/3, ISO 27001, and HIPAA compliance. Google has simplified its pricing model for these new AI capabilities, eliminating the need for additional add-ons. For instance, customers who were previously paying $32 per user per month for the Gemini Business add-on will now pay just $14 per user per month -- only $2 more than the previous cost of the Workspace Business Standard plan without Gemini. The new AI features will be rolled out to Google Workspace Business customers starting today, with availability for Enterprise customers later this month. Pricing for new customers will take effect on January 17, 2025, while existing customers will see updated pricing starting March 17, 2025, or at their next renewal date. Small business customers will not be affected by these pricing changes at this time.

Google Makes AI Features Free to Workspace Subscribers | PYMNTS.com

Google has phased out its $20 monthly fee for AI features on its Workspace products. The tech giant announced Wednesday (Jan. 15) that subscribers to its Workspace Business and Enterprise plans will now receive Gemini -- its artificial intelligence (AI) model -- features at no added cost. "With this change, we are no longer offering the Gemini Business, Gemini Enterprise, AI Meetings & Messaging, and AI Security add-ons for purchase," Google said in a blog post. "Gemini is helping reduce the burden of mundane tasks, like taking notes during meetings and synthesizing long documents, and stepping in as a strategic thought partner to bring ideas to life and find ways to problem solve." At the same time, Google said that while it had eliminated the AI add-on fees, it is upping the prices of its Workspace Business and Enterprise plans starting Jan. 16. "Existing customers with impacted Google Workspace Enterprise and Business plans or a Gemini for Workspace add-on subscription will receive an email with more information about price and subscription updates," the company said. The update comes as businesses are increasingly employing generative AI (GenAI) to carry out a range of different tasks, as PYMNTS Intelligence surveys of chief operating officers (COOs) have found. As shown in the report "COOs Find the Key for a Positive ROI on GenAI: Customization," COOs are customizing GenAI to maximize its impact. "With expectations for substantial returns on investment by the decade's end, COOs view GenAI as a key driver of future success," PYMNTS wrote in November. "COOs are using GenAI for more critical operations, such as production feedback and cybersecurity management." The research found significant growth in adoption, with 57% of COOs using GenAI to monitor production in August of last year, compared to 32% three months earlier. At the same time, the use of GenAI for automated cybersecurity systems climbed from 17% to 55% in the same period, underlining growing confidence in its ability to handle complex systems and protect companies against cyber threats. "In addition to high-impact functions, COOs rely on GenAI for tasks like data visualizations, workflow management and routine automation," PYMNTS wrote. "The share of COOs using GenAI for visualizations grew from 53% to 67% between May and August, underscoring its role in improving operational efficiency across departments."

Google is making AI in Gmail and Docs free -- but raising the price of Workspace

There is a catch, though: as it makes this change, Google is increasing the price of all Workspace plans. Jerry Dischler, Google's president of cloud applications, tells me companies will pay roughly $2 more per month per user for the AI-enabled Workspace than they were paying before. (The numbers aren't exact, because companies have complicated and varying contracts, but the base subscription price was $12 a month and now it will be $14.) Workspace AI includes things like email summaries in Gmail, generated designs for spreadsheets and videos, an automated note-taker for meetings, the powerful NotebookLM research assistant, and writing tools across apps. It also comes with access to the Gemini bot itself, which is maybe Google's single most powerful AI tool; the bot can do standard chatbot thing but can also help you find information, search across all your stuff, and more.

Google Makes AI Features Free in Workspace, But There's a Catch

Is It Hardware or Software? How I Diagnose My Computer Issues Easily There's some good and bad news for users of Google Workspace. We'll take a look at all of the changes. Free AI Features, But a Monthly Subscription Increase All of the AI features available in Gmail, Sheets, and more are now free. Previously, they cost an additional $20 monthly per user. But don't celebrate just yet. Google's Jerry Dischler, Google's president of cloud applications, Jerry Dischler, confirmed to The Verge that monthly subscriptions will rise $2 per month for each user. That will make the base subscription $14 for each person, up from $12. Dischler told The Verge that companies previously were hesitant to pay extra for the AI features: "Most of the time, when we talk to companies who are using AI, their big impediment is cost reasons," he says. "That's why they go in so gingerly. Like, 'wow, this is a lot of money, and let's prove the value.' All right, now you get the AI. You have the value." Some of the Workspace AI features include summaries of messages in Gmail, design assistance for documents, and the ability to tokes notes during meetings with AI. Subscribers can also access Gemini Advanced and use the AI research assistant NotebookLM Plus. Extending Gemini's Reach Like other companies who have poured billions into AI technology, Google is likely trying to find the right balance between recouping that investment and extending AI to more users. Making all of the AI features free in the expansive and popular Google Workspace makes a lot of sense. Take a look at our guide to all the Google Workspace apps. Google is also busy extending Gemini to every part of its ecosystem. A recent report says that Gemini could soon be your companion while watching YouTube videos. If you've never used Gemini, there are a number of good reasons to try it out.