Google Integrates AI-Powered 'Gems' into Workspace Apps

Google Workspace is getting AI helpers called Gems. Here's how to use them.

Gems, Google's AI experts that can be customised to a specific task, are rolling out in Workspace. Available in the Gemini app, Gems will now also appear in a side panel in Google Docs, Sheets, Drive, Slides, and Gmail -- the latest in a number of big AI updates in Workspace. Although the side panel will be populated with pre-made Gems (uncut, if you will), users can also create their own tailored AI helper. If you're not really sure why you'd need one of these things, Google has a few examples in its blog post: You may want to "leverage an 'assistant Gem' tailored to your job role to help provide more relevant summaries for you and content for internal communications," for instance, or you could "create a Gem that helps with sales interactions that is grounded on information for a specific company, prospect, or industry." Gems can be accessed in Workspace by clicking on the "Ask Gemini" spark button in the top right of a document. This opens up a panel which contains both pre-loaded Gems and the option to "Create a Gem" (Google has a separate help doc on how to do this). It's worth noting that you may not see Gems right away, though -- the rollout started on Wednesday, but Google says it may be "potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility".

Gemini Gems now live in Docs, Gmail, Sheets

Google has integrated "Gems," customizable iterations of its Gemini AI assistant, directly into Google Workspace applications. This integration allows users to access these specialized AI tools within Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, Drive, and Gmail side panels, eliminating the need to open the dedicated Gemini app. Google stated in its announcement that "Gems can help you further leverage the power of Gemini in a way that's customized to your needs more efficiently by minimizing repetitive prompting." These AI assistants can be tailored as "experts" for specific tasks, ranging from brand-tailored copywriting to exam revision. Users can upload personal files to provide Gems with task-specific context and resources. Google also offers pre-made Gems for functions such as text editing, code generation, and sales pitch idea formulation. Google outlines several applications for Gems within Workspace: Previously, Gems were exclusively accessible within the Gemini app. While custom Gems cannot be created directly within Workspace applications, users can initiate creation by visiting gemini.google.com/gems/create or selecting the "Create a new Gem" option in the Workspace side panel. Both custom and pre-made Gems support Workspace functionalities, including @-mentioning and access to files and folders. This update is available to all Google Workspace users with access to Gemini in Workspace app side panels. The rollout commenced on July 2nd; however, Google indicated that full deployment "may potentially take longer than 15 days."

AI-Powered Gems are Coming to Gmail, Google Docs and Drive

Gems are essentially smaller, specialised versions of Gemini Google Workspace users are finally getting access to Gems within the apps, the company announced on Wednesday. Gems are custom artificial intelligence (AI) experts that can be programmed to perform specific tasks. They have been available within the Gemini app and website since August 2024, but now the Mountain View-based tech giant is finally expanding them to Workspace apps, including Docs, Slides, Sheets, Drive, and Gmail. Gems will be available via the Gemini side panel on these platforms. In a blog post, the tech giant announced the addition of Gems within Google Workspace apps. Notably, the feature is only available to the paid individual and enterprise Workspace account holders, who already have access to the Gemini side panel. Gems can be understood as a miniature version of the Gemini chatbot, where users can add instructions once to make it perform specific tasks. Users do not need to add the same instructions again and again, saving them time. Additionally, Gems can also be fed data by adding text, files, and images to tailor their responses and improve accuracy. With the new side panel offering, users will get a few pre-made Gems that they can put to task directly. Some of these include the Writing editor, which provides constructive feedback on written text; Brainstormer, which provides inspiration and ideas for specific projects; Sales pitch ideator, which can create engaging pitches for clients, and more. Apart from the pre-made Gems, users can also create Gems from scratch by clicking the "Create a new Gem" button located at the top of the side panel in the Gems menu. Google says users can enter the creation menu and specify the role and instructions to create a new Gem. These can be programmed to write and analyse code, create posts, provide relevant summaries, and more. Since the feature is integrated with the Workspace apps, users can also take the output and directly feed it to whichever app they're working on. Once a Gem has been created, it will appear on all of the Workspace apps.