Google Unveils AI Tools For Gmail, Google Docs, Cloud

Just ahead of OpenAI's announcement of ChatGPT-4, Google unveiled a host of AI tools for Gmail, Google Workspace, and cloud software, raising the stakes in the upcoming generative AI proliferation before Microsoft could go ahead and do the same.

If Microsoft one-upped Google with the launch of the Bing chat AI, it's now Google's turn to respond. The response is essentially a magic wand for its services. For instance, Google Docs can now draft a marketing blog, training plan, or other text, and continue revising the tone based on further inputs. Google demonstrated this instance to reporters present at an event.

The move is just the latest example of how the launch of ChatGPT by OpenAI has led to a race to infuse products with generative AI tools, a cut above the regular chatbots, which are far more intelligent and can respond with factual and accurate answers.

Microsoft too has said it will release a similar tool for Microsoft Word at an event scheduled Thursday.

Magic Wand For Google Workspace Apps

Google said the AI will now be able to summarize mail threads in Gmail, build presentation slides, and take meeting notes as part of its Google Workspace upgrades.

On the enterprise side, Google rolled out AI tools for its cloud-computing software. The company also previewed PaLM, one of its most powerful large language models that can create human-like text. Users of the language model can now fine-tune with their own data, even while keeping the information and benefits proprietary.

The AI tools can also help create better chatbots for businesses. Aside from responding with relevant textual answers, customers can create chatbots that can generate images in response to queries. Chatbots can also integrate payment systems for a smooth checkout.

The company said it intends to "transform the work of marketers, lawyers, scientists, and educators."

Taking on Microsoft, Google also announced a partnership with AI research lab Midjourney to provide them with Google cloud infrastructure with access to its custom TPU chips. Microsoft has lent its Azure cloud platform to OpenAI to train GPT models.

Google, however, has to tread lightly in this field. Due to an error made in a demo showcasing its chatbot Bard, Google lost almost $100 billion in its market value. Microsoft too has been struggling with keeping Bing AI from turning hostile or even professing love to its users.