Google LLC today announced new artificial intelligence enhancements in Google Workspace that expand its Gemini-powered productivity tools to help organizations automate complex workflows, improve content creation and better analyze data.

Leading the list of announcements from the annual Google Cloud Next developer conference in Las Vegas is Google Workspace Flows, a new agentic AI tool designed to automate complex, multistep business processes using plain language instructions. Differing from traditional automation tools that rely on rigid triggers and rules, Workspace Flows uses AI-powered custom agents called “Gems” to understand context, analyze data and generate content dynamically.

Flows can draw from files in Google Drive and execute intelligent decisions across Workspace apps, whether reviewing policy documents, checking if marketing copy aligns with brand guidelines, or triaging customer support tickets, among some use cases.

Workspace Flows is built for usability, allowing users to describe tasks in natural language without needing to write code or configure complex logic. The service is also extensible, with support for integrations with third-party tools that allow workflows to go beyond the Google ecosystem. The idea is to reduce the friction in routine operations and give teams a smarter, faster way to get work done.

Beyond Flows, Google is introducing AI enhancements across its core Workspace tools that are aimed at making everyday tasks more efficient and intuitive.

In Google Docs, users will soon be able to generate full audio versions of documents or concise, podcast-style summaries, a feature inspired by NotebookLM’s highly impressive audio overviews. Additionally, a new feature called “Help me refine” in Docs offers coaching-style writing suggestions that go beyond grammar corrections to help users improve structure, tone and clarity, sounding a lot like services provided by companies such as Grammarly Inc.

Google Sheets hasn’t been ignored, with the spreadsheet service getting an upgrade called “Help me analyze.” The service operates as a built-in AI analyst that provides insights into trends, suggests next steps and generates charts on demand. The tool is designed to democratize data analysis by making it accessible to non-experts, turning raw numbers into actionable insights without the need for deep spreadsheet knowledge.

On the video generation side, Google Vids, the AI-powered video creation tool launched by Google in April last year, is being upgraded to support Google’s Veo 2 model. The model will allow users to generate realistic, original video clips that can be incorporated into business content with minimal effort.

On the communications front, Workspace communication tools are being enhanced as well. In Google Meet, Gemini can now act as a real-time meeting assistant that can summarize what was missed, clarify key points and even help users organize their thoughts before they speak. In Google Chat, users can summon Gemini directly in group conversations to summarize discussions, flag open questions and track next steps, reducing clutter and improving team alignment.

Alongside the announcements, Google also revealed that businesses are embracing its AI offerings with Gemini in Workspace now providing business users with more than 2 billion AI assists every month, helping people save time and get more done. Notable companies using Gemini in Workspace include Air Liquide S.A., Compass Real Estate Inc., Equifax Inc., Etsy Inc., Globe Telecom Inc., Rivian Inc., Salesforce Inc. and Whirlpool Corp.

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