Google Workspace has rolled out “Ask Gemini,” a new AI-powered meeting consultant integrated into Google Meet, designed to provide real-time assistance, catch up late joiners, and enhance productivity during video calls. Announced as part of Google’s ongoing AI expansions in Workspace, this feature leverages Gemini’s advanced capabilities to answer questions, summarize discussions, and extract key insights, making it an indispensable tool for business users and teams.
Ask Gemini acts as a private, on-demand consultant within Meet, allowing participants to query the AI about the ongoing conversation without disrupting the flow. Powered by Gemini’s multimodal AI, it draws from real-time captions, shared resources like Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides (with appropriate permissions), and public web data to deliver accurate responses. For example, users can ask, “What did Sarah say about the Q3 budget?” or “Summarize the action items discussed so far,” and receive tailored answers visible only to them. This is particularly useful for multitasking professionals or those joining late, where it can generate a personalized recap of missed segments, highlighting decisions, action items, and key points.
The feature builds on existing Gemini integrations in Meet, such as “Take Notes for Me,” which automatically transcribes, summarizes, and emails notes post-meeting. With Ask Gemini, note-taking becomes interactive: It links responses to specific transcript sections for deeper context, supports real-time caption scrolling during calls, and handles complex prompts like identifying trends or generating follow-up tasks. Available in over 30 languages, it also enhances accessibility with translated captions and adaptive audio for clearer sound in multi-device setups.
To enable Ask Gemini, hosts must activate the “Take Notes for Me” feature at the meeting’s start, and it’s turned on by default for participants—though hosts or admins can disable it. Responses remain private, with no post-call storage of data to prioritize security and compliance (GDPR, HIPAA). It’s initially rolling out to select Google Workspace customers on Business Standard ($12/user/month), Business Plus ($18/user/month), Enterprise plans, or with the Gemini add-on, starting January 15, 2025, for broader access.
Early feedback highlights its potential to save time—up to 20-30% on meeting follow-ups—while reducing cognitive load. In tests, it accurately recaps discussions and integrates seamlessly with Workspace apps, though some users note limitations in free tiers or for non-Workspace accounts (requiring Google One AI Premium). Compared to competitors like Zoom’s AI Companion or Microsoft Teams’ Intelligent Recap, Ask Gemini stands out for its deep Google ecosystem ties and real-time querying.
Admins can manage it via the Google Admin console under Generative AI > Gemini for Workspace > Meet, toggling features per organizational unit. For personal users, subscribe to Google One AI Premium and enable Smart features in Meet settings. As hybrid work persists, Ask Gemini positions Google Meet as a leader in AI-driven collaboration, turning meetings into efficient, insightful experiences. To try it, join a Meet call and look for the Gemini icon in the Activities panel—future updates may include more languages and integrations.
Leave a Reply