Google Adds Voice-Based Prompting to Docs and Keep
At this year’s Google I/O developer conference, the company announced it is integrating a voice-based prompting feature into Workspace apps such as Docs, Keep, and Gmail. This new capability aims to assist users in creating drafts, taking notes, and searching for emails more efficiently.
In Docs, you can now draft documents using your voice. For example, during a demonstration, Google showcased how one could fetch résumé details from Drive, incorporate event logistics from an email into the document, and even include some humorous anecdotes in one go.
Previously, users had to type out these instructions, which might lead to multiple turns of conversation with various follow-ups. By leveraging voice, this process is streamlined; you can now issue long sentences or request multiple tasks within a single interaction. Additionally, the feature understands when your mind changes and allows you to modify details in the same conversational turn.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai mentioned that users will soon be able to create and edit documents using their voice.
The company is also enhancing Keep by allowing users to input their thoughts via voice, which AI then converts into structured notes or lists. Notable apps like Voicenotes and AudioPen have already incorporated similar functionality for years. More recently, dictation apps such as Wispr Flow, Monologue, and Aqua have added this capability to their voice-based typing products.
Earlier in May, Google released its own dictation tool called Rambler, which integrates into Gboard across various apps.
Google is now extending this functionality to Gmail as well. Users will be able to converse with the new AI assistant named Gemini and request details like their next flight itinerary, Airbnb booking code, or appointment time for a physician.
Tech companies are increasingly integrating AI into all sorts of products and features. This shift has led users to become accustomed to asking more complex queries in one go. Voice input is particularly advantageous when you need to provide lengthy sentences or describe intricate multi-step requests. Moreover, current models can now understand and respond appropriately if your query changes midway through.
- Docs now allows voice-based document creation and editing.
- Keep has been updated with a feature that converts voice inputs into structured notes or lists.
- Gmail will soon support voice interactions for tasks like fetching flight details, hotel bookings, and appointment times.
Key Takeaways
- Google is enhancing Workspace apps with voice-based features to improve user experience.
- Voice input is particularly useful for complex queries and multi-turn conversations in applications like Docs, Keep, and Gmail.
- The integration of AI into various products has led users to adopt more conversational approaches when interacting with tech.
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