Following the general release of Copilot for Microsoft 365 in January 2024, Google has rebranded and extended the capabilities of their rival AI tool.
Updated from Duet AI, which was first released in August 2023, Google announced that its AI tool for Google Workspace will now be known as Gemini. Like Microsoft Copilot, the tech giant’s collaborative AI tool is directly integrated into its products, including Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides and Meet. Hoping to challenge Microsoft in the competitive race to bring AI into the workplace, Google is currently offering two months’ free trial to organisations who wish to test out Gemini’s capabilities.
Existing customers of Duet AI will automatically be upgraded to Gemini Enterprise. Other Google Workspace customers can opt for the Enterprise package, for unlimited generative AI usage, or the cheaper Gemini Business plan, more suitable for small and medium sized businesses. The add-on is available to all Workspace customers, including those on the entry-level ‘Business Starter’ plan at £5 per user/month.
Gemini Business is currently priced at:
| Gemini Business | Paid annually* | Paid monthly* |
| Early adopter discount | £11.76 per user/month | £14.12 per user/month |
| Standard price | £16.80 per user/month | £20.16 per user/month |
*Prices do not include VAT.
What can Gemini for Google Workspace do?
Like Copilot, the primary aim of the AI tool is to increase productivity within the Workspace apps you use every day. Its capabilities include:
- Generative content creation in Gmail, Docs, and Slides
- Proof-reading and editing suggestions
- Reporting and automated data entry in Sheets
- Image generation in Slides
- Assisting in organising emails, files, and tasks
- Generating transcripts and summaries of meetings held in Meet
- Integration with Google Calendar for automated scheduling
- Translation of closed captions of videos or meetings in real time**
**Available as part of Gemini Enterprise only
Gemini Chat
Subscription to Gemini for Google Workspace also includes access to a new dedicated chatbot service. The company envisages that this will be useful for creative assistance and conducting research.
With concerns about safety and privacy around AI, Google was keen to stress in their announcement that using the subscription chatbot means requests remain private: “with a Gemini Business and Gemini Enterprise plan, your conversations are not used for advertising purposes, reviewed by human reviewers, or otherwise used to train generative machine-learning technologies.”
What are the differences of Gemini compared to Copilot?
Google’s participation in the AI race has generated its fair share of controversy, from the negative press which resulted from their original launch of Google Bard to the recent criticism over Gemini’s text to image generation.
However, the lower price point for both Google Workspace itself and the Gemini AI add-on in comparison to Microsoft 365 and Copilot AI, means that Gemini may prove a cost-effective solution for smaller organisations or more attractive to those already using Google Workspace.
We can help you add Gemini to your existing Workspace or help you trial both services. Please contact us for access to this service.