Google will introduce Ask Gemini in Google Chat, adding a central interface for finding information, creating content and managing work without leaving the collaboration app. The company announces in an official Google Workspace Updates blog post that the feature begins rolling out on August 26.
Ask Gemini appears in Chat’s Shortcuts menu and works as a command line connected to Workspace Intelligence. Users can search information across Gmail, Drive and Calendar, draft updates, generate images, summarize conversations and identify action items. It can also help schedule meetings, manage tasks and create separate sessions for work that users want to revisit later.
A replacement for the Chat side panel
The launch also changes how Gemini works inside Google Chat. Ask Gemini takes over several functions from the existing Gemini side panel, including file discovery, summaries and action-item capture. Google says the side panel will no longer appear in Chat for affected users.
Gems, Google’s customized AI assistants, will also disappear from the Chat side panel. They remain accessible through Gemini side panels in other Workspace applications.
Previous conversations from the Chat side panel will not transfer to Ask Gemini. Administrators can export Gemini conversation records, while individual users may download their own records if their organization allows it. Google stores this data under “Gemini in Workspace” in its Data Export tool and Google Takeout.
Initially, the change applies only to people whose Google Account language is English. Users with other language settings can continue using the existing side panel until Google expands language support.
The feature requires Gemini in Workspace in Chat, Workspace Intelligence for all apps and Workspace Smart Features to be enabled. It is available to Business Standard and Plus, Enterprise Standard and Plus, and Google AI Pro for Education customers. Google is also offering temporarily higher usage limits through October 1.
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