Last week saw a number of massive announcements that could reshape the way we use AI in the not too distant future. As artificial intelligence continues to dominate the news, three announcements, in particular, will have lasting implications. While the announcement that OpenAI was launching ChatGPT-4 received the most attention, two other announcements quietly may have the biggest impact on users. Perhaps Google’s biggest statement yet of their AI platform was revealed but was overshadowed by OpenAI’s announcement just a couple of hours later. The next day, Microsoft announced the creation of Copilot. Both Google and Microsoft’s announcements will likely have long-lasting implications for the way we use their productivity suites.
While Google’s update may have slipped through the cracks of some news cycles, the unveiling of its AI integration into key Google productivity products is potentially phenomenal. Google is beginning to add new AI functionality across its Workspace suite, utilising AI to improve the way people use the likes of Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Gmail.
One of the exciting features is the Gmail functionality. AI will allow users to quickly get a summary of a whole email thread in seconds, saving time in reading over the full conversation. From here, it can provide response recommendations, and even write emails for you. But it is not just limited to advances in Gmail. Through the Workplace connection, users can then get Google’s AI to write briefs off the back of email conversations, and even turn them into full presentations in Google Slides in a matter of minutes.
In addition to this, Google’s AI will likely reshape Google Docs by providing AI-driven solutions to help productivity. From getting brainstorming ideas directly from AI, to proofreading, and even content writing, Google Docs can offer ChatGPT-like capabilities.
Microsoft’s announcement of Copilot looks to offer similar functionality as Google, but across the Microsoft business suite. Microsoft is looking to add AI functionality, built by ChatGPT-4, into the likes of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. The AI functionality will be connected to all products, using this access to help build an understanding of the work conducted by the individual user. This will allow for more unique responses, helping to give information right for the individual while maintaining data security and privacy measures.
One of the most interesting new features that this will unlock, is the ability to connect email threads to meeting invites. This will allow users to ask Copilot to help them ‘prepare for an upcoming meeting’. Once prompted, Copilot will write notes on some key topics to help cover during the meeting, using the knowledge it has built across Microsoft 365.
Another functionality will allow for improved Teams meeting experiences. Copilot will be able to write notes during Teams calls and then summarise any action points. Excel data can easily be analysed with Copilot taking the data, summarising results, and even applying graphs to the summary. Similar to Google’s announcement, Microsoft will unlock functionality for AI to quickly make a full presentation in PowerPoint using the likes of a Word doc or PDF to help build the presentation.
All of this will have a huge impact on all generative AI startups. A number of these startups are offering AI tools that can help connect and improve the likes of Google Sheets and Google Docs. Companies like Fathom have built businesses developing virtual assistants that transcribe and summarise meetings, but now this will be built natively into Microsoft Teams. By making these moves, Google and Microsoft have essentially made these startups redundant, as users can easily use the native Google and Microsoft solutions.