Google has recently introduced conversational features in three of its most popular productivity applications: Gmail, Google Docs, and…
Google has recently introduced conversational features in three of its most popular productivity applications: Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Keep. These enhancements allow users to interact with their apps through voice commands, making it easier to manage emails, documents, and notes without the need for typing.
These features, named Gmail Live, Docs Live, and Keep Live, utilise Google’s advanced AI model, Gemini. After being previewed at the I/O developer conference in May, they are now being made available on iOS and Android in English for eligible users.
With Gmail Live, you can engage with your inbox in an entirely new way. Instead of entering a search term, you can simply ask the AI assistant questions about your emails. For instance, if you want to know, “Do I have any unread emails from my bank this week?” or “What did Tobi say about the meeting?”, the assistant will promptly fetch the relevant information.
As you speak, a live transcript will display on your screen, allowing you to see what has been processed in real time. This feature is accessible to users who subscribe to the Google AI Plus, Pro, or Ultra plans.
In Google Docs, the Docs Live feature enables users to articulate their writing ideas verbally. You can describe what you want to create, and the AI assistant will generate a first draft for you. But it doesn’t stop at simple dictation; Docs Live can draw context from your Gmail, Google Drive, Google Chat, and the web. This means if you need a project update, it can pull information from your actual emails and files, rather than producing a generic response.
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The goal here is not to replace your writing but to provide a meaningful foundation already informed by your situation. This feature is available to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.
Google Keep has long served as a straightforward note-taking tool, but Keep Live takes it a step further by introducing a voice-first approach. This new feature allows you to create notes, lists, and gather information without ever touching a keyboard.
For example, if you say, “List the ingredients for a shakshuka,” the app will promptly compile that list for you. Keep Live is designed for quick and easy capture of thoughts and information, making the process seamless. This feature is open to users holding AI Pro or Ultra subscription.
All three features are currently available on iOS and Android in English. Gmail Live has the broadest access, available from the AI Plus tier upward, while Docs Live and Keep Live require at least an AI Pro subscription.
The company has indicated that these features will eventually be available to Workspace Business customers, who use the platform in corporate settings, although a specific timeline has yet to be announced.
The rollout of these features is part of a larger initiative by Google to integrate voice capabilities throughout its product ecosystem.
Earlier this year, the company introduced cross-app dictation in its Mac app and launched a tool named Rambler on the Pixel 11 smartphone that improves speech by removing filler words. They also introduced the Gemini 3.5 Transcribe model for speech-to-text applications.
Google’s direction is clear: the company believes that the next major advancement in how people utilise productivity software will not rely on improving interfaces, but rather on minimising the need for them altogether.
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