Google Workspace integrates Gemini and raises prices: what it means for users
Google has announced significant changes to its Workspace suite of office applications. Gemini's artificial intelligence features will now be integrated directly into standard business and enterprise plans, accompanied by an increase in subscription costs.
Here's What We Know
Previously, access to Gemini features such as intelligent assistance in Gmail, Docs, Meet and other apps came at an additional cost: $20 or $30 per user per month for Gemini Business or Gemini Enterprise plans, respectively. Under the new changes, these features will become part of the standard Workspace Business and Enterprise plans without the need to purchase additional add-ons.
As a result of this update, Workspace Business (Standard and Plus) and Enterprise users will have access to the following Gemini features:
- Gmail: sidebar (Q&A), writing help, contextualised smart replies, email summarisation
- Drive: sidebar
- Docs: sidebar, help with writing and creating documents
- Sheets: sidebar, help with organising data, improved autocompletion
- Slides: sidebar, help with image creation, background removal
- Meet: automatic note taking, background creation, sound and video enhancement
- Chat: sidebar
In addition, users will have access to Google Vids and NotebookLM Plus with team use, as well as Gemini Advanced with version 1.5 Pro and the creation of custom Gems.
Context
Along with the expanded functionality, Google has announced price increases for all Workspace subscription tiers. On average, the cost will increase by a few dollars per month. For example, users of the Workspace Business Standard plan with the previously purchased Gemini Business add-on were paying $32 per user per month. Now that same subscription will cost $14 per user per month, which is just $2 more than Workspace without Gemini previously cost.
Google emphasises that user data, queries and generated responses will not be used to train Gemini models outside of their domain without permission.
Source: Google