Google’s messaging platform has undergone numerous changes and iterations over time. Now, in a recent development, the company has announced a slew of new features for Google Chat that draw parallels with Slack and Microsoft Teams, along with a new Duet AI collaboration tool.
Announced through the company’s Workspace blog, Google Chat will now feature a new Duet AI, which allows users to search for information, ask questions related to their Drive files and emails, and even receive concise summaries of documents and conversations. Additionally, Duet AI can also generate responses for conversations, reducing the need for manual interactions with colleagues.
Moreover, the app is receiving a substantial redesign that incorporates a new home view, offering quick access to recent conversations, along with a dedicated section for starred conversations and mentions. While the initial layout follows a reverse chronological organization, Google intends to implement context-aware ordering mechanisms. Furthermore, the company is also raising the member limit of Spaces to 500,000, a significant increase from the previous cap of 50,000 and introducing a “huddles” feature that simplifies the process of initiating video or audio chats.
“You essentially have a co-worker who has infinite memory and amazing recall at your fingertips,” said Vamsee Jasti, Google’s product lead for Chat.
Messages from all places on Google Chat
In an effort to cater to enterprise users, Google is partnering with Mio to establish messaging interoperability not only within Google Chat but also across major platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams. The aim is to streamline communication and prevent message loss when switching between multiple messaging tools. However, it is important to note this feature is currently in the beta phase, and the company plans to release it publicly in 2024.
“We know that communication and collaboration happens over multiple channels and tools. That’s why we’re partnering with Mio, a leading provider of collaborative interoperability solutions helping customers enhance their productivity by streamlining communication across multiple channels,” reads Google’s blog post.