Google is introducing a game-changing feature for Google Meet users by integrating its advanced Gemini AI assistant into the platform. With the new “Ask Gemini” tool, Google aims to make virtual meetings more productive, efficient, and user-friendly. This integration will help users keep track of discussions, easily identify action items, and even catch up on missed segments of meetings, enhancing overall collaboration in the digital workspace.
How Ask Gemini Enhances Meetings
The Ask Gemini AI assistant is designed to simplify and streamline virtual meetings, making it easier for participants to stay focused and informed throughout the session. Here’s a breakdown of what the feature offers:
- Real-Time Summaries: Ask Gemini can provide concise and accurate summaries of ongoing meetings, helping users quickly grasp the key points being discussed. This is especially helpful for those who may need a quick refresher or a snapshot of the discussion.
- Catch Up on Missed Content: If a participant joins the meeting late, Ask Gemini will enable them to catch up on what has already been discussed. This is particularly useful for time-sensitive meetings where attendees need to get up to speed as quickly as possible.
- Highlighting Action Items and Decisions: One of the key functionalities of Ask Gemini is its ability to automatically highlight decisions made and action items assigned during the meeting. This helps participants easily track the next steps and ensures that nothing is overlooked after the call ends.
- Review of Past Discussions: If the “Take Notes for Me” feature is enabled, Ask Gemini will summarize any missed conversations that took place before a participant joined, offering them a seamless way to catch up without missing vital information.
These features make collaboration in meetings smoother and more effective, especially for teams working remotely or in hybrid environments where it can be difficult to stay on top of all the discussions.
How Does Ask Gemini Work?
Ask Gemini pulls data from multiple sources to provide personalized responses, ensuring that each user’s experience is tailored to the context of the meeting. The AI assistant utilizes meeting captions, Google Workspace tools such as Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Gmail, and Google Search to deliver the most relevant and useful summaries and updates. This integration allows Gemini to continuously learn from the data and improve its responses over time, making it a powerful tool for enhancing workplace productivity.
Privacy and Data Considerations
Google has ensured that user privacy is a top priority with the introduction of Ask Gemini. All meeting captions and data used by the AI assistant are not stored once the meeting ends. Additionally, Gemini cannot access conversations that took place before a participant joined the meeting unless the “Take Notes for Me” feature was activated. This ensures that no private or sensitive information is shared without user consent.
Currently, the feature only supports the English language and is available exclusively for desktop users. It is important to note that breakout rooms are not yet supported by Ask Gemini, but this may be addressed in future updates.
Admin, Host, and Participant Control Settings
Google Meet offers a variety of control options for admins, hosts, and participants, ensuring that the use of Ask Gemini remains flexible and customizable based on the needs of the meeting:
- Admins: Ask Gemini is enabled by default, but admins can disable the feature at the organization or group level through the Workspace Admin console. This gives administrators full control over whether the feature is available to their teams.
- Hosts and Co-hosts: Meeting hosts and co-hosts can disable Ask Gemini through their Calendar settings, in-meeting controls, or Host settings, providing flexibility to manage the feature during meetings.
- Participants: When Ask Gemini is active, participants will see a consent message informing them that the tool is in use. Dial-in users will hear a notification announcing the feature’s activation. It’s also worth noting that users who do not have Smart Features enabled will not be able to access Ask Gemini.
Rollout Schedule and Availability
The rollout of Ask Gemini will begin on September 29, 2025, for Google Workspace Business Plus customers and will continue through October 17, 2025, for other domains. After that, Google plans to expand the feature to other Workspace plans, such as Enterprise Standard and Enterprise Plus, later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on user feedback and demand.
Google’s focus on continuously improving AI capabilities in Google Meet highlights the company’s commitment to enhancing the virtual meeting experience. By integrating AI tools like Ask Gemini, Google is empowering users to be more productive and efficient, ensuring that virtual meetings are not only easier to manage but also more impactful for all participants.
Why It Matters
In today’s fast-paced work environment, virtual meetings have become an essential part of daily operations. However, keeping track of key decisions and action items during a meeting can be challenging, especially when participants have to juggle multiple tasks or join meetings at different times. With the introduction of Ask Gemini, Google Meet offers an innovative solution to these challenges by making meetings smarter and more collaborative.
The integration of AI into meeting platforms is a significant leap forward in productivity tools. As more organizations embrace remote and hybrid work models, features like Ask Gemini will become even more valuable, providing users with the tools they need to stay organized, informed, and engaged.
