Google has launched new AI features for its Workspace apps like Docs, Sheets, and Drive, powered by its Gemini assistant. These tools, including "Help me create" for generating full document drafts, are part of a broader industry trend of integrating generative AI into core software, despite some public skepticism.
The features are initially available to English-speaking subscribers of Google's AI Pro and Ultra plans. They leverage user data and web searches to create content, such as drafting itineraries or mimicking the structure of past documents.
A hands-on test found the AI-generated drafts to be quick and functionally solid, particularly for tasks like corporate communications. However, the output was criticized as bland and lacking personal voice, even when instructed to mimic a user's writing style, suggesting limitations for creative expression.
The main topics covered are the launch of new AI features in Google Workspace, the functionality and testing of these features, and an analysis of their output quality and potential implications.
Google rolled out multiple new AI features today for its core Workspace products: Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive. These apps now include additional tools powered by Gemini, Google’s AI assistant. The features range from generating entire rough drafts in your Docs to finding information tucked away in the recesses of your Drive.
This Google launch is part of a larger trend in 2026, in which major software developers are continuing to bake generative-AI-based features into core user experiences—despite the lingering distaste many in the US have for tools like these. The features are coming first to English-speaking subscribers of Google’s AI Pro and Ultra plans.
For Docs, Google added “Help me create,” which attempts to generate full first drafts of your document, from a prompt, by looking at your emails and files, and searching the internet for context. This feature takes the existing “Help me write” feature in the Chrome browser even further and points to a future where humans rely on AI to craft their thoughts and share ideas with others.
Sheets and Slides both can now create similar full first drafts by pulling from information on the web and your past data. Another new, notable feature in Docs enables users to mimic the structure of past files when starting a new project. Also, Drive now includes AI Overviews of your files and more natural language searching abilities.
My tests primarily focused on the new tools in Google Docs, where I have the most familiarity. To start, I asked Gemini to draft an itinerary for some St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans. In just a few seconds, Gemini combed through my Gmail and the web to put together a short plan. I was a little creeped out when the bot correctly looked up my flight reservations to see what city I’d be located in on March 17. It also tacked on a few well-known Irish pubs where I could grab a pint of Guinness. Overall, the results of this test were quick and solid.
Now let’s raise the stakes. How convincing a first draft could Gemini generate for my job as a software reporter? WIRED’s editorial standards block the use of generative AI, rightly so, except in situations where it's disclosed and used as an example. Rest assured, everything you're reading here was scribbled into my notebook before being typed up.
Other digital media outlets may not have rigorous standards around AI use, and tools like “Help me create” could be forced onto early-career journalists expected to pump out numerous stories each day. I attached the press materials Google provided about today’s launch and requested a 600-word hands-on story from Gemini, with first-person insights that could help readers better understand the launch.
Naturally, Gemini didn’t actually go “hands on” with itself. But, based on the solid quality of its St. Patty’s Day plan, I was anxious that this mimetic blog post would also be surprisingly sufficient. Are my days as a voicey blogger coming to a close? Nope. Not today, at least.
“With the latest updates to Google Workspace, we are seeing Gemini move beyond a side-panel novelty into the role of a true collaborative partner,” read part of the AI-written draft. “After going hands-on with these features, I’ve found that the real power isn’t just in ‘AI writing’; it’s in the deep integration across your personal and professional data silos.”
Wow. That’s pretty bland, with the writing style of an executive assistant afraid to express even the slightest opinion. As I generated more first drafts of documents like this, I could see these new features being helpful for internal corporate communications or for marketers on the hunt for additional ways to say buy my stuff. Not so much for personal expression or creative outputs. Even when I uploaded files of my own writing and asked Gemini to copy that cadence, the results still didn’t sound like me.
“If you have access, my best advice is to stop treating Gemini as a search engine and start treating it as a research assistant that already has a copy of your key,” the AI-generated draft concluded. Come on, bot. I gave you access to my entire email archive. Let’s make this a little more specific, or at least say something provocative in my voice. (Also, the key to what? My house? Not sure why any research assistant would need that.)
Along with generating full drafts, the new Gemini features can also be used to adjust sections of the documents and do full-scale rewrites based on user suggestions. I asked it to rewrite this initial draft in the tone of a WIRED journalist. Almost immediately, Gemini regenerated the draft with fresh paragraphs that I could choose to accept or reject.
This new version was indeed better, but far from passable as something I would actually write. “The ‘Help me create’ engine is the standout here,” read the new AI-written draft. “It’s moved past generating generic corporate-speak, instead synthesizing live data points across your Drive, Gmail, and Chat history.” I wouldn’t be so sure about that, Gemini!
After a day of experimenting with these new features, especially in Google Docs, I’m of two minds. These Gemini tools are more powerful than past releases and were actually able to locate information quickly and accurately from personal data sources, like my inbox. Even so, all this AI-generated writing still harbors an undercurrent of blandness, with a paint-by-numbers approach to prose that's almost impossible to overcome. Well, at least that’s what I have written down in my notebook.
Meridiano
