Collaboration in the age of AI

When we launched Google Docs nearly 20 years ago, we reinvented how people can get work done with real-time collaboration. Now, collaboration is undergoing another transformation as generative AI continues to change the way we create, connect, and communicate. Here are three ways it’s changing.

1. It’s easier than ever to unlock breakthrough storytelling

Telling stories at work has always been an essential part of collaboration, whether it’s a whiteboarding session to explore a new product or a team presentation that outlines a change in strategy. Now that gen AI is part of our collaborations, it’s easier than ever to get your message across or capture your team’s “hive mind” — in the medium of your choice.

For example, my team sometimes uses the Gemini app as a notetaker during whiteboard brainstorms. We just point the camera toward us as we work, and ask for a summary of our discussion at the end. Using a picture and Gemini Canvas, we create a copy of our whiteboard in minutes. Audio, video, text, and images are all turned into a rich artifact that captures our collaborative process. We can then continue the conversation through Docs — no longer just limited to text notes. 

Gen AI is also unlocking video creation for teams of all sizes and team members of all skill levels. If you know how to write text in a document, then you’re able to create polished videos with Google Vids. Just describe what you’re looking for, and Vids will help you bring your idea to life — no camera or special skills required. And with Vids’ new studio-ready AI avatars, even if you’re camera-shy or don’t have any video software, you can create appealing, engaging, and informative videos to share with your team or your entire organization. 

2. AI delivers better data and insights during collaboration

Data is a powerful tool that adds important insights to collaboration — if we know how to extract them. And that takes technical know-how that leaves many knowledge workers behind. Most people who use spreadsheets have no idea how to work with pivot tables or even write basic formulas. But with tools like Gemini in Sheets, you don’t need to write code to get high-quality analysis or compelling visualizations. Gemini helps you behind the scenes — writing code and pulling from powerful libraries to help you analyze your data. Just describe the type of analysis you want or the decision you’re looking to make in plain language, and Gemini gets the job done. 

That’s not just a win for data analysis; it’s also a win for communication. Imagine if you could bring clean visuals that show clear data insights to every meeting. Instead of walking through a summary table, now you can lead with a chart that highlights why you’re advocating for a decision. Or you can run an analysis on the spot when inspiration strikes, like “find me the top performing products in the last 30 days.” It’s a world where data and actionable insights are only ever a prompt away.

3. Asynchronous collaboration has less friction than before

As part of a global company, I’m on teams that span multiple continents. That means juggling time zones, whether by setting meetings at odd hours or starting my day as my coworkers end theirs. Gen AI makes it easier to keep everyone in sync, no matter where they are.

Let’s say I wake up to a lengthy Chat or email thread between two coworkers. I can read Gemini’s summary to quickly digest any developments, and then I can ask Gemini to extract action items and add them to my to-do list. 

Gen AI also helps me share complex information more easily. Rather than waiting for schedules to align for a meeting or writing a two-page summary to share the latest, I can record a quick one-minute video in Vids, explaining how I came to my decisions. I can even work from an existing document and have Vids generate a script and a voiceover.

Making collaboration more impactful

Just as real-time editing in Docs unlocked new collaboration capabilities 20 years ago, generative AI is transforming how we work together — not just accelerating the rate of collaboration but making it more impactful. A team that spends less time trying to follow the breadcrumb trail of comments, action items, and data analysis can spend more time making decisions, setting strategy, and innovating. And with AI-powered video creation available to employees of any skill level, it’s possible to land — and scale — the breakthrough stories that bubble up when we do our best work together.