Google is making AI free for all Workspace subscribers while hiking the solution's subscription price from $12 to $14 per user per month.
Previously, Workspace users had to pay an extra $20 per user per month to access Google's Gemini Business plan on top of the standard Workspace sub. Now, Workspace users can leverage Google's AI across its raft of communications and collaboration offerings, including Meet, Docs, Gmail and Sheets.
The news comes as Microsoft has made a free version of Copilot available to all of its Microsoft 365 customers this week, 365 Copilot Chat, which also includes the option of supplementary pay-as-you-go agents.
Jerry Dischler, Google’s President of Cloud Applications, asserted to The Verge that Google’s AI stands out as the most vertically integrated product on the market. However, he emphasised that this integration only makes an impact if companies utilise the entire system—something that’s now within reach for more users, with AI being accessible to all paying subscribers.
“When we talk to businesses about AI, the main obstacle they face is cost,” Dischler noted. “That financial barrier often forces them to tread carefully, saying, ‘This is a significant investment—let’s prove it’s worth it.’ Now, with broader access to AI, they’re finally able to realise its value.”
Workspace AI delivers a suite of advanced tools intended to streamline work and boost productivity. Features include email summaries in Gmail, auto-generated designs for spreadsheets and videos, an AI-powered note-taker for meetings, and the versatile NotebookLM research assistant. Google stresses that the writing tools are seamlessly integrated across apps, ensuring consistent support throughout users' workflows.
At the core of Workspace AI is the Gemini bot, which Google suggests is its most sophisticated AI yet. While it handles typical chatbot tasks, Gemini goes further by helping users locate information, search through personal files, and easily manage complex tasks.
The AI Race Is Heating Up This Week
It's notable that Google and Microsoft have both decided to integrate free versions of their flagship AI solutions into their commercial offerings in the same week.
Microsoft highlights that its offering includes secure, free AI chat powered by GPT-4, seamlessly integrating agents into the chat experience for enhanced functionality. The tech giant outlined it also features robust IT controls designed to provide enterprise-grade data protection and streamline agent management, ensuring both security and efficiency at scale.
