- Google unveils AI-enabled Workplace tools at I/O 2026
- Talk to your Gmail, Docs and Keep while Gemini fills in the rest
- Upgraded AI inbox for Gmail also gives users more options
Google has unveiled a host of new AI tools and features for business customers, giving its Workspace productivity suite a welcome boost for users everywhere.
Although the bulk of the announcements at Google I/O 2026 focused on consumer-based tools and news, there was still enough to satisfy business users, including an upgraded AI inbox to help down those elusive emails.
But there were also a number of upgrades to everyday Workspace tools such as Docs, where users could now interact with their files like never before – using their voice.
Upgraded AI inbox
Google first unveiled its ‘AI inbox’ for Gmail in January 2026, bringing in Gemini to help manage bloated and unwieldy email inboxes everywhere, offering tools like being able to identify which messages or tasks to prioritize based on data like the people you email the most.
Now users can use personalized draft replies where the AI inbox quickly generates a draft email for your review, useful in situations where a quick response is needed.
Users will also benefit from easier access to their files with links to the right Docs, Sheets or Slides file instantly found and displayed next to your to-do list. Individual tasks can also be quickly marked as done with a single click, as can rejecting inappropriate suggestions or marking all emails in a given subject as read, speeding up your daily routine.
AI Inbox is currently available to Google AI Ultra subscribers and is in preview for Google Workspace Enterprise Plus customers now.
Talk to me
If you’re looking for a deeper connection to your files, Google Workspace has also introduced a range of voice-activated features to help you get the information you need.
This includes Gmail Live, a new feature that lets you search your inbox with your voice – useful if you’re at an airport and need to know what gate your flight is at – with the results displayed instantly.
On a similar level, Docs Live allows you to dictate a stream of consciousness or brainstorm, then take your ramblings and turn it into a coherent draft.
Users just need to start talking and Docs Live will kick into gear, pulling relevant details from your Gmail, Drive, Chat and the web before creating a draft that you can further refine when you have a little more time.
Keep will also get a simialr function, which allows users to quickly make notes or observations by speaking, and Google’s note app does the rest – good for getting your thoughts down after a meeting, or jotting down the next great idea when inspiration strikes.
All of these new conversational features in Gmail, Docs, and Keep are rolling out to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers and are previewing for Google Workspace business customers in summer 2026.
Gemini Sparks
AI agents are becoming an increasingly common presence in our work lives, and Google unveiled Gemini Spark at I/O 2026, marking the latest step forward in the agent space.
Described as “a 24/7 personal AI agent that helps you navigate your digital life”, Gemini Spark reportedly marks “a major shift” for the AI platform, meaning that for the first time, instead of simply answering questions, it can now proactively act on your behalf.
This can be anything from sending emails to creating a new calendar invitation to building a to-do list for a project, hoping to help users save time and stress wherever they are.
Gemini Spark in Google Workspace will soon be available as a preview for business customers in the Gemini app.
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