Google Announces ‘Workspace Flows’ Automation With Gems, Audio In Docs, And More Gemini 

Besides new Gemini features in Google Docs, Sheets, Meet, Chat and Vids, Cloud Next 2025 saw the announcement of Google Workspace Flows.

As first teased at I/O last year, the company today announced Google Workspace Flows as a tool to “automate those multi-step processes using AI that can actually research, analyze, and generate content for you.” It’s currently available through an alpha program.

It makes use of Gems, or custom versions of Gemini that you create. Like in the Gemini app, you “simply describe what you need in plain language and Workspace Flows will design and build sophisticated, logic-driven flows — no complex coding or configuration needed.”

…see how Workspace Flows uses a custom Gem to handle a customer support request in the demo below. Flows reviews the incoming form, figures out the core issue, researches potential solutions, drafts a helpful reply, and flags it for the support team to review and send. It’s about streamlining entire processes, not just single steps.

Other examples of “specialized tasks” include: checking if marketing copy fits your brand voice reviewing policy documents before approving a request, and intelligently sort customer support tickets.

Workspace Flows can refer to Google Drive files for context and then “use custom-trained Gems to take the right next steps.” Google is also working to connect third-party tools to Workspace Flows.

Google Docs is adding audio features that let you create both podcast-style summarizes (like NotebookLM’s audio overviews) and full audio versions of your documents. 

It’s a completely new way to interact with your content, and these audio experiences will be available in alpha in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Help me refine in Google Docs will offer “thoughtful suggestions on how to strengthen your argument, improve the structure of your piece, or make your key points clearer,” as well as help formatting. Google describes it as a “writing coach”:

The goal isn’t just to fix the document, but to help you become a more effective communicator over time. Help me refine in Docs will be available in alpha later this quarter.

Google Sheets is adding Help me analyze as an “on-demand analyst” that can create interactive charts, highlight interesting trends, provide guidance, and suggest next steps. It’s coming later this year.

Gemini in Google Meet will give you a “personal in-meeting advisor” if note-taking (Take notes for me) is enabled. As such, you can generate a summary (”What did I miss?”) and specific recaps, as well as ask about “specific topics or decisions.” 

Chat with Gemini to help organize your thoughts or sharpen a point before you jump into the discussion. These capabilities help you stay up-to-speed, understand the conversation, and contribute effectively and will be generally available in Meet later this quarter.

In Google Chat, @gemini can similarly “provide a detailed summary, highlighting open questions, key decisions, and next steps” in any conversation. 

This will be available in Labs in the coming weeks.

Google Vids is getting the ability to “generate high-quality, original video clips” powered by Veo 2. Google touts clips that feature “realistic motion and diverse styles to supplement your content” if you need specific shots. 

This feature will roll out to alpha customers in the coming weeks.

Finally, on the privacy front:

Starting today, you also gain more control with data residency options, allowing you to restrict where Gemini processes your data (like keeping it within the US or EU) to help meet regulations such as GDPR and ITAR.

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