Google is making big changes to its assistants. The company recently confirmed that Gemini will finally replace the classic Google Assistant as Android’s default voice assistant. Now, the AI-powered chatbot is getting major improvements. Google has announced Canvas—a document creation assistant—and Audio Overviews—a tool that can turn your documents into podcasts—for Gemini.
Canvas is a brand-new AI-powered feature, while Audio Overviews was born as part of NotebookLM. Both tools make Gemini an even more capable productivity assistant.
Canvas turns Gemini into an invisible assistant while writing documents
Starting with Canvas, Google defines it as an “interactive space” where Gemini will be a kind of invisible assistant when creating documents. It’s as if Gemini were another person collaborating with you. It aims to make your document, whatever it may be—from a presentation draft to a research paper—the best it can be.
As you write, Gemini will proactively offer tips and suggestions when appropriate. You can also ask Gemini to help you with multiple tasks. For example, you can have Gemini change the tone of what you’ve written. This can be especially useful if you need a document written in the most formal way possible, among other use cases. You can even ask Gemini to do the opposite: transform formal language into informal.
The changes you make will be displayed in real time. This allows you to easily keep them or revert them if you’re not satisfied. You can even collaborate with another real person by exporting the file to Google Docs from Gemini.
Useful for coding too
Canvas is also a powerful coding tool. It integrates a tool capable of quickly generating a working prototype of your code. This means you can spend more time focused on the creative side than struggling with your PC to get your code to run correctly. “Within Canvas, you can generate and preview your HTML/React code and other web app prototypes to see a visual representation of your design,” the blog post says. “You can ask Gemini to generate the HTML for the form and then preview how it will appear and function within your web app.”
This tool only requires the user to fill out input fields or add call-to-action buttons. You can also check out a quick preview of how your code will run. Canvas can even explain the logic behind the code or a specific section of it.
Audio Overviews allows Gemini to turn your documents into podcasts
The second major improvement in Gemini is the integration with Audio Overviews. Google developed this feature for NotebookLM, its AI-powered experimental research tool. Thanks to Audio Overviews, Gemini will be able to take a document and transform it into a podcast-like conversation with “AI personas” discussing the topic.
Audio Overviews doesn’t just present the document’s content in a conversational format. It also leverages the power of AI to offer different points of view. This can help you gain a deeper understanding and perspective on a specific topic.
Both Canvas and Audio Overviews are now available in Gemini via the official website.
