Google keeps pulling Gemini deeper into the Workspace apps. On August 20, the team introduced “Ask Gemini in Chat” – an integration that replaces the old side panel in Google Chat and brings the AI right to the spot where a lot of people spend half their workday.
One place for everything
The idea: instead of jumping between tools, you ask Gemini directly in Chat. Search your messages, draft something, catch up on a conversation you missed, keep an eye on tasks and events, tidy your inbox – all from one corner. Ask Gemini sits on the left under “Shortcuts,” reachable fast via keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + G on ChromeOS and Windows, Command + G on the Mac.
The rollout starts August 26 and goes gradually – up to 15 days before everyone sees the feature. Through October 1, Google is giving Workspace customers higher limits as a promo, so you can try it out without hitting a wall.
For admins too
There are new numbers on the management side: Google added Google Chat usage metrics to the reporting dashboard. Admins now see adoption at the org and user level – who’s active, which trends are forming, how often the summarization and generation features run.
My take
The move isn’t surprising, but it’s consistent. Google has the advantage that Gemini already sits where the work happens – in Mail, in Docs, and now in Chat. That’s exactly the front where everything is being decided right now: not the smartest model in an empty chat window, but the AI that’s already there in your daily grind. Anthropic goes at it through connectors and Claude for Microsoft 365, OpenAI through plugins. Google simply has the home advantage. Whether “Ask Gemini” actually helps or is just one more button you click away – we’ll see once the rollout is done.
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