What Did Google Do This Week?

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GEMINI FOR ALL ON WORKSPACE

Google announced Gemini AI is being directly plonked into its Workspace productivity suite, meaning millions more users (NOTE: Workspace currently has +3B users) could soon have access to the chatbot. Google announced that the standalone Gemini app will be automatically included with Workspace Business, Enterprise, and Frontline plans starting in Q4 meaning there’s no need to buy a separate Gemini add-on for your business. Cue, sideeye from people wondering how Google is going to pay for all this.

Google has made it clear that Gemini will follow the same enterprise policies as other Workspace tools like Gmail and Docs. Importantly, the AI won't use company data, user prompts, or generated responses to enhance its own models. Soon, Workspace administrators will even be able to control how long Gemini stores user-generated content and whether it stores it at all.

To further ease privacy concerns, Gemini for Workspace now comes with SOC 1/2/3 and ISO 27701 certifications, showing that it meets key industry standards for security and privacy. On top of this, Google is beefing up its security offerings with a new “Security Advisor” tool, which will send security insights directly to IT admins. This tool includes safe browsing and data protection features for Chrome, Gmail, and Google Drive, and will be available to paying Workspace customers in the coming weeks.

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SO WHAT?

Google’s integration of Gemini AI into Workspace without additional fees appears aimed at embedding AI deeply into the daily operations of millions of users, but it raises significant economic and strategic questions. Offering a costly, compute-heavy generative AI for free across all Business, Enterprise, and Frontline plans suggests Google is investing heavily in user retention and market share growth rather than direct revenue. The question is whether increased user engagement can offset the enormous costs of running such an AI service, especially at scale. This approach is a gamble, as the economics are unclear—how Google will pay for it remains a valid concern.

Privacy promises add another layer of complexity. By ensuring that Gemini won’t use user data for training, Google aims to address privacy concerns, especially in sensitive enterprise contexts. However, this limits the AI’s capacity to improve from user interactions, potentially putting Google at a disadvantage compared to competitors that are less restrictive. This trade-off is aimed at building trust but could slow the iterative growth needed for a cutting-edge AI model.

The addition of SOC and ISO certifications and the new Security Advisor tool is Google’s attempt to alleviate enterprise anxieties over data safety, reinforcing the AI’s trustworthiness. However, while these measures may help with compliance and peace of mind, they also add administrative burdens, potentially complicating what is billed as a productivity-enhancing tool.

Embedding Gemini into all Workspace plans without opt-in creates another tension. Not all businesses are ready or willing to embrace AI, and pushing AI into environments unprepared for it could result in pushback. An aggressive strategy risks alienating customers who want more control over adopting emerging tech, particularly given ongoing concerns over bias, misinformation, and regulatory compliance.

Ultimately, Gemini AI’s integration reflects Google’s need to lead the productivity software race, particularly against Microsoft’s AI push with Copilot. However, the rapid and blanket integration of AI raises risks around cost sustainability, customer readiness, and feature utility. The strategy is less about monetisation today and more about positioning for future dominance—whether it will translate into genuine, long-term value for enterprises remains to be seen.

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Also in this week’s edition: Sundar Pichai says to strap in for a long antitrust trial and appeal process; Google TVs now come with the Smart Home Panel; Google Maps is cracking down on fake reviews; Get all of this +50 additional stories you need to know about. Subscribe and get up-to-date… ⬇