Google appears to monetize AI with two new $10 Workspace add-ons

The jury continues to be out on how a lot AI will increase particular person productiveness, however corporations at the moment are making an attempt to monetize it as they construct extra superior AI options into their software program. Last yr, Microsoft brought about a stir when it introduced that Copilot could be becoming a member of the $30 per consumer per thirty days at the price of an Office 365 subscription. But these amenities are costly to construct and run, and clients should bear a few of that price.

At Google Cloud Next, Google introduced a pair of $10/month/consumer add-on packages for the Google Workspace productiveness suite, following Microsoft’s monetization lead.

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For starters, the brand new AI Meeting and Messaging add-on takes notes for you, gives assembly summaries and interprets content material into 69 languages. “We’re adding 52 new languages ​​— including Filipino, Korean, you name it — to translate for Meet. This now takes the total number of languages ​​we support to 69,” mentioned Aparna Pappu, VP and GM, Google Workspaces.

The firm additionally launched an AI Security package deal that helps directors hold Google Workspace content material safer, together with the power to categorise and shield recordsdata with sure delicate attributes. Add-ons may assist shield data that must be saved personal and implement knowledge loss prevention controls that may be tailor-made to the precise wants of particular person organizations.

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While $10 per consumer could seem a bit excessive, particularly contemplating the value of Workspaces with out these further options, they appear to be in keeping with the price of comparable options from third-party providers. For clients who don’t desire these add-ons for each consumer, Google says they’ll combine and match license varieties and implement superior options the place they might be most helpful.

It’s additionally value noting that Google is planning extra enhancements to the Meeting add-on, together with Generative AI Custom Backgrounds, which lets customers describe a background and the AI ​​creates it for you, as properly. Studio high quality lighting, video high quality and sound, which makes use of AI to ship skilled high quality conferences, amongst different new options within the works. According to the corporate, these options will come within the subsequent few months.

The two add-ons at the moment are obtainable for Workspace clients.