Google brings Gemini voice control to Gmail, Docs and Notes

A single sentence spoken into a smartphone will soon be enough to find a message in Gmail, create a draft in Docs or save a list in Notes. Google is bringing Gemini voice control to Gmail, Docs and Notes on Android and iOS devices initially; according to Google, the functionality is due to become available later this week.

In Gmail, users can ask Gemini in natural language for a specific email or information from messages instead of typing search instructions. A window displays the automatically recorded voice conversation. In Docs, an explanation of the desired content is enough for Gemini to create a document draft. If the user has granted the relevant permissions, the assistant can also use information from Gmail or Drive for that purpose.

Google’s Notes app is also becoming a voice-based place to capture ideas. Users can create or edit lists and text without typing. Gemini can also incorporate information from the internet, for example to put together a shopping list for a specific meal.

The new versions are called Gmail Live and Docs Live; for the German version, Google will probably also use Notes Live. According to Google, Gmail and Notes will be available to all Google AI subscribers. Docs Live is limited to the more expensive Google AI Pro and Ultra plans, while Google Workspace Business users are due to receive the features soon. Google does not name all the supported languages in its announcement, but confirms German on a help page as one of 29 languages.

In practical terms, this changes the experience for paying users: on Android and iOS, they can search emails, formulate content and record thoughts without operating the respective apps through keyboard commands. The scope nevertheless depends on the subscription, and the rollout for Workspace Business customers has yet to take place.