Google Challenges Microsoft with New Document Summarization Feature

By Jim Lundy

At Google I/O last month, Google unveiled a number of enhancements to Google Workspace that have been in process for the last several months. At the top of the list is the summarization feature that is coming to Google Docs and the rest of Workspace soon. The feature enables Google to summarize Docs – with AI. This blog summarizes this new innovation and analyzes the new race in Content AI.

Content Summarization for Google Docs and Chat

While Google announced summarization in March without much fanfare, at Google I/O they reinforced the fact that Google Docs can auto-summarize long documents. Using Machine Learning, the Google auto-summarization feature can automatically pull out the key points from a long document.

Auto-summarization is also going to be launched within Google Chat over the next few months.

Analysis: This is a major step forward in the race to make digital work hub applications intelligent. Google’s move supports Aragon’s view that in document analytics, we are moving into the age of document understanding, where the app (e.g. Machine Learning algorithm) can read and understand a document.

Google and Microsoft Compete on Content AI

Google’s move allows them to keep step with Microsoft Syntex for SharePoint, which can do similar functions, but enterprises need to buy credits for that service, while Google is rolling out auto-summarization as part of Google Workspace.

Google puts Digital Work Hub Providers on Notice

Aragon covers the digital work hub market, and many providers might need to step back and realize what just happened here. Google now has an increasingly intelligent Workspace offering. Providers that don’t react and update their product plans will eventually lose accounts and market share. This is a watershed moment for the DWC market.

AI Becomes Pervasive

Aragon has predicted that AI will become infused into nearly every software category over the next 5-7 years. This will lead to new categories and it will mean existing categories become intelligent. As evidence of that, last week Aragon announced that the Video Conferencing category will become intelligent (see Aragon news).

Bottom Line

Google is working hard to add more AI into Google Workspace. This basically helps to accelerate the race to make Digital Work Hubs more intelligent. Microsoft is in this race too and it puts all other Digital Work Hub providers on notice.