productivity

Google unveiled voice-based prompting for Docs, Keep, and Gmail at I/O 2026, powered by Gemini AI. The features enable document creation, note organization, and email search through spoken commands, launching this summer for Google AI Premium subscribers and Workspace business users.

Microsoft is updating Edge to let Copilot read and analyze content across all open browser tabs simultaneously. The update includes AI-generated podcasts from tabs, study mode with quizzes, and long-term conversation memory.

Gmail for Android and iOS now includes AI Inbox as a dedicated tab in the bottom navigation bar, positioned between Gmail and Chat. Google also updated Help me write to pull context from Drive and Gmail, automatically inserting relevant information into drafts based on user prompts.

Google is developing a Gemini agent for macOS that will control computers, organize files, and integrate with Google Workspace apps. Code analysis reveals features including file conversion to Google Sheets, folder organization, batch file renaming, and meeting follow-up automation.

Google Docs now allows users to set persistent instructions for Gemini that apply across all documents. The feature, available to Google AI Plus subscribers in the US, supports up to 1,000 active instructions per account for controlling tone, style, and formatting.

OpenAI appears to be preparing an iPhone companion app for its Codex desktop application. Company employees responded to user requests for remote control features on Twitter, with one stating users should expect the functionality within days.

Google's Gemini app now supports direct file generation and export in 11 formats, including Google Workspace files (Docs, Sheets, Slides), PDF, DOCX, XLSX, CSV, LaTeX, TXT, RTF, and Markdown. The feature is available globally to all Gemini app users starting April 29, 2026.

Google announced Workspace Intelligence at Cloud Next 2026, integrating Gemini across its productivity suite. The system automates tasks including Google Sheets construction and data entry (claimed 9x faster than manual), document writing in Docs, and cross-app assistance drawing from Gmail, Calendar, Chat, and Drive.

OpenAI's Codex Desktop can now control your computer, run background automations, and includes an in-app browser with click-to-select elements. The update adds automation memory across sessions and access to over 100 curated plugins, though the computer control feature is MacOS-only and unavailable in the EU.

Microsoft has added track changes monitoring, comment management, and table of contents insertion to Copilot in Word. The features run on Microsoft's "Work IQ" adaptation layer and are currently available only through the Office Insiders Beta Channel Frontier program on Windows.

HCompany has released HoloTab, a Chrome extension that uses its Holo3 computer-use model to automate browser tasks. The free tool requires zero technical setup and includes a routine recording feature for repetitive multi-step workflows.

Google is rolling out Skills, a Chrome feature that allows users to save frequently used AI prompts and reuse them with a single click. The feature works with Gemini across multiple tabs and is available now on Mac, Windows, and ChromeOS for English-US users.

Google is rolling out Skills, a new Chrome feature that lets users save Gemini prompts for one-click reuse. Available free to all Chrome users with US English language settings, Skills sync across devices and include a pre-built library of common prompts.

Google is adding Skills to Chrome, a feature that lets users save and reuse Gemini AI prompts across different webpages. The feature launches today for Chrome desktop users signed into Google accounts with English (US) language settings.

Google Chrome is launching Skills, a feature that lets users save Gemini AI prompts for instant reuse across browser tabs. The feature rolls out today for Chrome desktop users with US English language settings.

Anthropic released a Claude add-in for Microsoft Word, completing its integration across all three major Office applications. The Word add-in joins existing Excel and PowerPoint add-ins, allowing Claude to rewrite text, respond to comments, and track changes across Office documents.

Google is rolling out AI Inbox in Gmail to AI Ultra subscribers ($249.99/month) following its January announcement. The feature uses Gemini 3 to automatically surface actionable tasks and topics, replacing the need to manually scan message lists.