Google has announced the rollout of a highly anticipated AI-powered note-taking feature for its video conferencing platform, Google Meet. The new “take notes for me” tool, powered by the company’s Gemini AI, aims to revolutionize the way users capture and share meeting discussions.
Automatic Note-Taking with Gemini AI
Google Meet’s new ‘take notes for me’ feature leverages Gemini AI to create automated summaries of your meetings. Rather than providing a verbatim transcription, the AI focuses on capturing key discussion points and insights. These notes are then compiled into a Google Doc, which is saved to the meeting owner’s Google Drive.
Improved Accessibility and Productivity
The introduction of this AI note-taking feature is a significant step towards making Google Meet more accessible and productive for users. It allows participants to fully engage in discussions, collaborations, and presentations without the burden of manual note-taking. This feature is particularly beneficial for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as those who struggle to keep up with the pace of conversations while taking notes.
Seamless Sharing and Collaboration
Once the meeting concludes, the generated notes document is automatically attached to the calendar event, making it easily accessible to all participants. The meeting organizer and anyone who enabled the feature will receive an email with a link to the recap, ensuring that everyone is on the same page.
If users have also turned on Google Meet’s recording and transcription features, links to those files will be included within the notes document, providing a comprehensive record of the meeting.
Availability and Limitations
The ‘take notes for me’ feature is being gradually rolled out to select Google Workspace customers who have purchased Gemini Enterprise, Gemini Education Premium, or AI Meetings & Messaging add-ons. Google expects the rollout to be complete by September 10, 2024.
At launch, the feature is limited to English language meetings conducted on computers or laptops. However, as the technology continues to evolve, it is likely that support for additional languages and mobile devices will be introduced in the future.
Potential Concerns and Accuracy
While the AI note-taking feature holds great promise, there are some concerns regarding its accuracy. Google’s existing transcription tool has been known to produce errors, often requiring manual corrections. It remains to be seen how well the Gemini AI will perform in capturing the nuances and context of conversations.