Google Unveils "Smart Canvas" – A New Era of Collaborative Tools

During this afternoon’s Google I/O Developer event, Google initiated the rollout of its new collaborative workspace tools, collectively known as “Smart Canvas.” The company showcased the functionality of Smart Canvas in the context of brainstorming and project planning scenarios.

Demonstrations illustrated how users can seamlessly integrate ideas concerning an upcoming product launch, exchange perspectives, co-author documents, participate in Google Meet calls, and collectively address challenges.

Enhancements to Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides

Google is introducing approximately a dozen new features designed to enhance its core collaborative applications – Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides – as part of the broader Smart Canvas experience.

The functionality of smart chips has been expanded. When a user @mentions another individual within a document, a smart chip now appears, displaying pertinent details such as their location, job title, and contact information.

Smart Chips and Improved Linking

These smart chips will also be dynamically presented for suggested files and scheduled meetings directly within Docs, with an impending rollout to Sheets. This streamlines the process of accessing associated documents and identifying relevant individuals without requiring users to navigate between applications.

The process of inserting links has also been refined. The system now provides intelligent suggestions for relevant Drive files, document headings, and bookmarks, based on the highlighted text where the link will be placed.

Inclusive Writing and New Features

Google’s assisted writing tool now extends recommendations for more inclusive language choices. For instance, it may suggest using “chairperson” in place of “chairman.”

Additional updates encompass a pageless document format in Docs, emoji reactions within Docs, the ability to import information directly from Calendar meeting invitations, and connected checklists in Docs.

Expanded Functionality and Integration

These connected checklists allow for task assignment to collaborators and visibility of action items within Google Tasks. New table templates are available in Docs, a timeline view has been added to Sheets, and Sheets now offers enhanced assisted analysis capabilities.

Users can now initiate the creation of Docs, Sheets, and Slides directly from Google Chat rooms.

Live Captions and Google Meet Integration

A particularly noteworthy update is the introduction of live captions and translations within Google Meet. Furthermore, users can now directly present content from Docs, Sheets, or Slides to a Google Meet call via the web.

This development positions Google as a competitor to other meeting transcription services, such as Otter.ai.

A Seamless Workspace Ecosystem

These updates collectively demonstrate Google’s objective to create a more interconnected workspace experience, moving away from isolated applications. This strategy aims to strengthen user engagement within Google’s ecosystem and potentially increase the difficulty of switching to competitor products.

Initial Rollout and Future Updates

The initial phase of the Smart Canvas update includes the ability to insert smart chips for Docs, Sheets, and Slides files, other Google Drive files, and Calendar events. It also introduces enhanced checklist creation and simplified link insertion with intelligent suggestions.

Further features are scheduled for release in the coming months.