One of Google’s most profitable ventures involves bundling its no-cost consumer applications with customized features and enhanced security before marketing them to businesses. This suite of offerings is commonly known as “Google Workspace,” encompassing email, calendar, documentation, storage, and video conferencing services. Google appears to be preparing to introduce an AI chatbot tailored for business applications, with the latest iteration named “Gemini” (previously known as “Bard”). Recent preliminary release notes, as identified by Dylan Roussei of 9to5Google and TestingCatalog.eth, hint at the introduction of new “Gemini Business” and “Gemini Enterprise” solutions.
According to the patch notes, Workspace clients will benefit from “enterprise-grade data security” and will have access to Gemini settings within the Google Workspace Admin console. Users of Workspace can engage with Gemini confidently in their professional settings, assured that their conversations are not utilized for training Gemini models.
The emergence of these “early patch notes” for Bard/Gemini has been an ongoing phenomenon. Certain individuals have discovered methods to extract advance details from the site, a practice corroborated independently by two sources. However, the reliability of the mentioned date (set for February 21) remains uncertain.
Typically, one would anticipate a Google application to be part of the “Business Standard” package within Workspace, priced at $12 per user per month. Nevertheless, indications suggest that Gemini may not be included in this offering. Google characterizes the new products as “new Gemini Business and Gemini Enterprise plans” and encourages existing paying Google Workspace subscribers to “upgrade today to Gemini Business or Gemini Enterprise.” Roussei notes that the “upgrade today” link directs users to the Duet AI Workspace page, Google’s initial foray into “AI for business,” which has yet to feature any new plans.
The fate of the Duet AI business strategy amidst the Gemini launch remains ambiguous. Initially introduced in August 2023, Duet AI promised “help me write” functionalities integrated into Gmail, Docs, and other Workspace applications, enabling interaction with chatbots controlling these platforms. Despite the initial proposed price of an extra \(30 per user per month, Duet AI remains inaccessible to businesses after six months, with the "try Duet AI" link leading to a "request a trial" form. Given the pace of Google’s AI advancements, it is plausible that Duet will be superseded by the Gemini initiatives. The pricing structure, particularly the additional \)30 for AI features, is subject to speculation.
Should the \(30 supplementary AI offering materialize, a standard AI-infused Workspace subscription would amount to \)45 per user per month. While this may seem steep, the development and maintenance of generative AI solutions entail substantial costs due to intensive processing requirements. Presently, industry giants are focused on expanding their user bases, albeit at a financial loss. Notably, Nvidia’s leading AI hardware can range from \(10,000 to \)40,000 per card, exclusive of ongoing power expenses.
