Google has officially rolled out its highly anticipated AI-powered note-taking feature for Google Meet, promising to revolutionize the way we participate in and document virtual meetings. This new tool, aptly named Take notes for me, leverages the capabilities of Google's Gemini AI to automatically generate meeting notes, allowing participants to focus more on the conversation at hand.
Key Features and Functionality
- Automatic Note Generation: The AI creates a notes document in Google Docs during the meeting.
- Easy Access: Notes are saved in the meeting owner's Google Drive and accessible to all participants.
- Late Join Summary: A summary so far feature helps latecomers catch up quickly.
- Post-Meeting Recap: Participants receive an email with a link to the meeting recap.
How to Use
- Click the pencil icon in the top right corner of the Google Meet screen.
- Select Start taking notes to activate the AI note-taker.
Availability and Requirements
- Currently available only for Google Meet on computers and laptops.
- Compatible with meetings conducted in English.
- Accessible to Google Workspace customers with Gemini Enterprise, Gemini Education Premium, or AI Meetings & Messaging add-ons.
- Full rollout expected by September 10, 2024.
Implications for Productivity and Accessibility
This feature has the potential to significantly enhance meeting productivity by allowing participants to engage more fully in discussions without the distraction of manual note-taking. Additionally, it offers improved accessibility for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals by providing a written record of the meeting's content.
Administrative Setup
For organizations looking to implement this feature, administrators must enable Take notes for me by default through the admin console (Apps > Google Workspace > Google Meet > Gemini Settings).
As virtual meetings continue to be a cornerstone of modern work environments, Google's AI note-taking feature for Meet represents a significant step forward in making these digital interactions more efficient and inclusive. While currently limited to English-language meetings and select Workspace customers, the potential for expansion to other languages and broader availability could make this a standard feature in virtual collaboration tools of the future.