Google Workspace Unveils Voice AI Features with Docs Live Locked Behind Premium Plans
Google Workspace has launched three voice AI features for Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Keep. The features, which were in beta for months, are now available to paying subscribers on the AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra plans. However, there's a catch: Docs Live, the most capable of the three, is only available to those on the $19.99-per-month AI Pro tier or the $99.99/$199.99-month AI Ultra plan.
The features use Google's Gemini 3.5 Live audio engine, which allows for real-time processing and synthesis of spoken words into structured documents or notes. Gmail Live lets users query their inbox by voice, while Keep Live applies this same technology to note capture. Docs Live takes it a step further, generating new content from spoken ideas.
Google has restricted Docs Live to the more expensive plans due to its high compute requirements and ability to pull in relevant context from other apps. This move has sparked debate among users and experts about the value proposition of each plan and whether Google's pricing is too steep for some features.