Gemini brings Google Docs to life with easy audio reading of writing

Google is rolling out new Google Workspace upgrades, led by a Google Docs Audio feature that lets users hear documents read aloud by Gemini. The update also adds AI tools to Google Slides and Google Vids and introduces security protections for enterprises, according to 9to5Google.

On the web, the tools menu includes an audio option between voice-typing and Gemini; choosing “listen to this tab” opens a movable, pill-shaped player with a timer, play and pause, a scrubber, speed controls, and voice choices, according to 9to5Google.

Editors can also drop a “listen” button into a file so viewers can play audio from any section. The feature launches in English on the web and rolls out over the next few weeks to Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers, plus Business Standard and Plus, Enterprise Standard and Plus, and customers with Gemini Education, Gemini Education Premium, Gemini Business, or Gemini Enterprise, 9to5Google said. Separately, Google Docs on Android is adding image generation for AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers, 9to5Google reported.

In Slides, users can prompt AI to create new image backgrounds and expand existing ones; the latter will allow users to "resize and reframe visuals," according to Google, as reported by Android Police. Beyond Slides, Google has expanded Google Vids to more customers, including Business Starter, Enterprise Starter, and Nonprofit plans, with generative image editing that can turn a plain product shot into a contextual scene, according to WebProNews.

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WebProNews also said select Workspace customers are getting Veo 3 inside the Gemini app to generate realistic videos with audio, accurate lip-syncing, and ambient sounds, plus a photo-to-video option that turns still images into eight-second clips. AI video summaries in Google Drive and video overviews in NotebookLM’s Studio panel aim to speed review, the outlet reported.

Regarding security, Workspace is adding Device Bound Session Credentials to bind logins to devices and fight token-stealing attacks, according to WebProNews. Recent drops have also brought Gemini note-taking and translation in Gmail and Meet, the site said.

Together, the updates boost productivity with text-to-speech, image generation, and video creation while tightening protections across education, business, and enterprise tiers.