Google’s expansive suite of applications and services offers a significant benefit for the Gemini AI experience. The chatbot functions as an assistant, prepared to deliver information instantly on a variety of subjects, including tasks that may relate to content housed within Google apps. For instance, it could be an email in Gmail and a document in Google Drive that are both crucial for a project, and Gemini can retrieve that information if it has access to both. This represents just one of the AI assistance experiences that Google has envisioned.
In addition to linking Gemini with Gmail and Drive, Google has introduced a novel AI assistant named CC that will operate within Gmail to help you stay organized throughout your day. Unlike Gemini, which is available globally, CC is an experimental productivity assistant restricted to users in the U.S. and Canada. Individuals can gain access to CC after registering via a Google Labs waitlist. It remains uncertain how many users Google’s trial will initially support or the anticipated wait time, but Google indicated that CC will be accessible to adult users of Google consumer accounts, beginning with Google AI Ultra subscribers at the highest premium level of Gemini ($250/month).
Interestingly, CC appears to be a counterpart to ChatGPT Pulse, a proactive AI agent within ChatGPT that provides a morning briefing experience in the chat app. Pulse can also connect to applications such as Gmail and Calendar, though this is optional. Similar to CC, Pulse necessitates the costly $200/month ChatGPT Pro subscription.
What functionalities does CC offer with Gmail?
Once access is granted, CC will start pulling information from Gmail, Calendar, and Google Drive to present a customized to-do list each day called “Your Day Ahead.” CC might be the solution to a challenge many individuals face: managing their inbox. Ironically, CC will send daily briefs via email, but these will be emails you’ll want to engage with. The video above demonstrates a CC brief, showing the assistant pulling pertinent information from Google apps and prioritizing tasks. Driven by Gemini, CC will provide you a succinct overview of your calendar and remind you of critical deadlines and events, such as paying a car loan or attending a social gathering.
Additional useful features of CC might include offering updates on your deliveries and providing extra contextual information regarding events. One entry in the “Your Day Ahead” email in the video is noted as “Private Hose Viewing.” CC specifies the event’s location, reminds the user this is their second visit, and suggests they “remember to check the backyard space.” Presumably, this suggestion comes from an email or note the user created after the first visit.
The CC assistant can also be utilized to create content, such as drafting emails and keeping track of ideas and tasks. To communicate instructions to CC, you will need to send them via email in Gmail, rather than using a separate chat application. This method may not represent the most optimal interaction, as one of the aims of utilizing a product like CC is to reduce the number of emails. That being said, CC is not a finalized product: It is unclear whether it will evolve into an optional feature in Gmail or Gemini, but Google will likely continue to enhance the CC experience while it explores its capabilities.
