Let Us Let Google Think for Us? Yeah, Why Not?

May 10, 2022

What wonderful news… for the Google.

TechRadar reports that “Google Docs Will Now Practically Do Your Writing for You.” What an effective way to nudge language and information a certain direction. Docs’ “Smart Compose” feature already offers autocomplete suggestions as one types but, citing a recent Google blog post, writer Joel Khalili explains how its AI is poised to make even more “helpful” recommendations:

“The company is adding a number of new ‘assistive writing features’ to the word processing software, including synonym and sentence structure suggestions. The service will also flag up any ‘inappropriate’ language, as well as instances in which the writer would be better served by using the active rather than passive voice. … The arrival of further recommendation features for Docs is another step in the campaign to make the company’s product suite more intelligent. ‘Suggestions will appear as you type and help guide you when there are opportunities to avoid repeated or unnecessary words, helping diversify your writing and ensuring you’re using the most effective word for the situation,’ Google explained. ‘We hope this will help elevate your writing style and make more dynamic, clear, inclusive, and concise documents.’ When the tools are active, suggestions will be underlined in purple. Selecting the underline will bring up a small pop up that prompts the user to accept or decline the change. These suggestions will be switched on by default, but can be deactivated under the Tools menu at the top of the page.”

At least users who prefer to choose their own words have the option to turn suggestions off. The write-up states these new AI intrusions are being rolled out to all premium business customers now, a process that should be complete by the end of April. Alas, they are not available to Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, nor Enterprise Essentials users.

Cynthia Murrell, May 10, 2022

Written by Stephen E. Arnold · Filed Under AI, Google, News

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Stephen E. Arnold monitors search, content processing, text mining and related topics from his high-tech nerve center in rural Kentucky. He tries to winnow the goose feathers from the giblets. He works with colleagues worldwide to make this Web log useful to those who want to go "beyond search". Contact him at sa [at] arnoldit.com. His Web site with additional information about search is arnoldit.com.