Google Docs now allows the AI Gemini to summarize entire comment threads, draft responses, and suggest changes to the text. Those who receive a lot of feedback on a document no longer have to read the comments individually. The feature is currently only available with a paid Google Workspace or Google AI subscription.
Gemini reads and answers comments independently
Until now, users had to open each comment in a Google Doc individually to clarify questions or implement change requests. Google announces in the official Workspace blog that Gemini now takes on four tasks related to comments: summarizing comment threads, formulating new comments, drafting responses, and suggesting text changes.
For example, the AI can summarize all comments from a specific colleague on request or show which questions are still open. For responses, Gemini also accesses relevant files in Google Drive. This allows a comment question to be answered directly with a reference to the correct document. Proposed text changes are not automatically accepted by the system. Each change must be confirmed before acceptance, as the online magazine Digital Trends reports.
In any case, a document with editing rights is required. Those who are only allowed to view or comment on a Google Doc will not see the new AI features. Additionally, the AI can group comments by topic or by the respective author, thus maintaining an overview even in cluttered comment columns.
From twenty scattered comments to a clear list
An example from office life: A proposal is sent for review to five colleagues from sales, legal, and accounting. After a few days, there are over twenty comments in the document, some of which contradict each other, while others have long been clarified. Instead of going through each individual remark, the responsible clerk simply types “Summarize all open points for me.” She receives an organized list of the still unresolved questions.
For feedback that only needs confirmation, such as “Numbers are correct, please approve,” she lets Gemini draft a suitable response directly. After a quick check, she sends the response. For substantive change requests, such as an adjusted delivery deadline, the AI suggests the appropriate text passage. This can be accepted with a click. Those who regularly send contracts, proposals, or internal guidelines for coordination save especially the tedious follow-up work at the end of a comment round. This works the same way for an internal procedural document with comments from several departments. The AI recognizes which comments refer to the same paragraph, so no one has to track each individual remark anymore.
Access remains reserved for paying accounts
According to Google, the rollout began on July 28, 2026, simultaneously for all delivery channels and is expected to reach all eligible accounts within about fifteen days. One of the following paid subscriptions is required:
- Google Workspace Business Standard or Business Plus
- Google Workspace Enterprise Standard or Enterprise Plus
- Google Workspace Education Plus (educational institutions)
- Google AI Pro or Google AI Ultra for individuals
Free personal Google accounts will not receive the feature according to the Google Docs Help page.
Additionally, the “Smart Workspace Features” option must be enabled in the Google account. For business accounts, this is usually enabled by the administrators. Once everything is set up, access can be found via the bar at the bottom of the screen or the Gemini side panel in Google Docs.
To try out the feature, proceed as follows:
- Open a Google Doc with existing comments.
- Click “Ask Gemini” in the top right or the Gemini icon in the bottom bar.
- Enter a request like “Summarize all open comments.”
- Review suggested responses or text changes.
- Accept or reject with a click.
Just the day before, Google introduced an AI image feature for Google Docs – it too remains reserved for paying accounts. Those who want to speed up email drafts can find a comparable feature in Gmail, which allows free-text instructions to be directly incorporated into drafts.
The crucial factor will be how reliably Gemini actually separates contradictory feedback cleanly – in contracts or proposals, the reviewed version counts in the end, not the AI suggestion. Those who enter customer or company data in comments should first check their department’s internal guidelines for handling AI tools in documents. Google analyzes prompts and referenced content for product improvement purposes. Those using only a free Google account will remain excluded for the time being.
