Google’s new AI-powered Smart Reply for Docs makes it easier for users to send commonly used phrases and sentences without typing them each time.
For the past few years, Google has been in motion to expand its AI-generated Smart Reply feature for Google Docs and Gmail. It has also incorporated the feature into the comments section for Google Docs.
Collaboration on shared documents involves constant commenting and editing, and Google’s Smart Reply feature, in conjunction with the AI-powered Smart Compose, has made communication seamless and minimized the possibility of errors on edits.
What does the Smart Reply feature entail?
The Smart Reply feature offers suggestions for relevant replies, pre-written to fit the context and tone of the document. These suggested replies are displayed below the reply box on the comment threads.
This feature is only available in English, allowing users to choose between suggested replies or type their comments for on-the-go checks.
Google officially launched the Smart Compose for Docs in 2020, allowing users to save time by suggesting phrases they frequently type while omitting any spelling and grammatical errors.
Even minor spelling and punctuation errors can slip through the editing process and ruin the presentation and context of a message. Smart Compose does away with this issue by suggesting commonly used phrases in the correct form.
Navigating through Google Docs with the Smart Reply Feature
Google has made its Smart Reply feature available for all users, including G Suite Basic and Business customers, and users of Google Workspace, and personal Google Accounts.
This Smart Reply feature is turned on as a default for users in Workspace environments, which admins can disable by navigating the settings and turning off the Show Smart Reply suggestions option.
With the Smart Reply feature turned on, users can access suggested replies simply by clicking on a comment thread on Google Docs, following which Google’s AI displays the suggested responses.
However, Smart Reply might not display suggestions in all cases and is only restricted to English threads for this feature to work.
If the user finds the suggestion relevant, they can click on the comment and send it or edit it as per their requirements before sharing it with others.