Google has announced the introduction of an AI writing and editing feature for Chromebooks, following in the footsteps of Microsoft’s Copilot. The tech giant unveiled its plans for integrating artificial intelligence into its products and services at I/O 2023. Google has already rolled out various AI-powered features for Gmail, Docs, Slides, and more. Now, it seems they are focusing on bringing AI writing and editing capabilities to Chromebooks.
According to reports from 9to5mac, Google has been working on a project that involves at least five codenames, with Orca, Mako, and Manta being the primary ones. The main functionality of Orca will apparently be found in ChromeOS’s right-click menu, specifically when editing a body of text. When selected, Orca will open the Mako UI in a bubble-like overlay on the screen.
The report explains that Mako has three core tasks: requesting rewrites of specific text, offering a list of preset text queries, and inserting the rewritten text into its original position. Interestingly, this AI rewriting process doesn’t occur locally on the user’s PC. Instead, Manta sends the original text and prompt to Google’s servers, which then send back the AI-enhanced version. Of course, user consent will be required before this process takes place.
The integration of generative AI into ChromeOS means that it will be available to enhance text written in almost any application. Although there is no confirmed launch date for this feature, it is speculated that it might arrive with ChromeOS version 118, scheduled for release in mid-October.
It’s worth noting that Microsoft introduced Copilot for Windows earlier this year. Copilot, described as similar to Bing Chat, assists users with everyday tasks such as enabling dark mode or searching for content from a conveniently accessible sidebar.
As both Google and Microsoft dive deeper into harnessing AI capabilities, it will be intriguing to see how these features develop and how users embrace them. By integrating AI into devices like Chromebooks, Google aims to provide users with enhanced writing and editing capabilities to streamline their tasks and improve productivity. However, concerns regarding data privacy and the reliance on cloud-based AI processing may arise. Balancing these factors will be essential for the widespread acceptance and adoption of these AI-powered features.
