Duet is Google's real-time collaboration tool built into Google Workspace

Duet is an AI assistant made by Google that works inside Google Workspace apps — Docs, Sheets, Slides, Gmail, and Meet. It uses artificial intelligence to help you write, organize data, create presentations, and draft emails without leaving the app you're already using. Duet sits as a sidebar or button within each app and responds to plain-language requests.

The tool is designed to speed up routine tasks. You can ask it to rewrite a paragraph, generate a list of ideas, summarize a spreadsheet, create speaker notes, or draft an email response. It learns from the document you're working in, so it understands context — if you're writing about a product launch, Duet knows that context and tailors its suggestions accordingly.

Duet is not a separate application you download. It's a feature you turn on within Google Workspace if your organization has a subscription that includes it. Once enabled, it appears as an icon or sidebar in the apps where it's available.

Key Takeaways

  • Duet is an AI assistant built into Google Workspace apps that helps with writing, summarizing, organizing, and drafting tasks without switching windows.
  • You access Duet through a sidebar or button within Docs, Sheets, Slides, Gmail, and Meet — it is not a standalone program to install.
  • Duet reads the content in your current document and uses that context to make suggestions that fit what you are already working on.
  • Your organization's Google Workspace administrator controls whether Duet is turned on for your account and which apps it appears in.

Where Duet appears and what it does in each app

In Google Docs, Duet helps you write and edit. You can ask it to draft a section, rewrite text in a different tone, make something shorter or longer, or suggest ideas for what to write next. It reads your document so far and generates text that matches your style and topic.

In Google Sheets, Duet can help you understand data, write formulas, and organize information. You can ask it to explain what a column contains, suggest how to structure a spreadsheet, or help you think through a calculation. It does not automatically change your data — it suggests what you might do.

In Google Slides, Duet helps you create presentations. You can ask it to generate speaker notes, suggest slide layouts, write bullet points, or help you organize your ideas into a presentation structure. It works from the content you already have in your slides.

In Gmail, Duet drafts and refines email responses. You can ask it to write a reply, adjust the tone of an email you've started, or suggest how to respond to a message. It reads the email thread so it understands the conversation.

In Google Meet, Duet can generate meeting notes and summaries after a call ends. It creates a written record of what was discussed so you do not have to take notes during the meeting.

How to turn Duet on and use it

Your Google Workspace administrator must turn on Duet for your organization first. If it is not available to you, ask your IT department or administrator whether Duet is enabled for your account. Some organizations do not include it in their subscription plan, and others may have it turned off by policy.

Once Duet is enabled, you will see a Duet icon or button in the app you are using. In Docs, Sheets, and Slides, it usually appears as a button in the toolbar or as a sidebar icon on the right. In Gmail, it appears near the compose area. Click the icon to open the Duet panel.

Type your request in plain language. Instead of technical commands, you write what you want: "Make this paragraph sound more professional," "Summarize this data," or "Draft a response to this email." Duet reads your request and the content in your document, then generates a suggestion. You can accept it, edit it, reject it, or ask Duet to try again with a different approach.

Duet does not save changes automatically. You decide whether to use what it generates. If you do not like a suggestion, you can delete it and ask Duet to try something different, or you can ignore it and keep writing yourself.

What Duet can and cannot do

Duet works best for writing, summarizing, organizing ideas, and drafting. It is good at taking rough thoughts and turning them into polished text, explaining what data means, and suggesting how to structure information. It can also help you think through a problem by asking clarifying questions or offering different angles.

Duet cannot access the internet or pull in information from outside your Google Workspace. It works only with what is in your document, email, or spreadsheet. It also cannot make decisions for you — it suggests options, but you choose what to do. It cannot execute actions like sending emails, publishing documents, or changing permissions on files.

Duet's suggestions are based on patterns in the text you give it. Sometimes it generates text that sounds right but contains errors or makes assumptions that are not correct. You should always review what Duet produces before you use it, especially for important documents, emails, or decisions.

Privacy and data handling with Duet

Duet processes the text in your documents and emails to generate suggestions. Google's privacy policy covers how this data is handled. Your organization's administrator can see whether Duet is being used, but they cannot see the specific content you ask Duet to work with.

The text you send to Duet stays within Google's systems. It is not shared with third parties or used to train other Google products without your consent. If your organization has specific data security requirements, your administrator may have turned off Duet or restricted which apps it works in.

If you work with sensitive information — financial data, personal details, confidential strategy — you should consider whether you want to use Duet on that content. You can always choose not to use it for specific documents or emails.

Duet versus other AI writing tools

Duet is built into Google Workspace, so you do not need to switch to a different app or copy text elsewhere to use it. If you already work in Docs, Sheets, or Gmail, Duet is right there. Other AI tools like ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot require you to open a separate window or app, paste your text, and then bring the result back.

Duet is designed specifically for Google Workspace, so it understands the structure of Google documents and integrates with how you already work. It does not have access to the broader internet the way some other AI tools do, which means it cannot look up current information or pull in outside sources.

The choice between Duet and other tools often comes down to what you already use. If your organization uses Google Workspace, Duet is included and ready to use. If you use Microsoft Office or another platform, you might use a different AI assistant instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Duet cost extra if my organization already has Google Workspace?

Duet is included in some Google Workspace plans and requires an add-on subscription in others. Your administrator can tell you whether it is included in your organization's plan or whether there is an additional cost. Individual Google account holders do not have access to Duet — it is only available through Google Workspace.

Can I use Duet on my phone or tablet?

Duet works on mobile devices through the Google Workspace apps, but availability varies by app and device type. Check the Google Workspace app on your phone or tablet to see whether the Duet button appears. Some features may work differently or be limited on smaller screens.

What happens if Duet generates something I do not want to use?

You are not required to use any suggestion Duet makes. You can delete it, ignore it, or ask Duet to try again with a different request. Duet does not change your document unless you explicitly accept or paste its suggestion into your work.

Can my boss or manager see what I ask Duet to write?

Your administrator can see that Duet is being used, but they cannot see the specific requests you make or the content you work with. However, they can see the final documents you create and share, just as they would with any other work you do in Google Workspace.

Does Duet work offline?

No. Duet requires an internet connection because it sends your text to Google's servers to generate suggestions. If you are working offline in Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides, Duet will not be available until you reconnect to the internet.