Skip to main content

This is how Google Docs is challenging Grammarly’s AI

Google presenting new Docs features.
Google

Google announced a full suite of artificial intelligence enhancements for Workspace at its IO event in May. Now, those advanced features are available as Google Duet, and one stands out as a threat to Grammarly’s dominance in AI proofreading.

Google Proofread goes much further than the usual spelling and grammar check that’s part of Google Docs. It suggests alternate wording to match the context of the document, listing dynamic or formal alternatives.

Proofread also analyzes sentences for conciseness since a shorter message is often more effective. You might see a suggestion to split long sentences to make them easier to understand. It also reminds you to use an active voice, a writing term for speaking directly and removing complicated language.

Google Proofread looks very similar to Grammarly. The suggestions appear in a sidebar at the right. Each recommendation comes with a label to clarify the reasoning. You can see Spelling, Conciseness, Grammar, Active Voice, and Wording suggestions in Google’s example screenshot.

This is an example of how Google Duet and Proofread work.
Google

One significant difference between Grammarly and Google Proofread is pricing and availability. Grammarly has a free tier; anyone can install the browser extension or mobile app. Grammarly recently expanded its AI capabilities with the launch of Grammarly Go, a generative-writing feature.

Proofread is only available to paid Workspace subscribers since it’s part of Google Duet. For the $30 monthly fee, enterprise users get advanced AI features in many Workspace apps, including Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Gmail, Meet, and more.

After a slow start, Google is moving quickly with its AI rollout. Google Duet with Proofread launched immediately after the announcement, and there is a 14-day trial available via Google’s Workspace website.

Editors' Recommendations

Alan Truly
Computing Writer
Alan is a Computing Writer living in Nova Scotia, Canada. A tech-enthusiast since his youth, Alan stays current on what is…
All of the internet now belongs to Google’s AI
ChatGPT versus Google on smartphones.

Google's latest update to its privacy policy will make it so that the company has free range to scrape the web for any content that can benefit building and improving its AI tools.

“Google uses information to improve our services and to develop new products, features, and technologies that benefit our users and the public,” the new Google policy says. “For example, we use publicly available information to help train Google’s AI models and build products and features like Google Translate, Bard, and Cloud AI capabilities.”

Read more
The best AI chatbots to try out: ChatGPT, Bard, and more
Bing Chat shown on a laptop.

The idea of chatbots has been around since the early days of the internet. But even compared to popular voice assistants like Siri, the generated chatbots of the modern era are far more powerful.

Yes, you can converse with them in natural language. But these AI chatbots can generate text of all kinds, from poetry to code, and the results really are exciting. ChatGPT remains in the spotlight, but as interest continues to grow, more and more rivals are popping up to challenge its crown.
ChatGPT

Read more
Google tells workers to be wary of AI chatbots
ChatGPT versus Google on smartphones.

Alphabet has told its employees not to enter confidential information into Bard, the generative AI chatbot created and operated by Google, which Alphabet owns.

The company’s warning also extends to other chatbots, such as Microsoft-backed ChatGPT from OpenAI, Reuters reported on Thursday.

Read more