Google is stepping up its artificial intelligence capabilities by extending Gemini AI’s functions to video content in Google Drive. The latest update allows users to ask questions and receive summaries about video files stored in their Drive accounts—an upgrade designed to save time and enhance productivity, particularly when dealing with long recordings.
Until now, Gemini has assisted users by summarising documents and PDFs, eliminating the need to trawl through pages of text. Now, the same technology will enable users to avoid watching hours of meeting recordings, webinars, or classroom lectures, providing instant summaries and answers to specific queries about video content.
A smarter way to handle video files
Announced in a Google Workspace blog update on 28 May 2025, the feature gives users the ability to ask Gemini questions such as:
- “Summarise this video.”
- “List the action points from this meeting recording.”
- “What are the key highlights from this announcement?”
Gemini AI analyses the spoken content in videos and generates relevant responses, pulling out insights, key moments, and action items. The addition brings Google’s vision of AI-powered productivity closer to reality, particularly for professionals and students who regularly deal with video-heavy content.
Rollout timeline and availability
The update is being rolled out in phases, with the full launch expected by 19 June 2025. Initially, the feature will only be available in English and to specific user groups. These include:
- Google Workspace users
- Google One AI Premium subscribers
- Those with Gemini Business or Enterprise add-ons
Though the rollout is staged, eligible users can expect the feature to appear in their Drive interface over the coming weeks.
How it works
To use Gemini on videos, users need to enable captions within their domain. Once this is set up, the AI can accurately interpret spoken dialogue and respond with contextual insights. Captions are a crucial component for Gemini to function effectively with video, as the AI relies on transcribed speech to deliver accurate responses.
Users can access the tool via the Drive overlay previewer or by opening the video in a new browser tab using the standalone viewer. Once inside the viewer, a new “Ask Gemini” button—represented by a star icon in the top right corner—can be clicked to activate the AI assistant.
Administrative controls and requirements
For organisations and schools using Google Workspace, administrators must ensure that “smart features and personalisation” are enabled to give users access to Gemini’s video summarisation tools. Google has outlined detailed configuration steps in its Help Centre to assist IT teams with setup and deployment.
The update reinforces Google’s push toward integrating Gemini AI across all of its Workspace tools, providing smarter, faster, and more intuitive ways to manage information.
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A new era of video productivity
With this update, Gemini AI significantly reduces the friction of dealing with long-form video content. Instead of replaying a 90-minute meeting to recall a few details, users can now jump straight to what matters.
Though still in its early stages, the expansion of Gemini into video could transform how users interact with their media libraries. As AI continues to evolve, such capabilities are likely to become essential tools in the modern digital workplace.
This move places Google firmly ahead in the AI productivity race, offering features that are practical, user-focused, and grounded in real everyday use cases. As the technology matures, one can expect even more advanced features on the horizon—including multilingual support and deeper integration with other Workspace tools.
