The # symbol is going to be the most important feature in the program. In order to make workspace a more connected and powerful platform, it is opening up docs to third-party developers. All you have to do is type the name of the file or app you are looking for and you will be able to see and edit it.
The feature is called "smart chips" and refers to the fact that other apps can be put into the doc At its Cloud Next conference, which was attended by a number of partners, Google announced a new application programming interface for work. There is no in-Docs editing power yet, but asana users will be able to manage their tasks through an embedded in doc.
The underlying shift in this case is huge, and that is why it is late by Google. The evolution of digital documents into low-code website builders has led to the growth of Notion and other apps. Within a single document, you can manage a kanban board, work with your spreadsheets, and use both PDF and video files. The 8.5 x 11 piece of paper has been stuck in the archives for years.
This isn't related to yesterday's announcement that all creators will get handles going forward, but it's interesting to see the company going all-in on the symbol as an identity marker. Of course, they are late to this trend as well.
The company is trying to catch up quickly. Many of the concepts that power the idea, like a borderless page and all these third-party app embeddeds, will eventually also come to tools like Slides and Sheets, but Docs is an obvious place to start.
Developers will be able to get more access to Meet. It will be possible for developers to bake basic meeting controls into their apps, but they will also be able to add their tech into the Meet app in a similar way as with Doc. It's possible to co-edit a Figma document from within the Meet call without having to switch between windows. As it tries to catch up with other teams, it is adding similar features to chat and spaces.
Users will be able to use the new chips in January. A key part of the product's future is becoming a platform according to Aparna Pappu. As work tools become more connected and integrated as they become more digital, there is some catching up to be done by GOOGLE if it wants to make DOCS the center of employees' work universe. It could win back some of the users from the new generation of editors if it can convince developers to join.
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