Google has recently introduced a new generative AI writing tool called Help Me Write that is built into Gmail and Google Docs. This tool can help you write faster and better by generating text based on your prompts, instructions, or existing text. Whether you are a professional writer, a student, or someone who needs to write for work or personal purposes, Help Me Write can be a useful assistant that saves you time and effort.
In this blog post, I will show you how to use Help Me Write in both Google Docs and Gmail, and share some tips and tricks to get the most out of this tool.
Use Help Me Write to generate text
To use Help Me Write to generate text, you need to sign up for access to Workspace Labs with your Google account. This is a limited preview program that allows you to try out new AI features in Google Workspace before they are publicly available. You may have to wait for some time before you are granted access.
Once you have access to Workspace Labs, you can start a new blank document in Docs or a new email in Gmail. You will see a button with a pencil and a plus sign that says Help me write at the top of the document or the bottom of the email. Clicking this button will open a sidebar where you can type your prompt or instruction for Help Me Write.
For example, if you want to write an email to invite your colleagues to a meeting, you can type something like “write an email to invite my colleagues to a meeting on Friday at 10 am”. Help Me Write will then generate a draft email for you based on your prompt. You can edit the draft as you like, or ask for more suggestions from Help Me Write by clicking the More button.
Use Help Me Write to rewrite text
Help Me Write can also help you rewrite existing text to improve its clarity, tone, style, or grammar. To use this feature, you need to select the text that you want to rewrite in Docs or Gmail, and then click the Help me write button. You will see a sidebar where you can type your instruction for Help Me Write.
For example, if you want to rewrite a sentence to make it more formal, you can type something like “rewrite this sentence in a more formal tone”. Help Me Write will then generate a rewritten sentence for you based on your instruction. You can choose the one that suits your needs best, or ask for more suggestions from Help Me Write by clicking the More button.
Keep caveats in mind and finesse the results
While Help Me Write can be very helpful in generating and rewriting text, it is not perfect. It may make factual errors, produce redundant or generic sentences, or miss the context or nuance of your writing. Therefore, it is important to always review and edit the results from Help Me Write before using them.
Here are some tips to finesse the results from Help Me Write:
- Be specific and clear in your prompts and instructions. Help Me Write works best when it has enough information and guidance from you. For example, instead of typing “write an email”, try typing “write an email to thank my boss for giving me a raise”.
- Use examples or references when possible. Help Me Write can learn from existing text that you provide as examples or references. For example, if you want to write a blog post about a topic, you can paste a link or a snippet of another blog post that covers the same topic as an example for Help Me Write.
- Check the facts and sources. Help Me Write may generate text that contains inaccurate or outdated information. It may also use sources that are not reliable or credible. Therefore, it is important to verify the facts and sources that Help Me Write uses in its text.
- Add your own voice and personality. Help Me Write may generate text that sounds bland or generic. It may not capture your unique voice and personality as a writer. Therefore, it is important to add your own flair and style to the text that Help Me Write generates.
A useful collaboration tool
Help Me Write is not only a tool for individual writers, but also a tool for collaboration. You can use Help Me Write to brainstorm ideas, get feedback, or co-create content with others.
For example, if you are working on a project with your team members, you can use Help Me Write to generate some ideas or suggestions for your project. You can then share the results with your team members via Docs or Gmail, and ask for their opinions or inputs. You can also use Help Me Write to co-create content with your team members by inviting them to edit the same document or email, and using Help Me Write to generate or rewrite text together.
Help Me Write is a new generative AI writing tool that can help you write faster and better in Google Docs and Gmail. It can generate text based on your prompts or instructions, or rewrite existing text to improve it. However, it is not a replacement for human writers, but a collaborative partner that is always there to help you achieve your goals. You still need to review and edit the results from Help Me Write, and add your own voice and personality to your writing.
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