Google Chat is set to receive a couple of significant enhancements. In addition to the upcoming homescreen redesign and the introduction of Duet AI, Google Chat will soon incorporate voice messages and the ability to communicate seamlessly with other third-party messaging platforms.

Within the realm of Google Chat, voice messages, referred to as audio snippets, will be introduced. These snippets serve to eliminate the need for extensive typing and enable recipients to grasp the message’s tone and context through audio. This feature is expected to roll out in the first quarter of 2024, aimed at bolstering collaborative efforts within teams. The hope is that it will eventually be accessible for both one-on-one and group direct messages (DMs).

The user interface for voice messages will be presented in the form of a straightforward inline player. It will offer basic controls like play and pause, as well as display the message’s duration alongside a visual representation of the audio waveform. While the specifics regarding potential time limits remain unclear, it’s worth noting that there appears to be no transcription feature accompanying this, in contrast to Google Messages which is currently undergoing its own redesign.

Beyond voice messages, Google is collaborating with Mio, a provider of collaborative interoperability solutions. This collaboration aims to enable messages sent via Google Chat to seamlessly appear on other platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams, and vice versa. Such functionality targets improved productivity by streamlining communication across various channels, which is particularly valuable when two distinct companies need to collaborate and are operating on separate systems. This parallels a similar arrangement between Google Meet and Zoom hardware.

The interoperability feature is currently in the beta testing phase and is anticipated to be generally available by the first quarter of 2024. It’s important to note that utilizing this feature requires a separate Mio license or subscription, which is already known for offering solutions that connect Teams and Slack.

This enhancement will be accessible to a range of Google Workspace customers, including those subscribed to Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Essentials Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Frontline Starter, Frontline Standard, and Nonprofits plans.