SpaceXAI makes Grok chatbot available as free add-on in Google Workspace

SpaceXAI has made its chatbot, Grok, available as a free add-on in Google Workspace, allowing users to access its features directly within Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

The installation process is straightforward - simply head to the Google Workspace Marketplace, click on the "Add-ons tab, search for Grok, and select it from the results. Once installed, open any of the three supported apps and navigate to the Extensions menu to access Grok's functionality. From there, you can activate the add-on and start using its features.

Grok's capabilities are diverse and powerful, offering a range of tools that can enhance productivity within Google Workspace. For instance, it can be used to fact-check claims and generate images, in addition to providing real-time feedback on spreadsheets by highlighting relevant cells. It also has the ability to convert outlines into slide decks and transform rough notes into formatted documents.

The availability of Grok as a free add-on is likely to be of interest to Google Workspace users, but it's worth noting that there are some factors to consider before integrating it into your workflow.

To install Grok in Google Workspace, navigate to the Google Workspace Marketplace where it is listed as a free add-on. Click on the Install button and select the Google account you wish to use, then proceed by clicking Continue. Alternatively, if you're already working on a file within Docs, Sheets or Slides, you can install Grok directly from the Extensions menu.

Once you've initiated the installation process, you'll be prompted to grant permissions for Grok to access your Google Workspace files. Specifically, it will request see, edit, create and delete permissions for all Google Docs files and every Slides presentation in your account. However, its access is more limited when it comes to Sheets, covering only those spreadsheets where the add-on has been installed.

After installation, you can access Grok's features by opening any doc, spreadsheet or presentation within Workspace and navigating to the Extensions menu. From there, select Grok" and click on "Open Grok" to bring up a side panel with its functionality. You'll then be prompted to sign in and authenticate before Grok becomes fully accessible.

Once authenticated, Grok's features will be available across all three Workspace apps - Docs, Sheets, and Slides. This allows you to seamlessly integrate its capabilities into your workflow without having to switch between different tools or interfaces.

Grok can seamlessly integrate into Google Docs, allowing it to write directly onto the page while performing tasks typical of language models, such as formatting text and creating lists from rough notes.

However, when put to the test, Grok's output was less than polished in some cases, with a draft generated from installation instructions exhibiting noticeable AI-generated content. This is not an isolated incident, as other instances of Grok's writing have shown similar characteristics.

One notable feature of Grok is its ability to track changes made within Google Docs, making it easy to review and revert back to previous versions if needed. Additionally, with Grok's connectors activated, the tool can access context from recent emails or files stored in Google Drive, though this requires granting it permission to do so.

In Slides, Grok demonstrates its capabilities by building presentation decks from outlines, creating new slides that match existing themes and even researching topics from online sources. This includes pulling information from X, although some may question the reliability of such a source.

To test its limits, I asked Grok to build a six-slide deck focused on its own track record for accuracy and bias since 2025, complete with cited sources on each slide and a final rating of its reliability as a source.

Grok's capabilities extend beyond data analysis in Sheets. It can read selected ranges, provide answers with citations, and even insert charts into the document. Additionally, Grok can rerun scenarios when assumptions are changed, allowing users to undo changes as they would with any ordinary edit.

The integration of Gemini, Google's chatbot, is also worth noting. By default, it opens from an icon at the top-right corner of various Workspace apps, including Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, and Chat. However, access to Gemini comes at a cost, as it requires eligible Workspace plans for work accounts or specific subscriptions for personal accounts.

Google's decision to fold Gemini into its Business and Enterprise plans in January 2025 eliminated the need for a separate add-on that had previously increased costs by $32 per user per month. Since then, access to Gemini has become more restricted, available only through paid subscriptions. This shift also applies to Google's agent, which is now paywalled.

Grok stands out from Gemini in several key areas. Firstly, it can integrate with data from X, but this feature may be seen as a double-edged sword. Additionally, Grok has limitations in terms of app access, being restricted to Docs, Sheets, and Slides compared to Gemini's wider reach across Workspace.

However, users can work around these restrictions by granting Grok access to Gmail and Drive files via connectors. This allows for some flexibility in using Grok despite its limited scope. Nevertheless, the decision to use Grok ultimately depends on individual preferences regarding data integration and AI capabilities.

Despite its limitations, Grok offers a simple way to add an AI side panel to Google Workspace without incurring additional costs. However, this comes with the caveat of granting it access to specific files and folders. Users must weigh these trade-offs when deciding between using Grok or Gemini.

Ultimately, the choice between Grok and Gemini depends on individual needs and preferences regarding AI integration and data analysis within Google Workspace.