Google One vs Google Workspace: Where do you get real AI and Gemini Advanced?
What do you get when you pay for AI at Google? An exploration of Gemini Advanced, NotebookLM and how to share it smartly via Google One.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been delving into Google’s paid AI capabilities. Not because I’m unhappy with ChatGPT — on the contrary — but because I’m curious about what Google really offers. Especially for those who already work with Drive, Docs, and Sheets, this could be quite interesting.
Google Workspace — AI as a side issue
Let’s start there. Google has added Gemini to Workspace, so you can now summon an AI assistant in Gmail, Docs, and Sheets. Handy? Sure. Revolutionary? Not really.
You get:
- Faster emails
- Summaries of documents
- AI-generated texts and suggestions
But let’s be honest: the real AI power isn’t here. Gemini in Workspace feels like a smart shortcut — not a true AI partner.
Google One — This is where the real work begins
If you want to get serious about AI within Google, Google One is the place to go.
That may sound like a cloud subscription, but it’s your ticket to Gemini Advanced — Google’s most powerful AI model (version 2.0 Ultra). And you’ll notice it right away:
- Deep Research mode — longer, richer answers
- More context, less hallucinatory AI
- Ability to pose larger and more complex questions
Added bonus: NotebookLM gets extra features in this bundle — longer sessions, more storage, and even the option to share worksheets.
NotebookLM — The Hidden Gem
NotebookLM deserves its own paragraph, because this is where Google surprised me. This is not a chat window, but an AI worksheet:
- You can upload resources (PDFs, Google Docs, notes)
- AI stays within those sources
- And — what ChatGPT doesn't offer yet — you can share it with a colleague or partner
For consultancy work, research or complex projects, this is a really powerful idea: using AI as a thinking library, focused on your resources.
Rob Hoeijmakers
Limited time opportunity: free sharing via Family plan (until June 30, 2025)
A practical detail that I almost overlooked, but is interesting right now:
- Google is offering the option to share Gemini Advanced through your Family plan until June 30, 2025
- You pay for the Google One subscription
- Your partner or colleague gets free access to the same AI power
- After June 30? Then everyone has to pay themselves
Ideal for testing together and discovering whether this model suits your work.
Google AI Studio — For the Enthusiasts
For the sake of completeness: there is also Google AI Studio. That is a playground for developers who want to build with Gemini's APIs. Interesting, but honestly: not something I visit every day.
Lately, though, AI Studio has become more interesting—even for Gemini Advanced users. Google now releases its latest and most powerful models there first, like the Gemini 2.5 Pro Experimental version. If you’re curious to try these cutting-edge models, AI Studio is the place—free to use, though the developer interface can feel a bit overwhelming.
For most Gemini Advanced users, AI Studio isn’t part of daily use. But if you want an early look at where the models are heading—often outperforming Claude and GPT-4.5 in benchmarks—this is where Google quietly tests them before rolling updates into the consumer app.
So, where is the real AI value at Google?
My conclusion so far:
- Workspace offers AI, but mainly as an extra
- Google One + Gemini Advanced unlocks the real power of Google's AI models
- NotebookLM is a surprisingly powerful tool for those who work with sources and want to collaborate
- And the temporary Family sharing makes this the perfect time to try it out
My next step
We’ve been testing Google One for a few months now — together. NotebookLM has surprised me positively, but will this really be our new AI workhorse? I won’t decide until after June.
Are you already working with Google's AI?
Do you have any experiences or questions about Gemini or NotebookLM? Let us know — we might make a sequel.
