Google Slides, an integral component of Google's comprehensive Workspace suite, is set to enrich its functionality by integrating a sidebar dedicated to GIFs and stickers. This feature addresses a notable gap in Slides, as users previously had to resort to third-party sources for such animations. The Workspace team has disclosed that this enhancement, designed to streamline the inclusion of dynamic visuals into presentations, will be devoid of administrative controls. It aims to be fully available to all Google Workspace clientele alongside those with personal Google accounts.
The deployment of this feature should be completed by month's end, and some users might gain access sooner. To utilize this new addition, users can navigate through Insert > Image > Gifs and stickers in the Slides web interface, where they will find the feature marked with a "New" label to signify its recent introduction. Selecting this option reveals a sidebar on the right where users can search and filter for the desired GIFs or stickers to add to their slides.
Before this update, inserting such visual elements into Slides was cumbersome, often requiring manual uploads or other creative workarounds. The direct integration not only streamlines the process but is a time-saver, particularly for those dedicating numerous hours to crafting presentations or instructional content for wider audiences.
Updates for Google Slides haven't been as frequent as for other Workspace apps. Nonetheless, one highly anticipated development is the broader deployment of the Help Me Visualize feature, which leverages the robust Duet AI technology of Google Workspace to provide users with AI-generated visuals similar to the likes of Dall-E or Midjourney.
The visual AI capabilities remain under testing, with availability restricted to a select group of testers based on location. Widespread access might still be some time away, allowing all users to experiment with this advanced tool. In the interim, Slides has benefitted from several significant updates, including the real-time display of collaborators' pointers/cursors, as well as the integration of pen and eraser functions for enhanced control during presentations.