Google is giving its AI writing assistant a bit more discipline. Gemini in Google Docs can now follow custom instructions, letting users define exactly how they want content written, from tone and structure to formatting quirks.
It’s a small update on paper, but it could make a big difference for anyone who regularly relies on Gemini for drafting documents. Instead of tweaking outputs every time, you can now set rules once, and Gemini will stick to them. That might mean always writing in a formal tone, avoiding casual language, or ending documents with a neat three-point summary.
The feature builds on Google’s recent push to more deeply integrate Gemini across its Workspace tools. This follows its broader “Workplace Intelligence” update, which improved how Gemini understands context across apps. As a result, this latest change feels like a practical next step: making AI outputs more consistent, not just smarter.
There’s also a natural link to existing tools like “Help me write” and “Help me create,” along with the newer “Match writing style” option. Together, they’re starting to feel less like one-off prompts and more like a system you can actually shape to your workflow.
Setting it up is straightforward. You just open the Gemini side panel in Docs and type out the instructions you want it to follow. There’s no separate settings menu to dig through. Google says you can input up to 1,000 characters’ worth of instructions, which should be enough for fairly detailed guidance.
For now, this level of control is limited to Google Docs — it’s not rolling out to other Workspace apps just yet. Still, it’s easy to see how this could expand to Gmail, Sheets, or Slides over time.
The update began rolling out on May 4, 2026, and Google says it should reach all users within around 15 days. It’ll be available to Business and Enterprise customers and to those subscribed to the Google AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra tiers.
If you’ve ever found yourself rewriting Gemini’s output to match your voice, this might finally cut out that extra step.
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