This line in Google’s announcement about Gemini’s new personal intelligence feature makes me so frustrated. It’s been my biggest complaint about Google for over a decade.
They consistently hold back features from paid Google Workspace accounts.
I adore Gmail as a service. I signed up in 2004 on Day 1. A few years later, when they launched what has now become Google Workspace, I switched to that so I could use my own domain name for my email.
In the past decade, they have steadily kept more and more features out of Google Workspace accounts. I couldn't use Nest. I couldn’t use Stadia (RIP). Google Assistant was limited. Google Maps was limited. I couldn’t sign up for YouTube TV. If I wanted to use any of these services, I needed a second account and I’d have to switch between them. It was such a hassle. It was also incredibly frustrating because my data within the two accounts were in two distinct silos.
Eventually I gave up on living the double account life. In 2021, I switched my domain’s email off of Google Workspace. I signed up for a new Google account without Gmail or Workspace. Then I canceled my $25/month Google Workspace account.
I’ve yet to find an email provider that I’ve enjoyed as much as Gmail. But unless I want to give up my personal domain’s email address, which is a non-starter, I’d have to use Google Workspace. Which means I’m stuck with all these seemingly arbitrary limitations that Google has in place.
Someday I hope I’ll be able to use Gmail again with my domain. As much of a hassle as it was to start my Google account all over back in 2021, I’m glad I’ll be able to try this Personal Intelligence beta right away.
