Google Sheets has announced a significant update aimed at enhancing performance and productivity for its users, particularly those using Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers.
Here are Google Sheets’ key improvements and features introduced:
- Faster Calculations and Operations: Google Sheets will now run significantly faster when performing calculations, running formulas, creating pivot tables, and applying conditional formatting. This enhancement applies across various file sizes, from smaller spreadsheets to more complex datasets.
- WebAssembly Garbage Collection (WasmGC): Google Sheets has shifted from using JavaScript to WebAssembly Garbage Collection for executing its code. WasmGC is an extension of the WebAssembly specification that helps optimize memory management by reclaiming memory that’s no longer needed, thereby speeding up the execution of Sheets operations.
- Browser Support: Initially rolled out for Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge users, these speed improvements are now available to all Google Workspace and personal users. Google plans to extend support to non-Chromium browsers like Safari and Firefox in the near future.
- Future Enhancements: Google is actively working on further improvements to the Sheets experience. This includes reducing initial load times, enhancing copy/paste functionality, and improving filter performance. These efforts aim to streamline common tasks and make working with Sheets more efficient.
- Integration with Google Gemini: Recently, Google announced the integration of its AI platform, Google Gemini, with Google Sheets. This integration allows users to access a new side panel within Sheets that provides insights and suggestions based on data from their files. It helps users quickly start new spreadsheets and summarizes findings from ongoing work, enhancing productivity by leveraging AI-driven insights.
Overall, these updates from Google Sheets are designed to not only improve performance but also to make data management and analysis more efficient for users across different tasks and file sizes. As Google continues to innovate, users can expect further enhancements that streamline workflows and boost productivity within Sheets.
