Google Keep now builds lists for you, thanks to AI – but there's a catch

If you’ve ever had trouble organizing your grocery list or figuring out what to pack for your next trip, a new feature from Google might help.

Google Keep, the popular note-taking app that lets you jot down ideas and keep things organized, just rolled out a feature called “Help me create a list.” As the name implies, it uses AI to help you build a list based on the prompt you enter. 

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You can ask Keep to make lists using prompts like, “Packing list for a camping trip with 2 kids in summer,” “Classic movies to watch on Halloween,” or “Spring cleaning checklist for a 2-bedroom apartment,” Google says. The company adds that you’ll get better results the more specific your instructions are.

Once Keep makes a list, you can paste it to a blank note to save or edit it. 

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A small caveat: The feature is free for Pixel users but only available to Google One AI Premium subscribers or Workspace Labs users if you’re on another Android device.

To test out the feature, I told Keep about an upcoming trip to New York City and asked for a list of must-see sights. It replied with the typical list of touristy spots, many of which were already on my agenda. I tried again, telling Keep my trip was in September, and it added specific festivals happening the week I’ll be there. 

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When I asked for a packing list, it replied with suggestions for general items. But when I asked for a list for a trip in September, the responses changed to account for typical NYC late summer weather.   

Google admits the feature “won’t always get it right.” Users can submit feedback about any list that Keep creates. If you feel it was helpful, you can give it a thumbs up. If it was unhelpful, wrong, or even unsafe, you can give it a thumbs down. If you do the latter, you’ll have a chance to explain what was wrong.