If you’ve stuck with Microsoft’s productivity suite for years, there’s finally a legitimate reason to switch, especially if you’re looking to save some cash without sacrificing quality.
Google Slides, once the naked skeleton of Microsoft PowerPoint, has received significant upgrades this week. And now, with its recent update, it’s got a serious case of competitive fever.
Free Google Slides Templates Give You a Head Start
Google Slides’ New Free Templates and AI Features Make PowerPoint
One of the largest benefits of the latest update is the new set of free Google Slides templates. This is not the first time Google has made templates available. It introduced a wave in 2024, but this new set is what the company is labeling its “second wave.”
These newly updated designs are clean, aesthetically pleasing, and designed to help get your creative juices flowing.
If you’re the type who has trouble with layout concepts or simply needs to accelerate the presentation process, these templates are lifesavers. If you’re a student, teacher, entrepreneur, or businessperson, Google Slides now provides a solid selection of pre-made options designed for your use.
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How to Access the New Templates in Google Slides
If you’re willing to give the new features a try, the rollout is happening right away for users on the Rapid Release schedule, with a broader Scheduled Release deployment on May 6.
No admin action is required, according to Android Police. Once the feature lands in your account, it will appear automatically.
How to access the new templates:
Note: These templates are presently only accessible for users with their language set to English (United States).
Level Up Your Presentations with Gemini AI
The other good news is the increased integration of Gemini AI within Google Slides. Gemini can brainstorm new ideas, create content, and even build slides and images based on what you tell it to do. It’s as if you have a personal assistant for your next big presentation or classroom assignment.
If you need images, transitions, or layout suggestions, just ask Gemini. It’s meant to remove creative friction and boost productivity—all from within the Slides tool.
Multi-Monitor Support for Pro-Grade Presentations
Google has also introduced multi-monitor presentation support, a feature people have been asking for a long time. It makes Slides more professional and useful. Whether you’re presenting at a conference or conducting a hybrid meeting, you now have the flexibility to present like a pro.
Do You Need to Ditch PowerPoint?
Although Microsoft PowerPoint remains a powerhouse, Google Slides is no longer playing catch-up. With free availability, clean new templates, AI-fueled creativity tools, and multi-monitor functionality, it’s now a first-class solution for anyone who wants to create clean, effective presentations without reaching into their pocket or purse.
For cost-conscious individuals or teams seeking to adopt next-generation, cloud-based workflows, Google Slides is well worth the switch.
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