Google's new Tabletop experiment wants to fix the worst part of making plans with friends

Making plans with friends isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Say you’re planning a weekend trip and soon, your group chat is filled with so many messages that keeping track of everything becomes a task in itself.

Google has introduced a new experiment called Tabletop that could make situations like this much easier to manage. Developed by Google Labs, Tabletop lets you bring links, files, and ideas into one shared space where everyone can plan things together. But unlike a regular document or spreadsheet, it makes the whole experience more interactive.

For instance, you can create polls, vote on ideas, react to suggestions, and make changes together in real time. An AI assistant can also help you create activities and organize information, so you don’t have to set everything up yourself.

You could also use it to organize a potluck dinner, put together an itinerary, create a chore chart for your family, or even put on a scavenger hunt to keep your kids entertained on a rainy afternoon. Google also suggests using it for things like fantasy league drafts and award show watch parties.

What makes Tabletop interesting is that it brings a little fun to things that usually feel like work. For now, Google Tabletop is available through a waitlist for users aged 18 and older in the US. To request access, you’ll need to provide a personal Gmail address. There’s no word yet on when it might expand to other countries.