BBVA has extended its partnership with Google Cloud to roll out Google Workspace with Gemini across the global operations of the bank.

As part of the move, around 100,000 employees will have access to generative AI (genAI) experiences in applications such as Gmail and Google Docs.

Employees at the Spanish bank have reported that automating repetitive tasks with AI saves them nearly three hours per week on average, freeing up valuable time for more strategic, customer-focused work.

The bank said the expanded partnership will enable its employees to gain a powerful collaborative assistant embedded within the Google Workspace productivity tools they use every day, further solidifying BBVA's position as a “frontrunner in leveraging technology for business transformation.”

Beyond Google Workspace with Gemini, BBVA said its staff will utilise the standalone Gemini app and NotebookLM, an AI-powered research and writing assistant, to help with tasks like research, generating audio overviews of complex findings, and creating reports.

BBVA has collaborated with Google Cloud to digitally transform its operations since 2011.

“The partnership with Google Cloud allows us to continue transforming how our teams work, make decisions, and collaborate—using the most competitive generative AI models on the market,” said Elena Alfaro, global head of AI adoption at BBVA. “We anticipate that Gemini with Workspace has the potential to simplify tasks and spark new ideas, which will significantly boost the productivity and innovation of our teams.”

In parallel to this AI deployment, the bank has launched a mandatory training programme, called AI Express, to focus on the broader use of AI.

It provides employees with clear principles for secure and responsible AI adoption across use cases.

BBVA said the programme is aligned with the European Union’s AI Act and BBVA’s internal policies on data protection and confidentiality.

Access to Google Workspace with Gemini, the Gemini app, and NotebookLM will be granted to employees who have completed internal training programmes.

BBVA said this will ensure that teams are prepared to use these genAI tools effectively, ethically, and in line with BBVA’s AI governance standards.

In May BBVA announced that it had overhauled its banking app for customers in Spain, using AI to offer savings incentives, financial education and personalisation.

The bank said the move will enable customers to organise the app in different ways according to their habits, with the level of personalisation so advanced that they can use Apple Intelligence tech to create a personalised design for their cards in the digital environment of the BBVA app.

Earlier this week, BBVA confirmed it will proceed with its hostile takeover bid for smaller rival Banco Sabadell, despite the Spanish government imposing conditions that would prevent the banks from fully merging for at least three years.

The country's second-largest bank announced on Monday that it would not withdraw its offer worth more than €14 billion ($16 billion), even though Madrid's restrictions will delay some of the expected cost savings from the deal.

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