Introduction
What is Google Drive?
Google Drive is a cloud storage service that allows you to store, share, and access files from any internet-connected device. It integrates with various Google services and offers collaboration features, making it easy for teams to work on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations in real-time.
What is CogniVis AI?
CogniVis AI is a platform that enables you to pull data from different
sources and combine them with each other to
create practically useful AI tools. Sources may include
your internal company knowledgebase and a variety of
most popular business apps like GitHub, Jira, Slack,
and more.
This enables you to easily create
AI chatbot assistants (internal),
custom generators and even
embeddable AI chat widgets trained on your data.
How CogniVis AI works with Google Drive?
The Google Drive Connector integrates with a specified Google Drive account to retrieve and process files and metadata for further insights and data management.
What exact sources are pulled:
- Files
- File name
- File content (if permissions allow; requires specific access to read file contents)
- File type (e.g., Docs, Sheets, PDFs, images)
- File size
- Creation date
- Last modification date
- File owner
- List of shared collaborators (with access level)
- File URL
- Folders
- Folder name
- Folder structure (nested subfolders)
- Creation date
- Folder owner
- List of shared collaborators
- Folder URL
- Permissions
- User access level (e.g., view, edit, comment)
- Sharing settings (public/private links)
Configuration
Configure the connector in one of two ways
-
If your organization does not use Google Workspace, follow the provided instructions.
-
If you want to connect Google Workspace, go to this guide. This option requires administrative access, making it the recommended choice for organizations.
OAuth Setup
API & Services Setup
Create new Project
Set up a new project in Google Cloud.
Activate the Google Drive API
Expand the sidenav, then go to APIs & Services and choose Enabled APIs & Services.
At the top, select + ENABLE APIS AND SERVICES.
Find and select the Google Drive API.
Press the Enable button.
Find and enable Google Sheets API too.
Configure the OAuth Consent Screen
Go to the OAuth consent screen.
Select External for User Type if you do not have a Google Organization.
Enter a name, provide the email addresses for contact, and press SAVE AND CONTINUE button.
Click ADD OR REMOVE SCOPES.
Include the scope .../auth/drive.readonly for the Google Drive API. Click UPDATE and then SAVE AND CONTINUE.
Provide at least one test user email. Only the email addresses added in this section will be able to initiate the OAuth flow for indexing new emails.
Press on SAVE AND CONTINUE, check the changes, and then select BACK TO DASHBOARD.
Create Credentials
Navigate to the Credentials tab, press + CREATE CREDENTIALS and choose OAuth client ID.
Select Web application and assign it a name such as CogniVis Connector.
In Authorized JavaScript origins, enter https://INSTANCE.platform.cognivis.ai
In Authorized redirect URIs, enter https://INSTANCE.platform.cognivis.ai/admin/connectors/google-drive/auth/callback
In place of the INSTANCE, put the name of your instance.
Clicking Create will display the option to download the credentials as a JSON file. Download it for use in the next step.
Add the connector to CogniVis
Navigate to CogniVis Connectors
In your platform, go to the Admin Panel, which you can find in the top right corner of the screen.
Go to the Add Connector section in the menu on the left side of the screen.
Then, search for and select the Google Drive connector.
Provide Credentials
Attach the previously downloaded JSON file.
Authenticate with Google Drive
Press Authenticate with Google Drive button. Finishing the OAuth flow will enable CogniVis to index emails the user has access to read. Remember that only email addresses added in Test users will be able to initiate the OAuth flow to index new emails.
Define access
Once you have given it a name and decided whether you want it to be public or not, press the CONNECT button.
Service Account Setup
API & Services Setup
Create new Project
Set up a new project in Google Cloud.
Activate the Google Drive API
Expand the sidenav, then go to APIs & Services and choose Enabled APIs & Services.
At the top, select + ENABLE APIS AND SERVICES.
Find and select the Google Drive API.
Press the Enable button.
Also enable the Google Docs API and Admin SDK API.
Create a Service Account
Expand the sidenav, then go to IAM & Admin and choose Service Accounts. Then click + CREATE SERVICE ACCOUNT.
Complete the fields in step 1. You can skip steps 2 and 3.
Go to the newly created service account, in the KEYS tab, press Add Key, select Create new key, download the file, and keep it ready for uploading to CogniVis later.
Provide the Service Account with read-only privileges for Google Drive
Copy the Service Account's Unique ID.
Navigate to the Domain-wide Delegation page in the Google Admin Console and select Add new.
Enter the Service Account's Unique ID as the client ID.
Duplicate the comma-separated scope list and place it into the OAuth scopes field:
https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive.readonly,https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive.metadata.readonly,https://www.googleapis.com/auth/admin.directory.group.readonly,https://www.googleapis.com/auth/admin.directory.user.readonly
Add the connector to CogniVis
Navigate to CogniVis Connectors
In CogniVis, go to Admin Panel, then in the sidebar choose Add connector. You will find the Google Drive connector setup page there.
Open Google Drive connector setup pageProvide Credentials
Attach the previously downloaded JSON file.
Authenticate with Google Drive
For Google Drive service account usage, enter the email address of the main administrator whose account will be impersonated by the service account.
This account should preferably be the owner or admin of the Google Organization that manages the Google Drive(s) you want to index.
Define access
Once you have given it a name and decided whether you want it to be public or not, press the CONNECT button.
Free trial
If you are interested in creating your own automations and workflows with artificial intelligence based on your data, you can request a free trial of our solution. Please book a demo with us to get started.
book a demoOn-premise
Enterprise organizations can choose to deploy this connector on-premise. On-premise deployment provides additional security and privacy, it means that the connector will be hosted on your own servers which you can control and manage.
This option is suitable for organizations that have strict data privacy and security requirements, want to integrate with their existing infrastructure, or need to comply with specific local regulations.
Contact our team & learn about options of deploying this connector on premise.
book a demo learn more about on-premise aiUse cases
Check out potential benefits and use cases for this connector.
Streamlined Document Management
Integrating AI with Google Drive enables efficient document management by analyzing file metadata, such as file type, size, and modification date. This allows for automated organization, categorization, and retrieval of files, enhancing productivity and reducing time spent on manual file management.
Enhanced Collaboration Insights
By analyzing shared collaborators and access levels, AI can identify key contributors and collaboration patterns. This insight helps optimize team dynamics and ensure the right people have access to necessary resources, enhancing overall productivity.
Automated Compliance Checks
AI can verify sharing settings, access levels, and modification histories to ensure files comply with organizational policies or legal requirements. This proactive approach helps mitigate risks associated with unauthorized data access or non-compliance.
Intelligent Search and Retrieval
Utilizing AI to analyze file content and metadata, users can perform more precise searches, finding the most relevant documents quickly. This improves information accessibility and helps users leverage existing data for decision-making or project development.
Predictive Document Usage
AI can analyze patterns in file usage, predicting which documents might be needed for upcoming projects or meetings. This proactive approach prepares teams with the necessary information beforehand, aiding in smoother project execution.
Automated Report Generation
AI can automatically compile data from relevant documents into comprehensive reports, saving time and ensuring accuracy. This is particularly useful for generating regular reports or compiling insights from multiple files for strategic planning.
Real-Time Collaboration Feedback
AI can provide real-time feedback on document collaboration, such as suggestions for improving document clarity or identifying potential bottlenecks in the editing process. This fosters more effective teamwork and enhances document quality.
Data-Driven Access Optimization
AI can analyze patterns of file access and suggest optimized permission settings, ensuring that users or teams have the appropriate access level while maintaining data security. This helps prevent data breaches and ensures efficient resource allocation.
Version Tracking and Recovery
AI can track document versions and modifications, providing an easy way to revert to previous versions if necessary. This feature is invaluable for maintaining document integrity and rectifying errors without losing recent work.
Workflow Automation
By integrating with Google Drive, AI can automate repetitive tasks, such as file backups or sending reminders for document reviews. This reduces manual workload and allows teams to focus on more strategic initiatives.