Grammarly Pushes Beyond Proofreading With AI-Powered Writing Guidance

CNET

3 hours ago

Grammarly is expanding beyond its grammar-checking roots. The company has announced the launch of several specialized AI "agents" and a new writing tool called Grammarly Docs, designed to help students and professionals with everything from drafting essays to polishing workplace emails.
It's another example of generative AI expanding beyond general-purpose chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini into more specialized domains. Other examples of gen AI in educational circles include Google's NotebookLM and OpenAI's new study mode for ChatGPT.
AI agents are digital helpers that go beyond traditional chatbots to understand context and assist in reaching your goals. Grammarly's AI agents assist by offering feedback, predicting reactions, finding sources and more to increase efficiency in workflows.
Read also: Grammarly AI: This Free AI Tool Will Easily Fix Your Grammar
What's available now for Grammarly AI
The update introduces nine agents that move Grammarly into a more collaborative role. Instead of just correcting grammar or suggesting phrasing, the agents are intended to actively work alongside users. One predicts how a professor or manager might respond to a draft. Another offers an estimated grade based on an uploaded rubric. Others handle citation generation, proofreading, paraphrasing, plagiarism checks and AI detection. The tools are built directly into Docs, a "distraction-free" writing environment where all the agents can be summoned in context, according to the company.
As students head back to classrooms and colleges, Grammarly is looking to position itself as a study companion and writing coach rather than merely a browser extension. The company cites research showing that while only a small share of students feel confident using AI in professional settings (18%), most employers expect AI literacy from job candidates. By emphasizing skill-building and responsible use, Grammarly says it wants to bridge that gap rather than simply automate assignments.
"The launch of our new agents and AI writing surface marks a turning point in how we build products that anticipate user needs," Luke Behnke, Grammarly's vice president of product management, said in the company's press release. "We're moving beyond simple suggestions to intelligent agents that understand context and actively help users achieve their communication goals."
For professionals, Grammarly is marketing the tools as a way to tailor communication for different audiences. The Reader Reactions agent, for example, can highlight whether an email comes across as too vague or too blunt. And the Expert Review tool provides industry-specific feedback without requiring specialized prompts.
The launch also marks the debut of Docs as a standalone writing hub. Until now, Grammarly has functioned mostly as a browser extension layered on top of other apps, like Chrome or Google Docs. Grammarly Docs signals a push to keep users inside the platform's own environment, though the company says it will expand agent functionality to the more than half a million apps and sites where its tools already appear.
The new features are rolling out immediately for free and premium subscribers, though plagiarism and AI detection remain locked behind the paid plan. Enterprise and education customers will also gain access later this year.
Early reactions to Grammary's AI agents
Early reactions suggest strong interest from students and educators alike as the company shifts from a grammar checker to a productivity platform. Educators have noted the potential benefits and risks of tools like the AI Grader. Some users on social media welcomed the update as a way to cut through the anxiety of essay writing, while others questioned whether it might make students too dependent on machine feedback.
The launch comes just months after Grammarly raised $1 billion to fuel its AI pivot and acquired the email startup Superhuman. Together, those moves point to an ambitious strategy for the company: one that seeks to transform Grammarly from a background utility into a full-fledged productivity suite powered by AI.