Grammarly has rolled out its biggest update yet, introducing a document‑centric interface and specialised AI agents that grade, proofread, find citations, paraphrase and detect AI‑generated or plagiarised content. Users across social platforms are experimenting with the tools, raising questions about productivity and authenticity.
The upgrade to Grammarly’s AI agents arrived quietly at first, with a blog post and a TechCrunch article on August 18 2025 noting that the writing assistant had been redesigned. Within hours, however, the news took off. On Reddit, writers posted screenshots of the new block‑based interface built on Coda, praising its ability to mix tables, lists and paragraphs. The update also adds an AI sidebar that can summarise documents, answer questions and suggest edits. Students flocked to r/College to test the AI grader, which uses instructor guidelines to score essays. On X, authors debated whether the new AI detector agent would harm or help academic integrity. TikTok creators went viral by showing how the paraphraser could switch the tone of an email from formal to friendly.
What’s new in the interface
The redesigned interface adopts a block‑first approach similar to Notion or Coda. Users can insert tables, separators and custom layouts, making Grammarly more of a word processor than just an add‑on. This shift reflects Grammarly’s acquisition of productivity startup Coda last year and positions the product as a competitor to Google Docs and Microsoft Word. The interface also features a persistent sidebar hosting an AI assistant that can summarise text and answer queries in real time. Many writers on Reddit noted that the contextual suggestions feel more natural than past versions.
AI agents for every writing task
Grammarly’s key innovation is its roster of specialised AI agents. The “Reader Reactions” agent allows writers to choose a reader persona and receive feedback tailored to that perspective, whether it’s a professor, a peer reviewer or a casual reader. The “Grader” agent scores assignments based on instructor guidelines, a feature that has proved popular among students preparing for exams. “Citation Finder” can locate and automatically format references. The “Paraphraser” rewrites text to match a chosen tone. A plagiarism detector flags copied content, and a separate AI detector identifies whether a given passage was generated by an AI. Grammar and style suggestions remain core features.
On X and YouTube, educators debated the implications of these tools. Some worry that AI grading will encourage students to focus on gaming algorithms rather than learning. Others argue that access to detailed feedback could improve writing skills. Academic integrity is a persistent theme: the AI detector may force students who used ChatGPT to rewrite their essays. Meanwhile, professional writers appreciate the paraphraser for adjusting tone when switching between corporate and casual communication.
Productivity boon or automation overload?
The update positions Grammarly as a one‑stop writing hub, but it also raises concerns about AI dependency. Critics on Reddit argue that a glut of AI tools might overwhelm users and make them over-reliant on algorithmic advice. Some worry that the agents could promote cookie-cutter writing styles. In response, Grammarly executives told TechCrunch that the AI detector is designed as a learning tool rather than an enforcement mechanism. They emphasised that teachers should still use the authorship tool for formal enforcement. For users looking to balance Grammarly’s AI support with more personalised prompting, our guide to the best ChatGPT prompts for work and career shows how to adapt generative AI for assignments, resumes and business plans without losing originality.
Competitive landscape
Grammarly’s overhaul arrives amid a flood of AI‑powered writing tools, from Google’s Gemini to Microsoft’s Copilot and start‑ups like Jasper. By integrating multiple agents into a unified workspace, Grammarly hopes to differentiate itself. The $1 billion raised earlier this year will fund further acquisitions and R&D. On Reddit and X, users speculated that Grammarly could evolve into a broader productivity suite, merging note‑taking, project management and AI assistance. Others suggested that deep integration with email clients (Grammarly recently acquired Superhuman) hints at an AI‑powered communications platform.
