Google Launches Fast Event Duplication in Calendar After Public Stripe Request
In a striking example of Silicon Valley’s rapid response culture, Google has rolled out a highly requested feature within Google Calendar: a streamlined shortcut to duplicate events with a simple keystroke. This addition follows a direct public exchange between prominent tech leaders that started just a month ago.
The Feature Request That Sparked Change
Back on July 5, John Collison, co-founder of Stripe, took to X (formerly Twitter) to ask Google Calendar’s team for a practical enhancement. He suggested enabling users to duplicate calendar events quickly—by clicking while holding the Ctrl key—mirroring the convenience found in many native calendar apps. His post caught the attention of thousands, highlighting a common productivity frustration among power users and everyday professionals alike.
Swift Response from Google’s CEO
Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO, soon addressed the request in a public post, confirming that the “duplicate event with Ctrl-click” feature had been rolled out for all users on Google Calendar’s web platform. He thanked Collison for the suggestion, showcasing how direct user feedback—even from industry leaders—can influence the evolution of major products. (epicsoft)
Wider Community Reaction and Tech Humor
This speedy improvement didn’t go unnoticed across X’s tech community. Users, seeing Collison’s ability to “move mountains,” began joking about leveraging his influence to resolve their own technical grievances. Aaron Levie, CEO of Box, humorously responded by requesting that Collison ask Waymo to extend its self-driving fleet down busy El Camino Real, highlighting the camaraderie and playful competitiveness among Silicon Valley’s elite.
A Bigger Story: User Feedback Shaping Tech Giants
While the story has a humorous touch, it underlines a more serious trend: a growing expectation that tech giants will directly engage with their user bases—including both everyday customers and high-profile founders. Such direct dialogues speed up innovation and ensure that feature improvements are closely aligned with user needs.
How to Use the New Shortcut
The new duplication feature is available to anyone using Google Calendar on the web. Users can now simply hold Ctrl and drag an event to instantly create a copy—saving time for those with recurring tasks or similar meetings.
Conclusion: Collaborative Product Building in the Tech Era
Google’s rapid implementation of this keyboard shortcut exemplifies how public feedback and leadership visibility can coalesce to accelerate the development of tech tools used by millions every day. It’s a reminder that sometimes, all it takes is the right person asking the right question, in the right forum, at the right time.