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This official feed from the Google Workspace team provides essential information about new features and improvements for Google Workspace customers.
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A summary of announcements from this week:
The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.

Changes to membership roles in Google Chat spaces to enable more flexible permissions
We’re introducing an owner role in Google Chat spaces in addition to managers and members. By increasing the number of roles, it will be easier to share the tasks associated with managing spaces with the right colleagues. | Learn more about the new membership roles in Chat spaces. 


Use Nano Banana to edit images in Google Slides and Vids
We’re upgrading Slides and Vids to the latest image editing model, Nano Banana. As recently detailed in this blog post, Nano Banana brings improved quality to image editing to make it easier to bring your ideas to life. | Learn more about the updates to image editing in Slides and Vids. 


Collaborate with Gemini in Google Drive now available on mobile
We have previously launched the ability for users on the web to collaborate with Gemini in Google Drive. Now, we're excited to extend Gemini’s capabilities to users on mobile in the Drive apps for Android and iOS. | Learn more about interacting with Gemini on Drive mobile. 


Improve Chat apps with display carousels and richer text formatting
Developers can use two new features to create more engaging Chat apps. Specifically, we are adding 
a carousel widget, Markdown support, and lists and code blocks. | Learn more about the new options for Chat apps. 


Meet eCDN custom rules improvements for new and existing configurations
In order to improve the experience of admins managing Google Meet’s Enterprise Content Delivery Network (Meet eCDN) rules, we’re updating how the “Custom Rules” peering policy works in some cases, and how assigned networks are surfaced in the MQT eCDN network table. | Learn more about the changes to Meet eCDN configurations. 


Ransomware detection and file restoration for Google Drive available in beta
We’re adding two new features to help organizations minimize the impact of ransomware attacks on personal computers. Specifically, we are adding these features in beta: Ransomware detection and File restoration. | Learn more about the new protection features for Drive. 


Microsoft Teams Interoperability with Pexip Connect
For more than seven years, Pexip has been a trusted interoperability partner for Google Meet, ensuring that participants can use their legacy meeting room systems to join Google Meet calls. We are excited to expand our relationship with Pexip Connect for Google Meet hardware – which will enable Google Meet hardware to seamlessly join Microsoft Teams from both Android and ChromeOS hardware. | Learn more about Teams interop with Pexip. 


Enable 'take notes for me' in Calendar, ahead of your meeting
Taking notes during meetings is crucial for tracking action items and key decisions. With our Gemini-powered “Take notes for me”, you can stay fully engaged in the conversation while ensuring nothing gets missed. Event organizers can now enable Take notes for me when scheduling the event or preparing their meeting in Calendar. | Learn more about the easier set up for take notes for me. 


Quickly find and use Google Chat apps and Workspace actions with the redesigned integrations menu
We're making it quicker and easier to find and use your favorite apps and actions in Google Chat with a redesigned integrations menu that lets you search for apps and execute commands with fewer clicks. The menu is accessible through the "+" button next to the compose bar or by typing "/". | Learn more about the new integrations menu in Chat. 


Create custom, AI-generated meeting backgrounds on Mobile devices
You can now create custom background images with Gemini from your Android or iOS device. Meeting backgrounds can help obscure your surroundings during a meeting or they can enhance the meeting itself. | Learn more about using AI backgrounds on mobile. 


Gemini app data now included in Access Transparency, Access Management, and Access Approvals
Access Transparency, Access Management, and Access Approvals now cover Gemini App data. These features provide admins full transparency into when Gemini App data is viewed for support purposes, control over which Google support staff can view this data, and control over when this data can be viewed by Google for support purposes. | Learn more about the additional visibility and controls for Gemini app data. 


Express yourself with stickers in Google Chat
Users can now send expressive stickers in their conversations in Google Chat on the web. Stickers can provide users with more options to express themselves in their Chat conversations, alongside emojis, GIFs, and other media-based messages. | Learn more about sending stickers in Chat. 


Send Gmail end-to-end encrypted emails to anyone
Generally available today, Gmail client-side encryption (CSE) users can send end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) emails to anyone, even if the recipient uses a different email provider. Recipients will receive a notification and can easily access the encrypted message via a guest account, ensuring secure communication without the hassle of exchanging keys or using custom software. | Learn more about encrypted emails in Gmail. 


Use the Gemini in Chrome AI browsing assistant, now generally available
Starting today, Gemini in Chrome is available to Google Workspace users with access to the Gemini app. Gemini in Chrome is an AI browsing assistant to help you get things done on Mac, Windows and iOS devices. | Learn more about using Gemini in Chrome. 



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What’s changing 
For more than seven years, Pexip has been a trusted interoperability partner for Google Meet, ensuring that participants can use their legacy meeting room systems to join Google Meet calls. We are excited to expand our relationship with Pexip Connect for Google Meet hardware – which will enable Google Meet hardware to seamlessly join Microsoft Teams from both Android and ChromeOS hardware. 

Additional Details 
  • There is an additional cost associated with using this offering from Pexip.
  • The integration supports joining scheduled meetings as well as joining with a meeting code 
  • Pexip enables Google Meet hardware to join Microsoft Teams meetings through their Pexip Connect service. Additional information can be found on their website. 

Getting started 
Pexip Connect for Google Meet hardware 

  • Admins 
    • Add the Pexip customer ID to the Built-in interoperability section of the Google Meet Hardware settings in the admin console. 
  • End users: 
    • When enabled by your admin, you can join a Teams meeting from a Google Meet hardware: 
      • Join an ad-hoc meeting by tapping "Join or start a meeting" on your touch controller (or on the touch screen device) and selecting Teams from the dropdown options. 
      • Add a a room to a with Teams meeting details. 
        • Note: Calendar events that originate outside of Google Calendar must be duplicated and populated with room details manually, or have their Teams meeting details copy and pasted into the description field of a new Calendar event. 
      • Visit the Help Center to learn more about Google Meet interoperability. 

Rollout pace 
Admin Setting 


End User Availability (on Devices) 


Availability 
  • Pexip Connect for Google Meet hardware is available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers with Google Meet hardware. All currently supported Google Meet hardware devices that have not yet reached their auto-update expiration date support the feature. 
  • Please work with either Pexip directly or an authorized reseller to get access 

Resources 


Read More

What's changing 
In order to improve the experience of admins managing Google Meet’s Enterprise Content Delivery Network (Meet eCDN) rules, we’re updating how the “Custom Rules” peering policy works in some cases, and how assigned networks are surfaced in the MQT eCDN network table. Understanding these changes will allow customers to make full use of those improvements. 


Overlapping IP ranges 

Please note you will only see this change if you have defined overlapping IP ranges. For example, if you have defined a large range that’s allowed but including some smaller ranges that should be blocked within it. If you have non-overlapping ranges only, you won’t be affected by this change. 

Viewers with the “custom rules” peering policy will be matched against a list of IP ranges and their respective peering configuration (allowed or blocked). This is done by checking all listed ranges in order from top to bottom. Previously, any blocking match would supersede an allowing match, even if the allowing match came first. We’re removing the priority for blocking changes to simplify how matches are determined. 

Example for a viewer with private IP address 10.0.0.30: 

Scenario 1:
Viewer 1 private IP: 10.0.0.30
Viewer 2 private IP: 11.0.0.30

Custom rules list:
  • 10.0.0.0 - 10.0.0.255: allowed
  • 11.0.0.0 - 11.0.0.255: blocked
Fallback policy: blocked

Before:
  • Viewer 1 allowed since one allowed match
  • Viewer 2 blocked since one blocked match

After:
  • Same results, no changes in this scenario, since there are no overlapping IP ranges.

Scenario 2:
Viewer 1 private IP: 10.0.0.30
Viewer 2 private IP: 11.0.0.30

Custom rules list:
  • 10.0.0.0 - 10.0.0.255: allowed
  • 10.0.0.0 - 15.0.0.0: blocked
Fallback policy: blocked

Before:
  • Viewer 1 blocked, since one allowed and one blocked match, and blocked matches have higher priority.
  • Viewer 2 blocked, since one blocked match.

After:
  • Viewer 1 allowed, since the first match encountered (top to bottom) was to allow the IP.
  • Viewer 2 blocked, since the only matching rule was blocking the IP.

Scenario 3:
  • Viewer 1 private IP: 10.0.0.30
  • Viewer 2 private IP: 11.0.0.30

Custom rules list:
  • 10.0.0.0 - 15.0.0.0: blocked
  • 10.0.0.0 - 10.0.0.255: allowed
Fallback policy: blocked

Before:
  • Viewer 1 blocked, since one allowed and one blocked match, and blocked matches have higher priority.
  • Viewer 2 blocked, since one blocked match.

After:
  • Viewer 1 blocked, since the first match encountered (top to bottom) was to block the IP.
  • Viewer 2 blocked, since the only matching rule was blocking the IP.
Please note that smaller IP ranges should be listed before large ranges containing them (top-to-bottom).





Multiple private IP addresses are now supported 
Please note that the following change will only materialize if your viewers’ devices have multiple private IP addresses configured on their network interfaces (typically one IPv4 and one IPv6 address). 

Previously, eCDN clients would detect their private IP address and always prioritize IPv4 over IPv6. Also, only a single IP address could be detected and sent for matching against custom rules. We’re changing this so that all private IPs configured on the device’s interfaces will be used for matching. To ensure top-to-bottom evaluation, the first rule matching any detected private IP addresses will be used. 


Renaming Random peering policy 
The policy previously called Random peering policy is now called Testing peering policy. This policy is primarily intended for test purposes and is not designed to provide full performance in production. 


Meet Quality Tool improvements 
Viewers with the Testing peering policy will now be represented in the Meet Quality Tool eCDN table. Previously this table would only show viewers per configured network if the Custom Rules peering policy was used. 

Rollout pace: 
  • Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 6, 2025. 
  • Scheduled release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 28, 2025. 

Resources: 


Read More

 

A summary of announcements from this week:
The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.

Upcoming Change to Drive Sharing Permissions
Earlier this year, we announced that we would be updating the access experience in Google Drive. With this update, we will stop allowing restricted access on specific files and folders within a shared folder, starting September 22, 2025. Limited access should instead be managed consistently via the limited access folder setting. | Learn more about the sharing permissions changes. 


Introducing new Gmail notification features on Android and iOS devices
We're making it quicker and easier to manage your emails on mobile with two new features: You can now use the "Mark as Read" feature directly on your Android device to clear a notification. Also, sender avatars are now available on iOS devices. | Learn more about the new notification features. 


Build a deeper understanding of a topic with Learning Guide in Notebook LM
We're introducing a new “Learning Guide” option that encourages participation with probing, open-ended questions. Instead of just giving answers, it helps you break down problems step-by-step and adapts explanations to your needs, building a deeper understanding of the subject. | Learn more about Learning Guide in Notebook LM. 


Refine Google Chat messages with Gemini to communicate with confidence and clarity
You can now use Gemini to refine messages you’re composing within Google Chat on the web. Gemini can help you improve clarity, conciseness, and accuracy in wording, grammar, and spelling. This can be particularly useful when composing an important message to a large space or a senior stakeholder, or for users communicating in a second language. | Learn more about refining messages in Google Chat.  


Generate data with AI function in Sheets now available in seven additional languages
Earlier this year, we announced AI function in Sheets. You can use the AI function to prompt Gemini to generate text, summarize information, categorize data, or analyze sentiment at scale with generated content appearing directly in the cells you choose. Now, AI function is available to users in Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, French, Italian, and German. | Learn more about the new languages for AI Function. 


AI-Powered app summaries in the AppSheet Admin console
Admins with an AppSheet Enterprise Plus can now ask Gemini to generate a summary of an app owned by their organization. The will enable admins to more quickly understand the purpose and capabilities of any AppSheet app. | Learn more about AI-powered app summaries. 


Limited promotion of expanded access to AI features in Google Vids for Education Plus and Teaching and Learning users
Earlier this year, we announced expanded access to Google Vids, bringing basic access to Google Vids to all Google Workspace for Education users. Now, we’re excited to announce the following AI features are available to users with an Education Plus or Teaching & Learning add-on license for a limited time*. | Learn more about expanded access to Vids AI features. 


Reporting rules are now activity rules
To simplify the admin experience for creating rules and monitoring alerts, we are combining reporting rules with activity rules: Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Enterprise Essentials Plus, Education Plus, Cloud Identity Premium, Chrome Enterprise Premium and Enterprise Standard customers will retain all the functionality of the activity rules experience and can now also create rules without thresholds. | Learn more about activity rules. 


Gemini in Google Sheets now provides smarter, more conversational formula generation
Earlier this year, we made it easier to generate charts and insights using Gemini in Google Sheets. Building on that momentum, we’re excited to announce a significant enhancement to formula generation in Gemini for Sheets. Specifically, we've upgraded Gemini to include detailed natural language formula explanations, provide formula error explanation and self-correction, and to output multiple formula options. | Learn more about improved formula generation in Google Sheets. 


Create videos from your existing Google Slides presentations using Gemini in Google Vids
Earlier this year, we announced the first iteration of the ability to turn existing Google Slides content into engaging videos using Google Vids. Now, we’re expanding that functionality to include Gemini-generated scripts, AI voiceovers, and background music. This makes it easier and faster to transform your existing content into a shareable, engaging video. | Learn more about creating Vids from Slides. 


Educators can now create and assign NotebookLM and Gems in Google Classrooms
Over the last year, we’ve brought the capabilities of Gemini to Google Classroom to support new ways of teaching and learning. A few months ago, we expanded Gemini in Classroom to help educators use AI for their common teaching tasks. Today, we’re making it possible for educators to use Google’s NotebookLM and Gems to create teacher-led AI experiences for students of all ages in Google Classroom. | Learn more about creating and assigning notebooks and Gems in Classroom. 


Generate stories using Gemini with Read Along in Google Classroom
Starting today, educators will be able to use Gemini to create their own stories with Read Along in Classroom, in addition to the existing ability to upload their own content into Read Along as part of the assignment creation process. Now, with the help of Gemini, educators have an enhanced ability to further customize their students’ experience and differentiate their instruction by generating content specific to students’ needs. | Learn more about generating stories using Read Along. 


Configure up to 20 conditional notifications per Google Sheet
Last year we introduced conditional notifications in Google Sheets, which allow users to create custom rules in spreadsheets that send email notifications when certain criteria are met. Now we are expanding rule limits for conditional notifications from 10 to 20 rules per spreadsheet. | Learn more about the increased conditional notifications limit. 


Gems in Gemini Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI™) is now rolling out
We’re excited to announce the launch of Gem integration with Gemini Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI™). This will mean that third party Learning Management Systems (LMS) Canvas by Instructure and PowerSchool Schoology Learning will be able to use Gems. | Learn more about Gems in Gemini LTI. 


Updates to Gmail log events
To support more granular incident investigations and to expand access to this critical security data, we’ve made a few changes to the Gmail Audit Logs. 1. Addition of the Gmail log events to the audit and investigation tool. 2. Addition of the Gmail log events to the AdminSDK Reports API. 3. Gemini Data Access Logging for Gmail log events.  | Learn more about updates to Gmail log events.  
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Previous announcements
The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.

Enhancing meeting privacy for copied Calendar events
When users copy or duplicate events in Calendar, the Meet conference won’t be copied over. This ensures that Meet access and meeting notes remain tied to the original event and its attendees. If the user intends to participate in the same Meet conference, they can copy over the Meet code separately. | Learn more about the updates to copied Calendar events.

Seamlessly join Google Meet conferences from any calendar app
With this launch, the Google Meet link will be added to the location field when a Google Calendar user invites a user of a different calendar app (such as Microsoft Outlook) to a meeting with Google Meet. This helps users of other calendar services such as Outlook to easily find the Meet link when it's time to join by ensuring it doesn't get lost in the event details. | Learn more about the easier way to access Google Meet from other calendar apps.

Automatically install Chat apps to your conversations
Chat apps will now automatically be added as needed to future conversations after being installed by a user. Previously, a user had to manually install a Chat app into every space, group chat, and direct message. | Learn more about the updates to copied Calendar events.

Now generally available: Convert your Client-side encrypted Google Sheets after a Vault or Takeout export
Client-side encryption supports ediscovery and data portability for our customers. After an export using Vault or the data export tool (takeout), admins can decrypt the previously client-side encrypted content. This launch now adds full support with a conversion tool so that admins can convert decrypted Google Sheets into a Microsoft Excel file. | Learn more about the new capabilities with CSE and Google Sheets.

Changes to Manage Google Meet hardware and calendars privilege
To improve security and clarity, the Manage Google Meet hardware and calendars privilege will no longer grant broad access to all calendars in your organization. Currently: This privilege allows admins to assign calendars to Meet hardware devices AND grants full read/write access to all calendars in your organization. Starting October 15, 2025: This privilege will no longer grant read/write access to your organization’s Google Calendars. | Learn more about the changes to admin privileges.

Quizzes in the Gemini app are now available to under-18 users
Earlier this year, we announced the ability to generate quizzes for any subject using Canvas in the Gemini app by uploading relevant documents or simply entering a prompt like “Give me a practice quiz about the nervous system”. Now, this feature is also available to users under 18 years of age. | Learn more about the expanded access to Quizzes in the Gemini app.

Ask Gemini in Meet: Your Personal Meeting Assistant
Ask Gemini in Meet will soon be available in Google Meet for select Google Workspace customers, offering advanced features to improve your meeting experience. You can use Ask Gemini to: Summarize ongoing discussions, improve meeting outcomes by identifying key action items, or catch up on what you missed. | Learn more about Ask Gemini in Google Meet.

Get proactive summaries of text responses in Forms
Previously, users were able to request summaries of responses to specific questions in Google Forms using Gemini. Now, users will see proactive Gemini generated insights in Forms for short-answer or paragraph questions when reviewing responses. | Learn more about proactive summaries in Forms.

Introducing Gems sharing in the Gemini app, including admin controls
With this launch you can share Gems with other users in your organization and beyond. Gems are customizable versions of Gemini that you can personalize to be experts on any topic. Once shared, other users can edit, use, or make a copy of the Gem. | Learn more about sharing Gems.

Gemini in Chrome will soon be generally available, pre-configure access for end users in advance
In the coming weeks, we’re starting the roll out of Gemini in Chrome to all Google Workspace users with access to the Gemini app. Gemini in Chrome is an AI browsing assistant to help you get things done on Mac and Windows devices. Ahead of the general availability roll out, admins can decide whether access to Gemini in Chrome is “Allowed” or “Not allowed” for their users. | Learn more about the pre-launch controls for Gemini in Chrome.
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What’s changing 
In the coming weeks, we’re starting the roll out of Gemini in Chrome to all Google Workspace users with access to the Gemini app. Gemini in Chrome is an AI browsing assistant to help you get things done on Mac and Windows devices, allowing users to ask Gemini for answers and insights, conduct in-depth two-way conversation with Gemini Live, and more using the context of up to 10 browser tabs along with the Google Workspace app. 

Ahead of the general availability roll out, admins can decide whether access to Gemini in Chrome is “Allowed” or “Not allowed” for their users, and is configurable using two settings: Chrome Gemini Settings & Gemini app service setting. Please see the ‘Additional details’ section below for important information on compliance certifications for Gemini in Chrome. 

We’ll share another update on the Workspace Updates blog with more information when this feature is going to start general availability launch. 

Additional details 
Data protections and terms of service 

Compliance certifications 
  • DISCLAIMER: At launch, the compliance certifications achieved to date for Google Workspace customers accessing the Gemini app as a core service on web or mobile app do not apply to Gemini in Chrome. Specifically: 
    • HIPAA 
    • SOC 1, SOC 2, SOC 3 
    • ISO / IEC 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, ISO 27701, ISO 9001, ISO 42001 
    • FedRAMP High 
    • BSI C5:2020 
Service availability 
  • Initially, Gemini in Chrome will be available: 
    • On Mac and Windows 
    • To users 18+ In English only 
    • In the US only 

Usage reporting 
  • Gemini in Chrome usage will be included as part of Gemini app usage visible in the Admin Console under Generative AI > Gemini Reports and in other admin reporting tools like the Security Investigation Tool 

Getting started 
  • Admins: This feature will be ON by default unless you have already disabled the Gemini app service. It can be turned on/off at the domain, OU, or group level. Access is managed by two admin settings: 
    • Gemini app service setting; The default setting is ON. The Gemini app service setting manages access to the Gemini app on web (gemini.google.com), mobile (iOS and Android apps), and Chrome. Turning this setting off disables access to the Gemini app across all surfaces. Chrome GeminiSettings: The default setting is “0 - Allow Gemini integrations”. 
    • Chrome GeminiSettings manages access to Gemini in Chrome. Turning this setting off disables Gemini in Chrome only, but does not impact the availability of the Gemini app on web (gemini.google.com) or mobile (iOS and Android apps). 
  • End users: There is no end user impact or action required at this time. 

Rollout pace 

Availability 
Available for Google Workspace: 

  • Business Starter, Standard, Plus 
  • Enterprise Starter, Standard, Plus 
  • Education Fundamentals, Standard, and Plus 
  • Frontline Starter, Standard, and Plus 
  • Essentials, Enterprise Essentials, and Enterprise Essentials Plus 
  • Nonprofits 

Available for Google Workspace customers with these add-ons: 

  • Gemini Business* 
  • Gemini Enterprise* 
  • Google AI Ultra for Business 
  • Google AI Pro for Education 
*As of January 15, 2025, we’re no longer offering the Gemini Business and Gemini Enterprise add-ons for sale. Please refer to this announcement for more details. 

Resources 

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What’s changing Ask Gemini in Meet will soon be available in Google Meet for select Google Workspace customers, offering advanced features to improve your meeting experience. 

You can use Ask Gemini to: 

  • Summarize ongoing discussions, or get a recap of what someone said 
  • Improve meeting outcomes by identifying key takeaways, decisions, and action items 
  • Catch up on what you missed if you joined late (if Take Notes for Me was enabled) 


Additional details 
  • A user’s interactions and responses from Ask Gemini in Meet are private to that user. 
  • Ask Gemini generates answers by referring to meeting captions, Google Workspace resources (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Gmail, etc.) that the user has permission to view, and content from Google search and public websites. 
  • No caption data will be stored after the meeting ends. Ask Gemini in Meet does not create a meeting recording.
  • Ask Gemini in Meet cannot answer questions about meeting discussions that happen before the user has joined the meeting, unless Take Notes for Me had already been turned on before they joined. 
  • Only meetings in English are currently supported, but support for more languages is coming soon. 
  • Ask Gemini in Meet is only available on desktop at this time. 
  • Ask Gemini in Meet is not available in breakout rooms at this time. 
  • Gemini in Workspace can make mistakes, including about people, so users should review its output. 

Getting started 
  • Admins: Ask Gemini in Meet will be ON by default. Admins can configure it to be OFF or ON at the domain, OU, and Group level in the Admin console by going to Google Workspace > Google Meet > Gemini Settings. 
  • Meeting hosts and co-hosts: Meeting hosts have the ability to turn Ask Gemini in Meet OFF for all meeting participants. Hosts can do so from the Calendar event, or during the meeting by hovering over the Gemini icon and clicking on the three-dot menu, or by going to Host controls > Gemini. 
  • Meeting participants: All meeting participants in a meeting with Ask Gemini in Meet enabled will be shown a consent banner in the meeting. Participants joining a meeting via dial-in will hear an announcement informing them that Ask Gemini in Meet is enabled. Participants with Smart Features disabled will not be able to use Ask Gemini. 
Meet homepage disclosure in conference rooms

Pre-meeting disclosure on desktop 

In-meeting disclosure shown to all meeting participants on desktop 



Hosts will be able to disable Gemini in the meeting, as well as prior to it 

Rollout pace 
Admin setting 

  • Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Already available for the following plans: Enterprise Plus, Enterprise (Standard), Business Plus, Business Standard, and a few other add-on plans that are no longer supported. 

End user availability 

  • Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on, or after, September 29th, 2025. 
  • Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout will begin in October, with a target to complete the rollout by October 17th. 

Availability 
  • Ask Gemini in Meet is available for Google Workspace Business Plus customers at this time.  It will become available for other Workspace customers in late 2025 or early 2026, once we’ve collected and applied critical user feedback to improve the feature. 
  • If you’d like immediate access for your organization, you can join the Google Workspace Gemini Alpha. 

Resources 





Read More

What’s changing 
To improve security and clarity, the Manage Google Meet hardware and calendars privilege will no longer grant broad access to all calendars in your organization. 

  • Currently: This privilege allows admins to assign calendars to Meet hardware devices AND grants full read/write access to all calendars in your organization. 
  • Starting October 15, 2025: This privilege will no longer grant read/write access to your organization’s Google Calendars. You’ll still be able to use the privilege to manage Google Meet hardware devices and assign calendars to them. 

Who’s impacted 
  • Admins with the Manage Google Meet hardware and calendars privilege 

Why it’s important 
This update lets you grant calendar access independently of Google Meet hardware privileges. It ensures that administrators who only manage Meet hardware can no longer access sensitive calendar data across the organization, minimizing security risks. 

Getting started 
  • Admins: With this change, there are two potential actions for admins: 
    • Option 1: Do nothing. If your Meet hardware admins do not need access to all of your organization’s Google Calendars, no action is required. On October 15, 2025, delegated admins will no longer be able to access user calendars using the “Manage Google Meet hardware and calendars” privilege. They will retain the ability to assign calendars to devices via the Meet hardware Admin console. 
    • Option 2: Grant the ‘Manage Calendars’ privilege to Admins. If your admins need the same level of calendar control as they had before, you must grant them the Calendar application’s “Manage Calendars” privilege before October 15, 2025. This will give them full read/write access to all Google Calendars in your organization. 
  • End users: No end user impact 

Rollout pace 
  • Available Now: You can assign the new "Manage Calendars" privilege to relevant admins. 
  • Starting October 15, 2025: The "Manage Google Meet hardware and calendars" privilege will be automatically restricted, removing broad calendar access. 

Availability 
  • Available to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware devices 

Resources 





Read More

  

Previous announcements
The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.

Get real-time push notifications for reactions on your messages in Google Chat
Chat users can now receive real-time push notifications for reactions on their messages. This can help users stay on top of reactions on their messages and avoid missing potentially important updates. | Learn more about notifications for reactions in Chat.

Public notebooks in partnership with OpenStax
We've partnered with OpenStax, the leading provider of free, peer-reviewed textbooks, to transform some of their most popular academic titles into interactive Notebooks. These ready-to-use Notebooks are designed to help high school and college students turn passive reading into active learning. With content curated from subjects like Biology, Psychology, and Business, you can instantly engage with complex material and accelerate your understanding.  | Learn more about the new interactive Notebooks.

Available in closed beta: enhancing security outcomes with the Shared Signals Framework
The Shared Signals Framework (SSF) is a community supported initiative of the OpenID Foundation, focused on developing and maintaining a standardized protocol for cross-system communication between security platforms to share security insights and events. To support the SSF initiative, Google Workspace is implementing a SSF Receiver to ingest Continuous Access Evaluation Profile (CAEP) signals. | Learn more about the beta for shared signals framework.

Understand changes more quickly with condensed version history in Sheets
We are introducing a new condensed view for version history in Google Sheets. By default, Sheets will now only show rows with cells that had changes in the selected version. The condensed version history will help users identify relevant edits to the sheet more quickly and efficiently. | Learn more about the new condensed version history here.

Educators and students can now create Flashcards, Quizzes and new Reports in NotebookLM
NotebookLM can now turn your documents into interactive flashcards and quizzes, creating a personalized study session, generated in seconds and grounded only in your source materials. Prep for exams, master a new skill, and share it with anyone with a simple link. | Learn more about the Flashcards, Quizzes, and Reports.

See file summaries on the Home page in Google Drive
You can now see Gemini summaries directly within the suggested files surfaced on the Home page in Google Drive. These summaries will show on select Docs, Sheets, Slides, and PDFs in your suggested file list. You can click the “See more” button that appears on hover to view a more in-depth analysis, or ask Gemini follow up questions about the file in the Gemini side panel. | Learn more about the new sumaries in Google Drive here.
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What’s changing 
The Shared Signals Framework (SSF) is a community supported initiative of the OpenID Foundation, focused on developing and maintaining a standardized protocol for cross-system communication between security platforms to share security insights and events. To support the SSF initiative, Google Workspace is implementing a SSF Receiver to ingest Continuous Access Evaluation Profile (CAEP) signals. This feature is available in closed beta for Google Workspace customers and interested partners. Eligible customers and security platform providers can use this form to express interest in the closed beta. 

Who’s impacted 
Admins 

Why it matters 
Our closed beta of the Shared Signals Framework (SSF) offers an example use case: session revocation. When Google Workspace gets a signal to revoke a session, the user's session is automatically invalidated, which cuts down the time a potentially compromised user has system access. This highlights SSF's strength: enhancing security by improving cross-system communication and speeding up responses to security events. 

Getting started 
  • Admins: If you are a security platform interested in transmitting CAEP signals to Google Workspace, or a Google Workspace customer interested in testing the Shared Signals integration in your domain, please express your interest by filling out this form. 
    • Please note: While we are in a Closed Beta development phase, we intend to gradually onboard both security platforms and customers. Submission of the form does not guarantee acceptance to the Closed Beta. We will reach out to those who’ve submitted the form if there is availability. 
  • End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. 

Availability 
Available for Google Workspace: 
  • Enterprise Plus



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Previous announcements
The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.

Revamping the scanned documents editing experience in Google Drive on Android devices
When scanning documents with Google Drive on your mobile device, you can crop or rotate your file, adjust its color by applying filters, erase shadows, and more. This week, we’re excited to introduce updates to adjustment options to provide you with a seamless and improved user experience while editing scanned documents. | Learn more about the new document scanning experience

Google AI Pro for Education subscription now available to Workspace for Education customers
We are simplifying our offerings and bringing even more value by consolidating Gemini Education and Gemini Education Premium into a single add-on subscription, Google AI Pro for Education. This includes all the advanced features previously found in Gemini Education Premium. Google AI Pro for Education provides access to Gemini in Google Workspace apps, including AI-powered note taking and summaries in Google Meet, expanded access to premium models and features in Gemini for Education and NotebookLM, and more proactive security with AI-enhanced data loss prevention.  | Learn more about the new Gemini offering for Education customers.

'Help me create' in Google Vids now includes support for Google Slides
Earlier this year, we added updates to the AI voiceover features within Help me create in Google Vids. Starting today, you’re now able to include Google Slides presentations as reference materials when constructing your prompts using Help me create and will receive improved Slides analysis and content incorporation into video drafts. | Learn more about using slides to help create your Vids.

Use Gemini to refine text in Slides
You can now refine text within a text box in Google Slides using Gemini. In just a few clicks, you can ask Gemini to help rephrase, shorten, formalize, or bulletize the current text using pre-set options optimized for Slides. Alternatively, you can enter your own prompt to have Gemini refine the text. This can help you quickly polish the text on your slides and improve the consumability of the content. | Learn more about using Gemini to refine text in Slides.
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What’s changing 
Last year, we brought the best of Google AI, including Google Workspace with Gemini, to Workspace for Education customers with two paid add-ons: Gemini Education and Gemini Education Premium. 

This past June, we notified education customers that we are simplifying our offerings and bringing even more value by consolidating Gemini Education and Gemini Education Premium into a single add-on subscription, Google AI Pro for Education. 

This includes all the advanced features previously found in Gemini Education Premium. Google AI Pro for Education provides access to Gemini in Google Workspace apps, including AI-powered note taking and summaries in Google Meet, expanded access to premium models and features in Gemini for Education and NotebookLM, and more proactive security with AI-enhanced data loss prevention. 

Starting today, new customers and resellers can purchase the Google AI Pro for Education add-on, and the Gemini Education and Gemini Education Premium add-ons are no longer available for sale. 

Getting started 
  • Admins: No action is needed. 
    • Customers with a Gemini Education subscription now have access to all the features previously found in Gemini Education Premium. At your next renewal, your subscription will be renamed to Google AI Pro for Education. 
    • Customers with a Gemini Education Premium subscription will not see immediate changes. At your next renewal, we will migrate your subscription to Google AI Pro for Education. 
  • End users: There is no end user impact or action required. 

Rollout pace 
  • Updates in Admin Console will begin taking effect starting August 28, 2025 and may take a couple weeks to roll out for new customers purchasing a Google AI Pro for Education subscription. 
  • Updates to feature availability for existing customers with a Gemini Education subscription are complete. 

Availability 
This update impacts Google Workspace for Education customers who previously purchased Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-ons. 

Google AI Pro for Education is available for Google Workspace: 

  • Education Fundamentals, Standard, Plus 

Resources 
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Previous announcements
The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.

Context-Aware Access policies can now be applied to all internal and third-party apps using OpenID Connect
Admins can now apply Context-Aware Access (CAA) policies to apps which use OpenID Connect (OIDC), which are a subset of OAuth apps that are authenticated using Google sign-in. Admins can use a single setting to apply CAA policies to all OIDC apps by default. | Learn more about the new CAA / OIDC expansion.

Adding image support to Gemini in the side panel of Google Drive
we’re happy to announce that Gemini can now answer questions or give you summaries about images in Drive. For example, you could now ask Gemini to summarize this image, extract text from this image, extract information from this receipt/invoice into a table, generate alternate text for this image, or write a story about this image. | Learn more about using Gemini on images in Google Drive.

Image editing now available in the Gemini app
We’re bringing a significant update to the Gemini app for Google Workspace users: the introduction of powerful image editing capabilities. The updates will enable you to reimagine photos with prompts. You can start with a generated image or upload your own, and then prompt Gemini to combine it with other photos, change the context or location, change details within the image, and more. | Learn more about image editing in the Gemini app.

Gemini in Google Sheets helps you create dynamic and easily referenced tables
Building on the introduction of intelligent suggestions for table conversion, we’re now using Gemini to make tables in Sheets even more useful. Now, when you accept a “Convert to table” suggestion, Gemini will automatically format your data as a table and create a meaningful table name (e.g., Project_Status). | Learn more about using Gemini to make Sheets tables even more useful.

Edit videos more easily using the transcript in Google Vids
We know it's common for people to record themselves and later discover distracting pauses, and “uhms” and “uhs.” Or, after recording, you could decide you want to cut out an entire sentence to shorten a clip. Instead of having to record the entire clip over, Gemini in Vids can now generate a transcript of your recording, and then identify and trim filler words and awkward pauses out of the transcript with one click to help you sound your best and eliminate tedious editing tasks. | Learn more about editing via the transcript in Google Vids.

Deliver your message with AI avatars in Google Vids
Starting today, you can deliver a polished and consistent message by writing a script and choosing an AI avatar to deliver your content in Google Vids. Simply go to vids.new, click “AI Avatars”, type a script in the AI avatar right side panel, choose a persona, and Vids will generate a video for you to preview within minutes. Whether you need a reliable way to present information clearly for a dozen training videos or you don’t have time or budget to film the right spokesperson for your video, AI avatars provide a fast, consistent way to narrate your videos. | Learn more about generating AI avatars in Vids.

Convert images to video with Veo 3 in Google Vids
With this launch, you can upload an image into Google Vids and input a prompt to convert the image into a high quality eight-second video with sound. This experience uses Veo 3 to create dynamic and engaging content effortlessly by transforming product photography, logos, and more from static shots to engaging short videos based on your instructions. | Learn more about converting images to videos.

Daily Exports for Google Drive inventory reporting is now available in open beta
Google Drive Inventory reporting now supports scheduling a daily export of your Drive data assets to BigQuery, in addition to the existing weekly cadence. | Learn more about daily exporiting to BigQuery.
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Previous announcements
The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.

Edit your Google Drive videos in your browser, using Google Vids
Users now have a quicker way to start editing right from Drive, using Google Vids. With this launch, when a user is previewing their video in Drive, there will be an "Open" button in the upper right that will open the video in Vids. Vids will automatically open the video file, and from there you can further edit as you see fit. | Learn more about editing Drive videos with Vids.

Let others easily book time with you using the new pre-configured Google Calendar booking page
We’re excited to introduce a new way to access all your booking pages directly in the Calendar side bar. Plus, users who don’t have an appointment schedule yet will now have a pre-configured booking page. | Learn more about using the new booking pages in Google Calendar.

Incorporate information from Calendar, Tasks, and Keep in your conversations with Gemini Live
With this launch, you can reference Calendar, Tasks, and Keep in your conversations with Gemini Live. Gemini Live enables in-depth two way conversations to help you brainstorm ideas, explore new concepts, and more. | Learn more about using Gemini Live with Calendar, Tasks, and Keep.

Effortlessly work with ServiceNow data across Google Chat and Sheets
ServiceNow is now integrated with Google Chat and Sheets. With the ServiceNow and Google Chat integration, users are now able to interact directly with ServiceNow's Virtual Agent within Google Chat. With the ServiceNow and Google Sheets integration, users can bypass manual file downloads and uploads and export data from ServiceNow directly into Sheets. | Learn more about using ServiceNow with Chat and Sheets. 

Arrow keys now move an object by a pixel distance in Google Slides
Prior to today, when using the arrow keys to move objects in Google Slides, the object would move a great distance. To improve upon this experience, the using the arrow keys to “nudge” an object will now move by 1 pixel. | Learn more about moving objects in Google Slides. 

Create and manage student groups using the Google Classroom API
We are excited to announce the launch of the Google Classroom API Student Groups endpoints which enable developers to manage student groups and group members on behalf of administrators and teachers. | Learn more about using the Classroom API to create and manage student groups. 

Listen to your documents using Gemini in Google Docs
For those who prefer to listen to document content, we’re excited to introduce the ability to create audio versions of your documents using Gemini in Google Docs. | Learn more about listening to Google Docs.

Improving the ISEMAIL and ISURL functions in Google Sheets
To ensure more domains and email addresses are properly recognized by functions, we’re improving the way =ISURL() and =ISEMAIL() are evaluated to more accurately return TRUE when appropriate. | Learn more about the ISEMAIL and ISURL functions in Google Sheets. 

Catch up on unread messages within a conversation in Google Chat
You can currently use Gemini in Google Chat to summarize unread conversations in the Chat home view and to summarize files shared in conversations. To build upon this, we’re adding the ability to catch up on unread messages in a direct message, group conversation, or space. | Learn more about catching up on unread messages using Gemini in Google Chat. 

Coming soon: A refreshed user interface for Google Meet hardware touch controllers, test it now in preview
In the coming weeks, we will be introducing an updated user interface for some Google Meet hardware. To explore this upcoming feature, we encourage Admins to change the feature preview setting to enable Early preview for their devices. | Learn more about the new Meet hardware interface.

Increased credit limit for Google AI Ultra for Business users and expanded country availability to Whisk
With this launch, we are increasing the credit limit to use with Whisk and Flow for Google AI Ultra for Business users from 12,500 per user per month to 25,000 per user per month. | Learn more about the increased credits and expanded country availability for Whisk. 
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What’s changing 
Last year, we announced a new feature that enables teachers to create groups of students in Google Classroom. Now, we are excited to announce the launch of the Google Classroom API Student Groups endpoints which enable developers to manage student groups and group members on behalf of administrators and teachers. 

The Student Groups endpoints are currently available through the Google Workspace Developer Preview Program (DPP). Specifically, developers will be able to: 
  • Create, modify, and delete student groups within a course. 
  • Add and remove members within student groups. 
This launch will help Developers to programmatically read and manage student groups in Google Classroom, enabling greater integration between Google Classroom and other tools used by teachers. 

Getting Started 
  1. To access Google Classroom API Student Group endpoints, join the Google Workspace Developer Preview Program. 
  2. Begin development following the Manage student groups guide. 
  3. Provide feedback. We would love to hear what you think! 

Who’s impacted 
  • Developers building integrations with the Google Classroom API. 

Rollout pace 
  • Available now through the Google Workspace Developer Preview Program. 

Availability 
  • API requests are permitted on behalf of teachers and administrators with a Google Workspace for Education Plus license. 

Resources 


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What’s changing 
=ISURL() and =ISEMAIL() are two Google Sheets functions that check whether a value is a valid URL or email address, respectively. To ensure more domains and email addresses are properly recognized by these functions, we’re improving the way they are evaluated. Moving forward, properly formatted email addresses and URLs will more accurately return TRUE when passed through =ISEMAIL() or =ISURL(). 

Additional details 
This change, once fully rolled out, will impact both new uses of these functions as well as existing uses of these functions. 

Getting started 
  • Admins: 
    • There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: 
    • There is no end user setting for this feature. Visit the Help Center to learn more about =ISURL() and =ISEMAIL(). 

Rollout pace 

Availability 
  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts 

Resources 

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What’s changing 
In the coming weeks, we will be introducing an updated user interface for the Mimo Vue HD, Mimo Mist, Logitech Tap, Logitech Tap IP and Lenovo Series One Touch controllers.

To explore this upcoming feature, we encourage Admins to change the feature preview setting to enable Early preview for their devices. This will give admins time to prepare for the change, and end users to become familiar with the new design. See the “Additional details” section below for more information. 

Overall, the design allows users to concentrate on their meetings rather than searching for controls, resulting in a more efficient and aesthetically pleasing experience. Here’s what you can expect: 
  • Simplified Access to Key Controls: the controls you use most frequently, like mute and hand raise, are more prominent and easily accessible, helping you cut down on time searching for features and more time focusing on your meeting. 
  • Intuitively Organized Features: 
    • In-meeting experience: If you need to access more advanced features, like camera controls or the meeting layout, you can find them under the “More actions” menu. This keeps the main interface clean while ensuring less frequently used features are still readily accessible. 
    • Pre-call experience: You’ll also notice a refresh for the pre-call meeting UI, which prominently features the option to enter a meeting code or nickname, and a drop-down menu for Webex or Zoom meetings. 
  • A Familiar Interface: The touch controller UI will now look and feel similar to the Google Meet UI as seen on Laptop & Desktop devices, which will help navigating the menu more intuitively. 
Touch Controller UI Refresh pre-meeting experience


Touch Controller UI Refresh Annotated pre-meeting Experience


Touch Controller UI Refresh In-meeting Experience


Touch Controller UI Refresh Annotated In-meeting Experience


Touch Controller Advanced View


UI refresh pre-meeting experience


We’ll share more information about when the refreshed user interface will become generally available soon. 

Additional details 
More information about Early Preview Rooms 
We highly recommend joining our Early Preview Rooms (EPR), beginning August 18th, 2025, to help your organization get ready for this change. 

Enrolling devices into EPR allows you to: 
  • Test: Experience the new UI firsthand on select devices in your environment 
  • Prepare: Use the preview period (approximately 4-6 weeks) to update your internal training documents, support resources, and end-user communications 
  • Provide feedback: Share your feedback to help us refine the experience before general availability 

How to participate: 

Expanding availability 
We plan to expand support for the new UI to all Google Meet touch controllers, including AOSP devices. We’ll share more information here on the Workspace Updates blog once available. 

Getting started

Rollout pace 
  • Available for Early Preview Rooms starting on August 18th, 2025 

Availability 
  • Available to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware devices 

Resources 

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Useful Links

Join the official community for Google Workspace administrators

In the Google Cloud Community, discuss the latest features with Googlers and other Google Workspace admins like you. Learn tips and tricks that will make your work and life easier. Be the first to know what's happening with Google Workspace.

Learn about more Google Workspace launches

On the “What’s new in Google Workspace?” Help Center page, learn about new products and features launching in Google Workspace, including smaller changes that haven’t been announced on the Google Workspace Updates blog.

Learn about our customers

Discover how a diverse range of organizations, from small businesses and nimble startups to globally recognized Fortune 500 corporations, leverage the collaborative power of Google Workspace. Explore examples of how teams of are streamlining workflows and driving productivity by utilizing Google-Workspace.