A summary of announcements from the last week:
The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog over the last week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.
Control whether users can request to join a space in Google Chat
New Google Chat Access Control Space owners and managers can now disable the "request to join" feature. Previously, users with a link to a restricted space could ask for permission to enter; with this new setting, managers can block these requests entirely, preventing users from asking to join via a link. | Learn more about
controlling whether users can request to join a space in Google Chat.
Educators can now assign public notebooks in Google Classroom
Expanded NotebookLM Assignments in Google Classroom Educators can now attach public notebooks to assignments, rather than being limited to notebooks they personally create or own. This update allows teachers to easily integrate external shared resources—such as content from the OpenStax partnership—directly into their curriculum. | Learn more about
assigning public notebooks in Google Classroom.
New to Gmail: share emails in Google Chat
We’re launching a new integration between Gmail and Google Chat designed to improve team collaboration and productivity. With this feature, you can easily share a conversation from your Gmail inbox to a Chat direct message or space. No need to start your chat conversation with, "Did you see the email I forwarded?" or dig through your inbox to find the message being discussed. | Learn more about
sharing emails to Google Chat directly from Gmail.
Choose your preferred caption language for Meet live streams on mobile devices
Google Meet live stream viewers can select their own preferred language for translated captions on mobile devices. Individual language selection helps overcome language barriers during presentations and events, maximizing each viewer's potential to understand and engage with the content being shared. | Learn more about
choosing your preferred caption language for Meet live streams on mobile devices.
Google Meet translated captions now available in Cantonese
Cantonese Support for Google Meet Translated Captions Google Meet has added Cantonese to its list of supported languages for translated captions. This allows real-time translation of Cantonese speech into other languages, significantly improving accessibility and collaboration for global teams and educational institutions operating in diverse linguistic environments. | Learn more about
Cantonese support for Google Meet translated captions.
A refreshed user interface for Google Meet hardware touch controllers
In the coming weeks, we’ll roll out a streamlined user interface for the following Meet Hardware devices: Mimo Vue HD, Mimo Mist, Logitech Tap, Logitech Tap IP, and Lenovo Series One Touch controllers (with Android devices coming soon). This new experience will offer users a more efficient and intuitive way to manage their meetings. | Learn more about
a refreshed user interface for Google Meet hardware touch controllers.
Seamlessly join meetings on Google Meet hardware with “Connect room”
In the coming weeks, we’ll introduce Connect room, a new way to seamlessly begin your meetings on Google Meet hardware directly from your personal device. This will be available in early preview. Connect room streamlines how you start meetings in a conference room. Instead of manually typing a meeting code, this feature uses ultrasound proximity detection to identify a nearby, available Google Meet hardware device. | Learn more about
seamlessly joining meetings on Google Meet hardware with “Connect room”.
Get quick insights on your Google Drive folders with Gemini
Earlier this year, we introduced Gemini “nudges” at the top of folders in Google Drive, and we’re now making it even easier to get the context of your folders at a glance. Gemini will now proactively provide insights about the files within a folder, right at the top of the folder view. This makes it easier to quickly understand what’s inside without having to open individual files. | Learn more about
getting quick insights on your Google Drive folders with Gemini.
Now available: Create AI agents to automate work with Google Workspace Studio
A more modern interface for viewing PDFs, videos, images, and audio files in Google Drive on the web
BYOD on Google Meet on Chrome OS touch controller rooms
We're launching an integration with Lightware peripheral switchers, so that you and your team can bring your own devices (BYOD) to Google Meet on Chrome OS touch controller rooms. Now, you can plug your laptop into a Meet room with a single USB-C cable and easily use the room's display, speaker, microphone, and camera—along with your laptop—for video conferencing. | Learn more about
BYOD on Google Meet for ChromeOS touch controller rooms.