Finding critical information on the go often involves sifting through lengthy email threads and switching between multiple messages while your hands are busy commuting or multi-tasking. Following our initial rollout of conversational AI voice capabilities, we are bringing Gmail Live to Google Workspace customers on mobile (Android and iOS). Using our latest Gemini models, Gmail Live delivers a low-latency, inbox-aware voice search experience that lets you ask questions naturally and hear synthesized answers directly from your email inbox. We’ve included sources for users to easily view the emails where the information is being pulled, as well as the following improvements:

• See where the information is coming from: An email source card is now surfaced prominently at every conversational turn.
• Ability to pick the voice of your choice: You can now pick your preferred voice directly from Gmail Live.

Common use cases include:

• “What is the order status for Black Forest Construction Supply?”
• “When is my next mandatory training due?”
• “Show me the latest update from my manager, John.”
• “What gate is my flight leaving from tomorrow?”

Getting started

• Admins: This feature will be ON by default for organizations with Gemini in Workspace access and respects existing smart features and personalization admin settings. Visit the Help Center to learn more.
• End users: On supported iOS and Android devices, tap the Live entry point in the Gmail search bar to begin a voice session. First-time users will be prompted to grant microphone access. Visit the Help Center to learn more.

Rollout pace

• Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 15, 2026

Availability

• Business: Business Starter, Standard, and Plus
• Enterprise: Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus
• Frontline: Frontline Plus
• Nonprofits: Google Workspace for Nonprofits
• Add-ons: Gemini Business, Gemini Enterprise, AI Expanded Access, and AI Ultra Access
• Education Add-ons: Google AI Pro for Education
• Consumer: Google AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra

Note that this feature is currently only available to users in the US with EN-US as their language.

Resources

• Google Workspace Admin Help: Turn Gemini features on or off for users
• Google Help: Talk naturally with Gmail Live
• Google Workspace Updates Blog: Use your voice to get more done in Gmail, Docs, and Keep

Earlier this year, we launched AI Inbox in Gmail which helps users catch up on what matters most. Starting today, we’re expanding AI Inbox to paid Google Workspace users. By highlighting key actionable to-do’s and summarizing priority work updates across your emails, AI Inbox makes it easier to stay on top of daily business workflows.

AI Inbox’s core capabilities:

• Suggested to-dos: Automatically extracts action items, deliverables, and deadlines embedded within email conversations. Teams and business leaders gain clear visibility into critical follow-ups without manual note-taking or scanning through dense threads.
• Topics to catch up on: Delivers clear, context-rich summaries of your most important topics, across multi-message threads and rapid back-and-forth discussions. Users can reference this section to get caught up on the latest key decisions and status changes.

Getting started

• Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
• End users: Eligible users can access AI Inbox directly within the Gmail desktop client or mobile app menu. Use our Help Center to learn more about AI Inbox.

Availability

• Business: Business Starter, Standard, and Plus
• Enterprise: Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus
• Education: AI Pro for Education
• Other Editions: Frontline Plus

Note that this feature is currently only available to users in the US with EN-US as their language.

Rollout pace

• Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for visibility) started on October 12, 2026
• Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for visibility) starting on October 26, 2026

Note: AI Inbox will rollout later to Starter and Education editions in the coming months.

Resources

• Google Help: Manage to-dos & topics with AI Inbox
• Keyword: Gmail is entering the Gemini era

Client-side encryption (CSE) gives organizations ultimate control over who can access their most confidential data, using customer-managed encryption keys that render the data unreadable to unauthorized third parties, including Google. Google Drive now supports previewing CSE files directly within Drive. Previously, users had to download encrypted non-native files to their local devices in order to see the contents. With this capability, authorized users can preview encrypted content instantly in their web browser without ever leaving Drive.

The feature improves productivity and strengthens security by removing the need for unnecessary downloads. At launch, previewing is available only in Drive, and only for:

• Encrypted PDF documents
• Encrypted image file formats

Getting started

• Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
• End users: This feature will be on by default. Visit the Help Center to learn more.

Rollout pace

• Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 15, 2026

Availability

• Enterprise: Enterprise Plus
• Education: Education Standard and Plus
• Other Editions: Frontline Plus, Assured Controls, Assured Controls Plus

Resources

• Google Workspace Admin Help: About client-side encryption
• Google Workspace Help Center: Get started with encrypted files in Drive, Docs, Sheets & Slides
• Google Workspace Updates Blog: Preview client-side encrypted PDF and image files directly in Google Drive, now available in beta

As previously announced, skills in the Gemini app are starting to roll out today, with an expected completion by mid-November. In the coming weeks, we’ll also introduce critical features like the ability to share Gemini app skills and an integration with Google Drive. We’ll post on the Workspace Updates blog as soon as those capabilities start rolling out.

We also want to share an update on the rollout of skills in Workspace. We previously shared that the launch to Rapid Release would be complete by October 12, 2026, and the rollout to Scheduled Release would begin on October 19, 2026. While we work to ensure skills in Workspace launch in a safe and reliable manner, those rollouts are slightly delayed. We will share the updated timeline here as soon as it’s confirmed. 

Getting started

• Admins: Visit the Help Center to learn more about admin controls for skills in Workspace. There are no admin controls for skills in the Gemini app.
• End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about skills in Workspace and skills in the Gemini app. Google Classroom users can also explore our guidance on creating and using teacher-led AI experiences directly in Classroom.

Rollout pace

• Skills in the Gemini app
• Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout starting on October 13, 2026, with expected completion by mid-November, 2026
• Skills in Workspace
• Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Delayed until further notice

Availability

• Skills in the Gemini app
• Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google accounts
• Skills in Workspace
• Business: Business Starter, Standard, and Plus
• Enterprise: Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus
• Education Add-ons: Google AI Pro for Education
• Other Add-ons: AI Expanded Access

Note that skills in Workspace are available only to users over age 18; skills in the Gemini app will be available to users of all ages.

Resources

• Workspace Blog: Teach Gemini your team’s know-hows with skills in Google Workspace
• News from Google Blog: Let skills in Gemini tackle your most repetitive tasks
• Workspace Handbook: AI skills 101: Customizing AI from Google for your role
• Workspace Admin Help: Allow people to use skills in Studio and Gemini in Workspace
• Workspace Studio Help: Learn how skills work in Google Workspace Studio
• Gemini Apps Help: Create & manage skills for Gemini Apps
• Workspace Admin Help: About the transition from Gems to skills
• Education Transition Guide: Gemini Gems and Skills Transition Guide for Education

You can now switch from watching a Google Meet live stream to participating with audio and video directly on Android. This feature is available for viewers who have been invited to both the live stream and the main meeting.

While watching a live stream on Android, you can switch roles using the meeting title, the live streaming badge, or the info button in the overflow menu. This in-app workflow eliminates the need to reopen join links or switch apps.

Existing meeting access permissions and domain policies apply, ensuring only authorized participants can join with media. Only eligible viewers will see the entry points, protecting the integrity of the meeting or event.

Role switching is already available for Meet clients on iOS and web.

Getting Started

• Admins: There are no administrator controls for this feature.
• End users: While watching a live stream on an Android device, eligible viewers will see an option to transition directly into the main meeting room as an active contributor.

Rollout pace

• Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (more than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 19, 2026

Availability

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

Resources

• Google Help: Livestream a video meeting
• Google Help: View the Google Meet live stream automatically if an adaptive meeting becomes full