Display Custom Policy in the Green Room before Google Meet Calls

To help ensure end users at your organization are familiar with your organization’s policies for handling meeting artifacts like recordings, transcriptions and notes by Gemini, we’re introducing the ability to set custom policy text from the admin console that is displayed prior to users joining Google Meet calls. | Learn more.

Upload an image to create a custom avatar in Google Vids

Users can now upload images to create custom avatars directly within Google Vids. This enables greater options for customization and more precise creative control by uploading your own image, in addition to the ability to build a custom avatar from scratch. Note: Rollout for this feature is paused. We will post an update when it resumes. | Learn more.

Educators can now add Guided Learning to assignments in Google Classroom to help students get extra support

Building on our announcement earlier this year, a new Google Classroom integration that lets teachers add Guided Learning to any assignment is now rolling out globally in all Gemini-supported languages. Guided Learning is a mode in the Gemini app designed to help students deepen their understanding with step-by-step guidance, rather than giving the answer. | Learn more.

Now available in beta: Automatically apply client-side encryption (CSE) to confidential Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive files

Administrators can automatically apply client-side encryption (CSE) to control access to sensitive files across their organization using Policy-Based Enforcement, now available in beta. | Learn more.

Get actionable insights with Gemini in Google Forms

Making sense of form responses and figuring out what to do next can take time, especially when you're working through many responses across multiple questions. We're introducing actionable insights in Google Forms, which uses Gemini to analyze your form responses, uncover key trends, and recommend next steps so you can act on your results faster. | Learn more.

Gemini Omni 1.2 Flash now in Vids with 15-second generations and improved quality

Users now have access to Gemini Omni 1.2 Flash directly within Google Vids. Omni 1.2 provides longer duration videos up to 15 seconds and improved quality resulting in higher character consistency and vocal realism. | Learn more.

The announcements above were published on the Workspace Updates blog over the last week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.

Users now have access to Gemini Omni 1.2 Flash directly within Google Vids. Omni 1.2 provides longer duration videos up to 15 seconds and improved quality resulting in higher character consistency and vocal realism.

Omni in Vids user experience

• Choose a length up to 15s: Customize a clip’s duration by sliding from 3-15s to improve video pacing. 
• Improved reference consistency: Generations now offer better consistency when using references ensuring characters or products look the same across generations.
• Greater speaker variety: Outputs offer improved speaker variety with wider dynamic ranges improving realism.

Getting started

• Admins: This feature does not have an admin control.
• End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Omni in Vids.

Rollout pace

• Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on November 5, 2026

Availability

• Business: Business Starter, Standard, and Plus
• Enterprise: Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus
• Education: Education Plus
• Consumer: Users with personal Google accounts; Google AI Pro and Ultra
• Other Editions: Enterprise Essentials and Enterprise Essentials Plus; Nonprofits; Individual
• Education Add-ons: Google AI Pro for Education; Teaching and Learning
• Other Add-ons: AI Expanded Access*

*Users with AI Expanded Access add-on licenses have higher limits on usage of Omni in Vids.

Resources

• Google Vids AI Limits: Learn about availability of AI features
• Google Vids Editors Help: Use AI to generate video clips

Making sense of form responses and figuring out what to do next can take time, especially when you're working through many responses across multiple questions. Today, we're introducing actionable insights in Google Forms, which uses Gemini to analyze your form responses, uncover key trends, and recommend next steps so you can act on your results faster.

With this launch, you can generate insights directly from the Responses tab of your form. Gemini analyzes your responses by writing and running Python code, so findings like counts, percentages, and comparisons are grounded in your actual response data. Gemini spots patterns and cross-question correlations to reveal how different answers connect. Finally, Gemini summarizes the most important takeaways and suggests recommended next steps.

Actionable insights can help with a wide range of forms, such as:

• Event and product feedback: Understand what respondents valued most and where there's room for improvement.
• Research surveys: Quickly spot trends and patterns across responses.
• Registration and application: Get a clear picture of who is signing up or applying.

Gemini uncovers insights from a feedback form for a business networking event and recommends next steps

Getting started

• Admins: To access Gemini in the side panel of Workspace apps, users need to have smart features and personalization turned on. Admins can turn on default personalization setting for their users in the Admin console. Visit the Help Center to learn more.
• End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about actionable insights in Google Forms.

Rollout pace

• Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) started on November 2, 2026 
• Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on November 19, 2026

Availability

• Business: Business Standard, and Plus
• Enterprise: Enterprise Standard, and Plus
• Education: Education Plus
• Consumer: Google AI, Pro, and Ultra
• Education Add-ons: Google AI Pro for Education; Teaching and Learning

Resources

• Google Help: Summarize & analyze responses with Gemini in Google Forms

Administrators can automatically apply client-side encryption (CSE) to control access to sensitive files across their organization using Policy-Based Enforcement, now available in beta.

Previously, end users were required to manually create encrypted copies of existing files and remember to delete the unencrypted originals. With Policy-Based Enforcement, CSE integrates directly with the Google Workspace Rules Engine, enabling admins to set up customizable rules that seamlessly layer onto existing data governance strategies and applies CSE to the most sensitive, private data.

Encryption is enforced “in place”, preserving the file’s original URL. This provides organizations with an authoritative, scalable control to protect critical data and satisfy rigorous compliance mandates, including ITAR, EAR, and HIPAA.

End-user notification of admin led additional encryption.

Key capabilities in beta:

• Comprehensive file and location support: Policy-Based Enforcement automatically encrypts files matching rule conditions across both my Drive and shared drives. Policy-Based Enforcement scans all file types supported by Workspace Rules, including Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, Microsoft Office files (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx), and additional non-native formats such as PDFs and images.
• End-user transparency: When users open a file encrypted by an administrative policy, they receive an in-product contextual notification informing them of the update.
• Audit logging and proactive alerting: Admins can monitor encryption activity and outcomes within the security investigation tool (SIT) and will receive alert center notifications if their external Key Access Control List Service (KACLS) is unreachable or experiencing issues.

Getting started

• Admins:
• Enrollment required: This feature is available in beta to eligible customers. To request access, complete the Policy-Based Enforcement beta Application with your domain information. Customers must have Assured Controls or Assured Controls Plus licenses to enable the feature.
• Configuration: This feature is OFF by default and can be configured in the Admin console. Once allowlisted, eligible domains will receive onboarding and configuration documentation.
• End users: There is no end-user setting for this feature. When opening a file that has been encrypted by a rule, users will see an informational banner indicating that additional encryption was applied by their administrator.

Rollout pace

• Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now for eligible customers enrolled in the Policy-Based Enforcement beta allowlist

Availability

• Available to Google Workspace customers with the Google Workspace Assured Controls or Assured Controls Plus add-on to Enterprise Plus who have enrolled in the Policy-Based Enforcement beta.

Resources

• Google Workspace Admin Help: About client-side encryption
• Google Workspace Admin Help: Apply client-side encryption using data protection rules (beta)
• Google Docs Editors Help: Get started with encrypted files in Drive, Docs, Sheets & Slides
• Beta Program Registration: Policy-Based Enforcement beta application

Building on our announcement earlier this year, a new Google Classroom integration that lets teachers add Guided Learning to any assignment is now rolling out globally in all Gemini-supported languages. Guided Learning is a mode in the Gemini app designed to help students deepen their understanding with step-by-step guidance, rather than giving the answer. Similar to how teachers can assign Gemini Notebooks in Classroom, this feature enables educators to embed structured and curriculum-informed AI-guided sessions directly into their lesson plans while maintaining visibility into student progress.

Key benefits:

• Informed by your curriculum: Educators can select specific sources from Classroom to serve as context, helping ensure that the assigned Guided Learning is relevant and directly aligned with what is being taught in their classroom.
• Grounded in learning science: Grounded in Google’s LearnLM research, Guided Learning is built to support learners’ work - stimulating curiosity, providing scaffolding, facilitating productive struggle, and offering graduated hints.
• Helping educators focus their support: Guided Learning serves as a supportive 1:1 tool to field students' initial questions about independent practice or homework, freeing up valuable teacher time to focus attention on the learners who need direct support.
• Focused view for students: When students open the assigned Guided Learning from Classroom, the Gemini side navigation panel is automatically hidden, new chats are disabled within the tab, and they remain in Guided Learning mode.
• Actionable insights for the entire class and individual students: Teachers can see  AI-generated insight summaries in Classroom based on students’ conversations with the assigned Guided Learning activity at both the class level and individual student level, helping educators inform instruction. Additionally, teachers can access individual student chat transcripts.
• Seamless integration with Class Tools on Chromebooks: For educators and students using ChromeOS and Class Tools, Guided Learning in Classroom can be launched directly to maintain a secure, unified, and locked-down environment where students are focused on a single tab and teachers can remotely view students’ screens to monitor progress.

How educators can use Guided Learning:

• Provide scaffolded support for STEM problem-solving: For complex math or science problems, attach a Guided Learning activity so students can get extra support when they get stuck. This helps students navigate speed bumps independently, while giving teachers insights into where students are still struggling.
• Deepen inquiry and conceptual extensions: Use Guided Learning for open-ended exploration and extension tasks, so students can develop their understanding of core concepts at their own pace and make meaningful cross-curricular connections.
• Support collaborative brainstorming: Ask students to discuss and talk through their project ideas with help from Guided Learning to build confidence and refine their thoughts before participating in wider group discussions.
• Extend support beyond the classroom: Offer Guided Learning as an on-demand tutoring assistant during homework and remote study, ensuring help outside of standard class time.

Educators can learn more about Guided Learning and ways to bring this tool into instruction in the Guided Learning in Classroom Guide.

Getting Started

• Admins: Teachers and students must be in a group or OU with Gemini set to On. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning Gemini on or off for users.
• End users: Guided Learning will be available if Gemini is enabled by your admin. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Guided Learning in Classroom:
• For teachers: Create and manage Guided Learning activities in Classroom
• For students: Complete a Guided Learning activity in Classroom

Rollout pace

• Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (longer than 15 days for feature visibility) started on November 3, 2026

Availability

• Education: Education Fundamentals, Standard, and Plus

Resources

• Guide: Guided Learning in Classroom Guide
• Google Classroom Help: Create and manage Guided Learning activities in Classroom
• Google Classroom Help: Complete a Guided Learning activity in Classroom
• News from Google: New research shows how Guided Learning supports students
• News from Google: Designing responsible AI for learning
• News from Google: Building AI tailored for education, with educators in the lead