Friday, May 29, 2026
We’re updating icons across Google Workspace to introduce a modern visual design that gives every app a more distinct identity. Over the next several weeks, users will see new icons for Gmail, Calendar, Chat, Meet, Drive, Docs, Slides, Sheets, Vids, Keep, Forms, Voice, Sites, and Tasks. | Learn more about the new fresh visual identity for Google Workspace app icons.
Making decisions in a fast-paced environment often leads to long, messy threads and lost consensus. Polly helps teams solve this by enabling the creation of interactive polls within existing Chat conversations. | Learn more about how to Simplify decision-making with Polly, now available for Google Chat.
We’re announcing improvements to our Out-of-Domain file-level warnings. First launched in April 2025, these badges alert users to documents and users outside of their Workspace organization, helping to prevent accidental data exfiltration and potential phishing attacks that spoof internal content. | Learn more about the improvements to Out-of-Domain file-level warnings.
We’re making it easier to keep your sources and insights current in NotebookLM by enabling automatic syncing with Google Drive. Previously, if you uploaded a file in Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides, you’d have to manually update it in NotebookLM to see the changes. With this update, as the content in your Drive files evolves, the information within the notebook updates automatically to match. | Learn more about how to Keep your sources up to date with automatic Drive syncing in NotebookLM.
When creating a notebook in Powerschool Schoology, Gemini LTI users can now add content directly from their course as sources. This integration allows educators and students to seamlessly bridge their course materials with AI-powered research and analysis, and generate Studio artifacts like Audio and Video Overviews, infographics, slide decks, and more based on their Schoology resources. | Learn more about how to include your LMS sources when using NotebookLM in Powerschool Schoology.
We’re introducing more granular admin controls for Workspace Studio steps and starters. With these new controls, admins can define which steps and starters people in their organization can use to create flows, including by Workspace service or individually. | Learn more about more granular admin controls for Workspace Studio steps and starters.
You can now easily identify critical irregularities and outliers in your time-series data when using Connected Sheets to analyze BigQuery data sets from Google Sheets. Anomaly detection in Connected Sheets allows users to distinguish between expected trends and true outliers without requiring manual model training or complex SQL knowledge. | Learn more about how to easily identify data irregularities with anomaly detection in Connected Sheets.
We’re excited to announce that we’re making the feature more easily accessible by moving the Ask Gemini prompt box into the bottom left-hand corner of the Google Meet web interface. | Learn more about how ask Gemini in Google Meet is becoming more easily accessible on web.
Previously available in beta, Device Bound Session Credentials (DBSC) in the Chrome browser on Windows is now generally available and enabled by default for Google Workspace users. | Learn more about how to prevent account takeovers with Device Bound Session Credentials (DBSC), now generally available in the Chrome browser for Windows.
We are introducing the ability for Workspace users on the web to share snapshots of their chats, canvases, and generated media in the Gemini app. | Learn more about how to share chats, canvases, and generated media from the Gemini app securely via Google Drive.
Organizations often need to collaborate with customers, partners, and suppliers who use Microsoft Teams. NextPlane OpenHub was built to bridge this Google Chat and Microsoft Teams divide, and it is now launching external interoperability to allow communication across organizational boundaries. | Learn more about how Google Chat external interoperability with Microsoft Teams via NextPlane OpenHub is now available.
Admins can now bulk export client-side encrypted (CSE) Slides using Vault or Data Export (takeout), and then convert those exports into PowerPoint files. This allows your organization to retain complete ownership, access, and control of sensitive data in a highly portable format. | Learn more about how to Convert your client-side encrypted Slides after a Vault or Takeout export.
Google Classroom now allows educators to tag coursework and rubrics with learning goals, including specific learning standards and skills, providing a more structured way to monitor student growth. | Learn more about how to keep track of student progress with learning standards and skills in Google Classroom.
Friday, May 29, 2026
Keep track of student progress with learning standards and skills in Google Classroom
Google Classroom now allows educators to tag coursework and rubrics with learning goals, including specific learning standards and skills, providing a more structured way to monitor student growth. When creating assignments, quiz assignments, questions, or materials, educators can search for available, established standards and skills or click on suggested goals, which use AI to analyze assignment and course content. By tagging coursework with these goals, teachers can view analytics that visualize student performance and identify instructional gaps across individual students, entire classes, or specific learning areas.
Learning standards from around the world are made available in Classroom through partnerships with 1EdTech and Common Good Learning Tools. These standard frameworks are pulled from Satchel Rosetta Exchange, a public space hosted by Common Good Learning Tools where anyone can browse various learning standard sets that leverage the 1EdTech® Competencies and Academic Standards Exchange® (CASE®) standard specification. Visit the Help Center to learn more about getting new standard sets added to Classroom.
This update enables systematic tracking for standards-based learning, offering several benefits across the school community:
- For educators and leaders: Teachers can utilize data-driven student performance analytics to adjust instruction, while education leaders with Google Workspace for Education Plus can use the "Visit a class" feature to see how coursework aligns with required standards.
- For students and guardians: Students and guardians can see the learning goals tagged on assignments, giving them clarity for how curriculum relates to required learning milestones and targeted skill growth.
- Global availability: Classroom has a growing list of standards already available and periodically brings in new ones from the Satchel Rosetta Exchange. Learning standards are available in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Italy, and Australia. Learning skills are currently supported in a selection of languages including English, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, and Brazilian Portuguese.
Getting started
- Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
- End users: There is no end user setting for this feature.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) started on May 27, 2026
Availability
- Available in all courses owned by a Google Workspace customer, including Education Fundamentals, Standard, and Plus
Resources
- Google Help: Use learning goals in Classroom
- Google Help: Add local learning standards to Classroom
- Keyword: Transform teaching and learning with updates to Gemini and Google Classroom
- Keyword: Gemini in Classroom: No-cost AI tools that amplify teaching and learning
- YouTube: Learning goals with data-driven insights in Google Classroom
Friday, May 29, 2026
Available in beta: Convert your client-side encrypted Slides after a Vault or Takeout export
Admins can now bulk export client-side encrypted (CSE) Slides using Vault or Data Export (takeout), and then convert those exports into PowerPoint files. This allows your organization to retain complete ownership, access, and control of sensitive data in a highly portable format.
Eligible Google Workspace admins can sign up for the CSE Office Interop beta program, which provides immediate access to CSE compatible export, import, takeout and office editing features. Organizations who’ve previously signed up for the beta program should see this feature in their domains now.
Getting started
- Admins: Admins with eligible Workspace licenses can sign up for the CSE Office Interop beta. We’ll provide more information on how to get started if you’re accepted.
- End users: This launch has no impact on end users.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now for customers previously accepted into the CSE Office Interop beta program and upon acceptance into the beta for those who sign up in the future
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 Updates Blog: Available in beta: Convert your client-side encrypted documents after a Vault or Takeout export
- Google Workspace Updates Blog: Now generally available: Convert your Client-side encrypted Google Sheets after a Vault or Takeout export
- Beta Application: Registration form
Thursday, May 28, 2026
Google Chat external interoperability with Microsoft Teams via NextPlane OpenHub is now available
Organizations often need to collaborate with customers, partners, and suppliers who use Microsoft Teams. NextPlane OpenHub was built to bridge this Google Chat and Microsoft Teams divide, and it is now launching external interoperability to allow communication across organizational boundaries. OpenHub directly connects Google Chat users to people on external Microsoft Teams tenants, making cross-platform collaboration more seamless.
This release supports external interoperability between Google Chat and Microsoft Teams, including presence, 1:1 chat, group chat, Channels and Spaces, file sharing, and meeting and call initiation. A single Google Workspace environment can connect to multiple external Microsoft Teams tenants via OpenHub, enabling cross-tenant collaboration through a single interoperability layer. OpenHub is designed to provide a familiar cross-platform collaboration experience without requiring all parties to use the same collaboration platform.
OpenHub is also designed to support enterprise governance and deployment requirements. It is deployed as a dedicated single-tenant service, can run in a customer-owned GCP project, and keeps customer data under customer control. It uses customer-managed identities and does not require fake user accounts, Nextplane-controlled user accounts, cross-tenant impersonation, or a proxy Teams tenant.
For Google Workspace admins and IT decision-makers, this can help reduce deployment friction through tightly scoped, auditable permissions aligned with customer best practices. Ongoing configuration and management are handled through the existing Google Admin console and Microsoft Teams admin center, without requiring a separate OpenHub administration console. This is especially important for Google Workspace customers working with external organizations, because it avoids imposing a separate portal or a new management process on customers, partners, and suppliers.
Examples of how this can be used include:
- Collaborate with customers, partners, and suppliers who use Microsoft Teams
- Support cross-Teams tenant collaboration from a single Google Workspace environment
- Maintain cross-platform communication during multi-company projects, joint ventures, or extended partner workflows
- Enable interoperability when domain validation requirements make internal interoperability difficult to deploy
Getting started
- Admins: This feature requires administrator consent on both sides of the connection, and Workspace and Teams admins must register NextPlan OpenHub as an enterprise application with their respective platforms before use. Configuration is managed at the domain level through the Google Admin console and Microsoft Teams admin center. OpenHub does not require a separate administration console and is managed through existing platform controls. Visit the NextPlane site to learn more about connecting Teams and Workspace.
- End users: There is no end user setting for this feature.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now
Availability
- Business: Business Starter, Standard, and Plus
- Enterprise: Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus
Note that separate NextPlane licensing is required to enable interoperability.
Resources
Thursday, May 28, 2026
Share chats, canvases, and generated media from the Gemini app securely via Google Drive
We are introducing the ability for Workspace users on the web to share snapshots of their chats, canvases, and generated media in the Gemini app. Because this feature is powered by the same underlying technology as Google Drive, it uses the familiar, consistent sharing interface you already rely on for Google Docs and other files. You can still choose to allow conversation sharing via link.
With this update, members of your organization can easily share Gemini workflows and build on top of what others have created, scaling AI competency and collaboration across teams and enabling new ways for educators and students to teach and learn.
Getting started
- Admins: This feature will be ON by default and can be managed via a new Admin console setting. Additionally, sharing is governed by your organization’s existing Drive sharing policies. If Drive content is set to be shareable outside the organization, your Gemini assets will be as well. Visit the Help Center to learn more.
- End users: If enabled by your admin, you can share your Gemini conversations, canvases, and media from the web interface using the standard Drive sharing menu.
Rollout pace
- Admin controls
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on May 28, 2026
- End-user visibility
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on June 3, 2026
Availability
- Available to all Google Workspace customers
Resources
- Google Workspace Admin Help: Turn conversation sharing on or off
Thursday, May 28, 2026
Prevent account takeovers with Device Bound Session Credentials (DBSC), now generally available in the Chrome browser for Windows
Previously available in beta, Device Bound Session Credentials (DBSC) in the Chrome browser on Windows is now generally available and enabled by default for Google Workspace users.
DBSC strengthens account security after users are logged in and helps bind a session cookie — small files used by websites to remember user information — to the device a user authenticated from. Even if malware was present on the user’s device, DBSC reduces the risk of session theft and makes it meaningfully more difficult for malicious actors to exploit stolen session cookies.
With this change to general availability, Workspace admins no longer need to take action to enable DBSC in the Admin console. Organizations can also bolster protections with more granular account attributes when using DBSC together with context-aware access (CAA). To monitor DBSC binding events, admins can view the audit logs available in the security investigation tool.
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| An example of the audit log and log details for a DBSC event in the admin console |
Getting started
- Admins: This feature is ON by default for all Google Workspace customers, and there is no administrator control to disable it.
- End users: There is no end user setting for this feature.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 60 days for feature visibility) started on May 25, 2026
Availability
- Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts
Resources
- Google Workspace Admin Help: Prevent cookie theft with session binding
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Ask Gemini in Google Meet is becoming more easily accessible on web
In September 2025, we launched Ask Gemini in Meet, which brings the power of Gemini into your organization’s meetings. Today, we’re excited to announce that we’re making the feature more easily accessible by moving the Ask Gemini prompt box into the bottom left-hand corner of the Google Meet web interface:
Previously, Ask Gemini in Meet was available only by hovering over the icon in the top right corner. This change makes it much easier to discover and use this feature in Google Meet calls. Other than the entrypoint change, there are no changes to the Ask Gemini in Meet functionality itself.
As a reminder, you use Ask Gemini in Meet to:
- Get a quick brief on the goals and topics for the meeting you’re in
- List key takeaways, decisions, and action items mentioned in the meeting
- Catch up on what you missed if you joined late (as long as Take Notes for Me was enabled)
Getting started
- Admins: These features will be on by default for organizations with Ask Gemini in Meet enabled. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning Ask Gemini in Meet on or off.
- End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Ask Gemini in Meet.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) started on May 26, 2026
Availability
- Business: Business Standard and Plus
- Enterprise: Enterprise Standard and Plus
Resources
- Google Workspace Updates Blog: Ask Gemini in Meet: Your Personal Meeting Assistant
- Google Meet Help: Ask Gemini in Meet
- Google Workspace Admin Help: Turn Ask Gemini on or off
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Easily identify data irregularities with anomaly detection in Connected Sheets
You can now easily identify critical irregularities and outliers in your time-series data when using Connected Sheets to analyze BigQuery data sets from Google Sheets. Anomaly detection in Connected Sheets allows users to distinguish between expected trends and true outliers without requiring manual model training or complex SQL knowledge.
Powered by BigQuery ML and TimesFM, this capability delivers "zero-shot" analysis, meaning you can uncover actionable AI insights immediately—no need to configure or wait for a model to be trained on your data. Anomaly detection also builds upon our recently introduced forecasting feature to provide a more comprehensive suite of predictive tools right where you already work.
Key features include:
- Easy, SQL-free configuration: A user-friendly side panel guides you through configuring your anomaly detection analysis without writing a single line of SQL.
- Clear, built-in formatting: Results are cleanly rendered with new columns for is_anomaly (a boolean indicator) and lower_bound/upper_bound intervals to help you quickly sort, filter, and interpret the findings.
- Customizable thresholds: Take control of your analysis by setting a specific time period, anomaly probability threshold (defaulting to 0.95), and filtering input data
- Automated refresh ability: Just like other Connected Sheets objects, your anomaly detection extracts can be scheduled to refresh automatically, ensuring your insights are always current.
Getting started
- Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
- End users: Access to anomaly detection in Connected Sheets requires permissions to a BigQuery project with billing enabled.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now
Availability
- Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google accounts
Resources
- Google Help: Use BigQuery ML in Connected Sheets
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
More granular admin controls for Workspace Studio steps and starters
We’re introducing more granular admin controls for Workspace Studio steps and starters. With these new controls, admins can define which steps and starters people in their organization can use to create flows, including by Workspace service or individually. They provide admins more granular control of Studio functionality, and are particularly useful for gradual rollout of Studio in their organizations.
Getting started
- Admins: Workspace Studio starters and steps will be ON by default and can be disabled at the domain, organizational unit, or group level. Visit the Help Center to learn more.
- End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. The steps turned off by admins will show up as disabled (greyed out) in Studio. Existing flows with these steps won’t run, and the user will see an error.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on May 26, 2026
Availability
- Business: Business Starter, Standard, and Plus
- Enterprise: Enterprise Standard and Plus
- Education: Education Fundamentals, Standard, and Plus
- Education Add-ons: Google AI Pro for Education; Teaching and Learning
- Other Add-ons: AI Expanded Access*
*Starting June 1, 2026, users with AI Expanded Access licenses will have higher limits on usage of Workspace Studio.
Resources
- Google Workspace Admin Help: Workspace Studio help for admins
- Workspace Studio Help: Workspace Studio help for end users
- Google Workspace Learning Center: Workspace Studio training and help
- YouTube: Google Workspace Studio video playlist
- Discord: Workspace Studio Discord channel
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Gemini LTI Update: Include your LMS sources when using NotebookLM in Powerschool Schoology
When creating a notebook in Powerschool Schoology, Gemini LTI users can now add content directly from their course as sources. This integration allows educators and students to seamlessly bridge their course materials with AI-powered research and analysis, and generate Studio artifacts like Audio and Video Overviews, infographics, slide decks, and more based on their Schoology resources. By automating the import of Schoology course materials, users can quickly ground their notebooks in specific curriculum content without the need for manual file uploads.
Getting started
- Admins:
- In order for educators and students to access Gemini LTI™, you’ll need to enable the Google Workspace LTI™ service in the Admin console and enable the Gemini service in the Admin console. Visit the Help Center to learn more about Gemini LTI in general.
- Learning Management Systems admins need to enable Gemini LTI™ in their LMS as well. Visit the Help Center to learn more about setting up Gemini LTI in Powerschool Schoology.
- For educators and students to use Schoology content as a source in NotebookLM, users must be in a group or OU with NotebookLM set to On. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning NotebookLM on or off for users.
- End users:
- To add Schoology content notebook sources, open the Schoology homepage and select Google Gemini > Manage notebooks > Create new > Enter a title > Files > Select file(s) > Create notebook.
- Visit the Help Center to learn more about Gemini LTI™.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now
Availability
- Education: Education Fundamentals, Standard, and Plus
Resources
- Google Workspace Admin Help: Learn how to turn on Google Workspace LTI™
- Google Workspace Admin Help: Set up Gemini LTI™ in PowerSchool Schoology Learning
- Google Workspace Admin Help: Turn the Gemini app on or off
- Google Workspace Admin Help: Turn NotebookLM on or off for users
- Google Help: Learn about Gemini LTI
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Keep your sources up to date with automatic Drive syncing in NotebookLM
We’re making it easier to keep your sources and insights current in NotebookLM by enabling automatic syncing with Google Drive. Previously, if you uploaded a file in Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides, you’d have to manually update it in NotebookLM to see the changes. With this update, as the content in your Drive files evolves, the information within the notebook updates automatically to match. This update ensures that you're always working with the most accurate and up-to-date information without the manual effort of re-syncing files.
NotebookLM will also strictly respect file deletions and permissions. If a user’s access to a Drive file is revoked, they will no longer be able to use that file as a source in their notebook. The source will appear in the sources list with a link to the source for the user to request access. Additionally, if a file is deleted from Drive, it will be removed from the notebook as well, ensuring your research environment stays organized and secure.
Getting started
- Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. Visit the Admin Help Center to learn more about turning NotebookLM on or off for users.
- End users: There is no end user setting for this feature.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on May 26, 2026
Availability
- Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google accounts with access to NotebookLM
Resources
- Google Workspace Admin Help: Turn NotebookLM on or off for users
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Improvements to Out-of-Domain file-level warnings
Today, we’re announcing improvements to our Out-of-Domain file-level warnings. First launched in April 2025, these badges alert users to documents and users outside of their Workspace organization, helping to prevent accidental data exfiltration and potential phishing attacks that spoof internal content. We’ve expanded support across devices and sharing types in the following ways:
- Files in the Android and iOS apps for Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides now include external indicators
- Chat Spaces and Google Groups can be configured to allow external users; if they’re given access to a document, that document now shows the external badge
- If a service account has access to a document, and that service account is owned by an external Google Cloud organization, it now triggers the external badge in documents
- Comment email notifications now include badges for external documents and users
- File sharing email notifications now include badges for external documents and users
How Out-of-Domain warnings work
This feature helps users identify potentially risky files and avoid phishing scams when working with files shared from outside your organization.
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| Notification in comments |
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Notification in file sharing email |
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| Image of "External" badge displayed in Google Docs |
Getting started
- Admins: This feature is ON by default and can be disabled at the domain and organizational level. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning Out-of-Domain Warnings on or off for your organization.
- End users: This feature is ON by default. There is no end-user setting for this feature. Visit the Help Center to learn more about sharing files from Google Drive.
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| Image of the Google Workspace Admin console, Sharing settings, showing the "Highlight external files" option enabled |
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now
Availability
- Available to all Google Workspace customers
Resources
- Google Workspace Admin Help: Manage external sharing for your organization
- Google Drive Help: Share files from Google Drive - Android
- Google Drive Help: Stop, limit, or change sharing
- Google Workspace Updates Blog: Enhance Your Organization’s Security with Out-of-Domain File Warnings in Google Workspace
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Simplify decision-making with Polly, now available for Google Chat
Making decisions in a fast-paced environment often leads to long, messy threads and lost consensus. Polly helps teams solve this by enabling the creation of interactive polls within existing Chat conversations. By keeping the feedback loop inside the "flow of work," Polly helps eliminate the friction of switching between apps, leading to faster responses and clearer team alignment.
Effortless authoring and participation
Creating a poll is as simple as mentioning @Polly in any Google Chat space. Whether you need a quick pulse on a project direction or a simple vote on a meeting time, you can author a poll in seconds. For end users, participation is just as easy: team members can cast their votes with a single click directly within the chat stream.
Real-time results
Results are updated as votes come in, providing immediate visual feedback to the entire space. This transparency ensures that everyone is on the same page and can move forward with confidence as soon as a decision is reached.
Use cases for Polly in Google Chat:
- Driving consensus: Rapidly narrow down options for project names, design directions, or strategy shifts.
- Meeting logistics: Quickly vote on the best time for a sync or gather topics for an upcoming agenda.
- Team preferences: Streamline simple office or team logistics, from lunch orders to preferred collaboration hours.
Admins can easily enable the Polly integration to empower their teams with a more structured way to collaborate without leaving the Google Workspace ecosystem.
Getting started
- Admins: Admins can install the Polly Chat app on their users’ behalf. Visit the Help Center to learn more about installing Marketplace apps for your organization. If you’ve already deployed Polly for Google Meet, then the Polly Chat app will automatically be available as well.
- End users: End users can search for the Polly add-on in Google Chat under Apps > Find apps. Visit the Google Workspace Marketplace to learn more and install Polly. If you’ve already installed Polly for Google Meet, then the Polly Chat app will automatically be available as well.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now
Availability
- Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts
Resources
- Google Workspace Marketplace: Polly App Listing
- Polly Help Center: Use Polly in Google Chat
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Introducing a fresh visual identity for Google Workspace app icons
We’re updating icons across Google Workspace to introduce a modern visual design that gives every app a more distinct identity. Over the next several weeks, users will see new icons for Gmail, Calendar, Chat, Meet, Drive, Docs, Slides, Sheets, Vids, Keep, Forms, Voice, Sites, and Tasks.
These changes drive consistency and cohesion across our product suite, while ensuring each individual application remains modern and recognizable on your screen. These design updates do not alter any core functionality or administrative controls.
Getting started
- Admins: There is no admin control for this update; changes will roll out automatically according to the schedule below. If you need to update internal documentation, visit the Help Center to find the new icon designs.
- End users: There is no end user control for this update; changes will roll out automatically according to the schedule below.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) started on May 19, 2026
Impact
- Impacts all Google Workspace users
Resources
- Google Workspace Admin Help: Brand your internal communications with Google Workspace
Friday, May 15, 2026
Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - May 15, 2026
Whiteboarding add-ons now available for Android-based Google Meet hardware
Third-party whiteboarding add-ons for Google Meet, including Figma, Lucidspark, and Miro, will be available for room hardware based on Android. | Learn more about whiteboarding add-ons for Android-based Google Meet hardware.
Android-based all-in-one room devices from Neat and Logitech certified for Google Meet
The Neat Board series (32, 50, and Pro) and the Logitech Rally Board 65 are now certified for Google Meet as the first Android-based all-in-one devices. | Learn more about these all-in-one room devices.
Add avatars when you convert presentations to Vids
You can already convert your Google Slides content into Google Vids, and use Gemini to generate scripts, voiceovers, and background music. Now, you can add a spokesperson to your videos using AI avatars when importing content from Slides. | Learn more about adding avatars when you convert presentations to Vids.
Google Workspace Assignments LTI™ and Gemini LTI™ are now available for Moodle
We’re expanding the availability of Assignments LTI™ and Gemini LTI™ to include Moodle, joining our existing support for Canvas and Schoology. | Learn more about Assignments LTI and Gemini LTA availability for Moodle.
Use NotebookLM in your Google Workspace Studio flows
This enhancement lets you use your existing notebooks as an AI knowledge source for your automations. You can use the new Ask NotebookLM step to generate grounded responses based on the insights, summaries, and research in your notebooks. | Learn more about NotebookLM in Workspace Studio.
Small businesses can now seamlessly import users from Microsoft to Google Workspace
We’re excited to announce the beta release of a new, simplified way for very small and small-sized businesses to import their users from Microsoft to Google Workspace when setting up their Workspace account for the first time. | Learn more about this new data import option for small businesses.
Deploying ServiceNow Now Assist Virtual Agent from the Google Workspace Marketplace
Google Workspace customers can now deploy the Now Assist Virtual Agent for Google Chat integration directly from the Google Workspace Marketplace. | Learn more about the ServiceNow Now Assist Virtual Agent for Chat.
Enhancing the Datadog app for Google Chat
The latest version of the Datadog app for Google Chat allows you to integrate Datadog into your Google Chat workflows more seamlessly and stay on top of critical infrastructure without leaving the flow of team collaboration. | Learn more about the updated Datadog app for Chat.
Improving security posture with default context-aware access for all SAML applications
This update introduces a default assignment that serves as a universal security baseline, automatically protecting any SAML-based app that does not have a specific policy already assigned. | Learn more about applying a global context-aware access (CAA) policy to all SAML applications.
Expanded options for header images in Google Forms
Previously, creators could only use a pre-selected theme, upload an image, or choose an image from Google Photos. In addition to these options, they can now choose an image from Google Drive or Google Images or use a URL. | Learn more about new options for header images in Forms.
Expanding language support for refining messages with Gemini in Google Chat
In addition to English, users can now use Gemini to polish their messages in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. | Learn more about expanded language support for Refine with Gemini in Chat.
The announcements above were published on the Workspace Updates blog over the last week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.
Friday, May 15, 2026
Android-based all-in-one room devices from Neat and Logitech certified for Google Meet
The Neat Board series (32, 50, and Pro) and the Logitech Rally Board 65 are now certified for Google Meet as the first Android-based all-in-one devices. They package up and deliver a modern Meet experience in stylish form factors ideal for simple deployment in traditional meeting rooms, open spaces, personal offices, phone booths, and even portable solutions.
Equipped with touch displays, these devices can be used for both traditional video meetings and interactive whiteboarding via the Figma, Lucid, and Miro add-ons.
Neat Board Series Pro, 50 and 32
Logitech Rally Board 65
Getting started
- Admins: The Logitech Rally Bar 65 and the Neat Board 32, 50, and Pro are available for order starting today through authorized partners. Firmware updates enabling native Google Meet support will begin rolling out immediately.
- End users: There is no end user setting for this feature.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now
Availability
- Available to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware devices
Resources
- Google Workspace Admin Help: Google Meet hardware certification program for ChromeOS and AOSP
- Logitech: Rally Board 65
- Neat: Neat Board Series
Friday, May 15, 2026
Whiteboarding add-ons now available for Android-based Google Meet hardware
Third-party whiteboarding add-ons for Google Meet will be available for room hardware based on Android. As all-in-one devices with touchscreens become certified for Meet, users will be able to whiteboard on them to share ideas, brainstorm, and work on projects together in real-time meetings, wherever they are.
The following third-party whiteboard software will be available on these devices:
- Figma
- Lucidspark
- Miro
Participants who join Meet calls on the web or via the mobile app will be able to view and interact in whiteboard sessions by installing the corresponding add-on. Add-ons can be found in the Workspace Marketplace along with pricing and terms from each third-party vendor.
Add-ons for Google Meet are available from the Workspace Marketplace
Getting started
- Admins: To use whiteboarding with room hardware, admins must first install the Figma, Lucidspark, or Miro add-on from the Google Workspace Marketplace. These add-ons can be installed for OUs with room devices or your entire domain. Visit the Help Center to learn more about installing Marketplace apps for your organization.
- End users: If their admin allows it, users can install the Figma, Lucidspark, and Miro add-ons from the Google Workspace Marketplace. Visit the Help Center to learn how to use add-ons with Google Meet.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now
Availability
- Available to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware devices
Resources
- Google Meet Hardware Help: Use add-ons with Google Meet on Desk 27 and Board 65
- Google Meet Help: Use add-ons with Google Meet
- Google Workspace Admin Help: Install Marketplace apps for your organization
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Expanding language support for refining messages with Gemini in Google Chat
We are expanding the capabilities of Gemini in Google Chat by adding support for several new languages when refining message drafts. In addition to English, users can now use Gemini to polish their messages in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. This update allows a broader range of global users to improve the clarity and professional tone of their communications within Chat.
By leveraging Gemini to adjust wording, grammar, and spelling, users can communicate more effectively across different languages and regions. This is particularly helpful for teams working in multilingual environments or for individuals composing messages in a second language, ensuring that the intended meaning is conveyed accurately and confidently.
Getting started
- Admins: This feature remains on by default for eligible users. Use the Help Center to learn how to manage access to Gemini features in Workspace services.
- End users: This feature will be available by default for eligible users. When composing a message in any of the supported languages, select the "Refine" icon from the formatting toolbar or highlight specific text to see refinement options. Visit the Help Center to learn how to improve your Chat messages with Refine.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) started on May 11, 2026
- Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on May 26, 2026
Availability
- Business: Business Standard and Plus
- Enterprise: Enterprise Standard and Plus
- Consumer: Google AI Pro and Ultra
- Other Editions: Frontline Plus
- Education Add-ons: Google AI Pro for Education
Resources
- Google Help: Improve your Chat messages with Refine
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Expanded options for header images in Google Forms
Form creators now have more options for header images in Google Forms. Previously, creators could only use a pre-selected theme, upload an image, or choose an image from Google Photos. In addition to these options, they can now choose an image from Google Drive or Google Images or use a URL. This makes it easier to add an appropriate and compelling header image to your form.
User chooses a Google Drive image as the header image for a Google Form
Getting started
- Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
- End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about adding a header image.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) visibility) started on May 14, 2026
- Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on June 1, 2026
Availability
- Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts
Resources
- Google Help: Change the theme or font of your form
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Improving security posture with default context-aware access for all SAML applications
Administrators can now apply a global context-aware access (CAA) policy to all SAML applications within their organization. This update introduces a default assignment that serves as a universal security baseline, automatically protecting any SAML-based app that does not have a specific policy already assigned. By establishing this "secure-by-default" posture, IT teams can help protect internal data and third-party SaaS tools as new applications are integrated into their ecosystem.
This global control significantly reduces the administrative burden of managing security for applications at scale. Instead of manually configuring rules for every individual SAML app, administrators can set a single policy to cover their entire environment. Specific application-level policies will still take precedence, allowing for granular control where needed while the global policy acts as a reliable safety net.
These default policies support both Monitor and Active modes, providing flexibility in how security requirements are phased in. Detailed audit logs will capture these enforcement events, and remediation messages help end users understand how to resolve access issues independently.
Admins can configure CAA policies for all SAML apps in the Admin console under Security > Context-aware Access > General settings.
Getting started
- Admins: This feature will be OFF by default and can be enabled at the OU or group level. Visit the Help Center to learn more about applying a default context-aware access policy for all SAML apps.
- End users: This feature is available to admins only.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now
Availability
- Enterprise: Enterprise Standard and Plus
- Education: Education Standard and Plus
- Other Editions: Frontline Standard and Plus; Enterprise Essentials Plus; Cloud Identity Premium
Resources
- Google Workspace Admin Help: Apply a default Context-Aware Access policy for all SAML apps
- Google Workspace Admin Help: Deploy Context-Aware Access
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Enhancing the Datadog app for Google Chat
The latest version of the Datadog app for Google Chat allows you to integrate Datadog into your Google Chat workflows more seamlessly and stay on top of critical infrastructure without leaving the flow of team collaboration. Newly added features include:
Link previews
Cut and paste a widget from a Datadog dashboard and see the chart inside Google Chat.
Improved notification set-up
Link your Workspace domain to Datadog and you’ll be able to easily create Google Chat notification handles from within Datadog.
Incident management
Declare incidents with a command from Google Chat, and automatically create spaces in Google Chat to centralize conversations about an incident.
Note that a Datadog license is required to use the Datadog app for Chat.
Getting started
- Admins: Ensure the Datadog Google Chat App is allowlisted for your organization, then follow instructions to connect your Chat organization to your Datadog organization and delegate a service account user.
- End users: Share dashboard widgets by copying and pasting from Datadog. Learn more about configuring and declaring incidents from Google Chat.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now
Availability
- Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts (Datadog license required)
Resources
- Google Workspace Marketplace: Datadog
- Datadog Docs: Integrate Google Chat with Datadog Incident Management
- Datadog Docs: Google Chat
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Deploying ServiceNow Now Assist Virtual Agent from the Google Workspace Marketplace
Google Workspace customers can now deploy the Now Assist Virtual Agent for Google Chat integration directly from the Google Workspace Marketplace. This update simplifies the deployment process for Workspace and ServiceNow administrators, allowing them to provide employees with centralized access to support and automated workflows within their primary communication tool more easily.
The Now Assist Virtual Agent allows users to perform routine ServiceNow tasks and requests without leaving Google Chat. Individuals can get answers from knowledge base articles, create support tickets, check the status of existing requests, and order new items. This integration reduces the need to switch between applications, helping users maintain focus and resolve issues more efficiently.
With Now Assist, users have a contextual conversational experience that can initiate AI Agents to further automate complex workflows and requests.
Getting started
- Admins: ServiceNow admins need to install the Google Chat plugin 3.0 and link their Google Chat with ServiceNow. Workspace admins can then deploy the Now Assist Virtual Agent on their users’ behalf. Visit the Help Center to learn more about installing Marketplace apps for your organization.
- End users: End users need a ServiceNow account to use this app. They can search for the Now Assist Virtual Agent in Google Chat under Apps > Find apps or visit the Google Workspace Marketplace to install the Now Assist Virtual Agent.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now
Availability
- Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. To utilize this feature, customers must have both ServiceNow and Google Chat. Note that Now Assist capabilities require an additional license from ServiceNow.
Resources
- ServiceNow Help Center: Activate Now Assist in Virtual Agent for Google Chat
- ServiceNow Help Center: Conversational Integration with Google ChatGoogle
- Workspace Updates Blog: Effortlessly work with ServiceNow data across Google Chat and Sheets





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