This official feed from the Google Workspace team provides essential information about new features and improvements for Google Workspace customers.
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Now available: A refreshed user interface for Google Meet hardware touch controllers on Neat and Poly devices

On August 26, 2026, we are officially launching our updated user interface for Neat touch controllers and  the Poly TC8. Overall, the design allows users to concentrate on their meetings rather than searching for controls, resulting in a more efficient and aesthetically pleasing experience. | Learn more.

Generate interactive simulations and models in the Gemini app

Gemini can transform your questions and complex topics into custom, interactive visualizations — directly within your Gemini app chat.  | Learn more.

Restrict who can view the member lists in Google Chat spaces

Space owners and managers can now control who can view the full list of members in a Google Chat space, providing enhanced privacy and administrative control for sensitive, large-scale, or external collaboration spaces. | Learn more.

Introducing data import for Microsoft Teams: An easier, faster, and higher-fidelity migration to Google Workspace

For enterprise organizations, migrating communication history and collaboration channels to a new platform can feel daunting and risk interrupting daily business operations. To make this transition smoother, we are excited to announce that migrating chat data from Microsoft Teams to Google Workspace for large scale workloads is now generally available in data import. | Learn more.

Introducing data import for Microsoft OneDrive: An easier, faster, and higher-fidelity migration to Google Workspace

For enterprise organizations, migrating files along with their permissions to a new platform can feel daunting and risk interrupting daily business operations. To help simplify this transition, we are excited to announce general availability of Google Workspace data import (advanced mode) to support large-scale file migrations from Microsoft OneDrive. | Learn more.

Preserve and reuse grouped pivot table fields in Google Sheets

Google Sheets now supports grouped field persistence for pivot tables. When you create custom groupings or work with grouped date, time, or numeric fields, these fields are now retained directly in the pivot table editor sidebar as reusable source fields. | Learn more.

Control “Take notes for me” directly from Google Meet hardware touch controllers

On August 31, 2026, we’ll start rolling out the ability to start, stop, and manage the “Take notes for me” feature directly from the Google Meet Hardware touch controller for eligible meetings. This ensures in-room participants have direct control over Gemini note-taking without being in Companion mode. | Learn more.

Google Classroom now supports Context-Aware Access controls

We’re excited to introduce the ability to specify Context-Aware Access policies to control access to Google Classroom. This update allows Google Workspace administrators to set granular security parameters for Classroom access directly from the Admin console. | Learn more.

Improving Google Calendar’s interoperability with third-party video conferencing solutions

We are introducing improvements to Google Calendar that make it easier to join third-party video meetings, including Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Cisco Webex, when collaborating across different calendar and email clients. | Learn more.

Suppress email responses to calendar invitations and updates

We’re introducing a new per-event setting in Google Calendar that allows meeting organizers or their delegates to decide whether or not to receive RSVP emails and automatic responses, such as out-of-office messages and vacation responders. | Learn more.

Preview client-side encrypted PDF and image files directly in Google Drive, now available in beta

Previously, users needed to download encrypted non-native files to their local devices to view the contents. With this capability, authorized users can immediately preview encrypted content in their web browser without leaving Drive. | Learn more.

Gemini-based data classification in Google Drive is now available in open beta

This feature leverages Gemini models to apply data classification labels to files in Google Drive. Previously, AI classification required admins to identify and manually label training files for the AI model to learn the types of data associated with each data classification level. | 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.

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Gemini-powered AI classification in Google Drive is now available in open beta.

By automating file identification and labeling across Drive, AI classification helps organizations enforce granular data loss prevention (DLP) policies at scale, establish retention rules, and utilize label metadata during audit investigations. This also becomes a critical aspect in elevating an organization’s security posture in the agentic era, preventing agentic workflows from accessing and acting autonomously on sensitive data. 

This feature leverages Gemini models to apply data classification labels to files in Google Drive. Previously, AI classification required admins to identify and manually label training files for the AI model to learn the types of data associated with each data classification level. With this new capability, Gemini models offer admins an alternative method for data classification that is faster and more efficient, eliminating the need for manual model training and replacing it with administrator-defined instructions.



In the Admin console, Gemini models interpret instructions, evaluate files, and apply appropriate data classification labels.


Administrators maintain full control of the Gemini-based data classification process. They select the label, provide Gemini with instructions, and scope the audience for the files being evaluated. For Gemini-labeled files, editors and owners of those files with the appropriate label permissions will have the opportunity to either review and accept, or modify the automatically-applied label. Audit logs capture when files are labeled, including any user acceptance or modification of a Gemini-applied label.



In the Admin console, once enabled, Workspace Admins can see metrics on the labels applied to files by Gemini.


Data classification is a critical activity for organizations that are conscious about data protection, compliance, and reporting. However, data classification can also be challenging to put into practice, particularly when it comes to accurately classifying files at scale. By using the new Gemini-based capabilities in AI classification for Drive, admins are able to achieve a higher degree of data classification accuracy at scale.

Rollout pace

Getting started

  • Admins: For customers on a supported product license, the option for configuring Gemini-based AI classification instructions will appear in the Workspace Admin Console under the Data Classification option in the Security section (Security > Access and data control > Data classification). Use our Help Center to learn more.
  • End users: There is no end user setting for this feature.

Availability

  • Enterprise: Enterprise Plus
  • Education: Google AI Pro for Education
  • Other Editions: Frontline Plus

Resources

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Client-side encryption (CSE) provides organizations control over access to their confidential data, with customer controlled encryption keys and data that is indecipherable to third-parties, including Google. Google Drive now supports direct file previewing for CSE files. Previously, users needed to download encrypted non-native files to their local devices to view the contents. With this capability, authorized users can immediately preview encrypted content in their web browser without leaving Drive.

This feature streamlines productivity and bolsters security by eliminating unnecessary downloads. At launch, preview is supported only on Drive, and for:

  • Encrypted PDF documents
  • Encrypted Image file formats

Admins with eligible Workspace licenses can sign up for the beta program, which provides access to the feature.



Preview of an encrypted PDF, accessible in Drive

Getting started

  • Admins: Admins with eligible Workspace licenses can sign up for the beta program. We’ll provide more information on how to get started if you’re accepted.
  • End users: This feature is ON for users in domains that have registered for the beta program.

Availability

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

Resources

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We’re introducing a new per-event setting in Google Calendar that allows meeting organizers or their delegates to decide whether or not to receive RSVP emails and automatic responses, such as out-of-office messages and vacation responders.

By default, this new setting, called “Get an email when guests respond,” is checked - ensuring organizers receive email responses for RSVPs. If the box is unchecked:

  • Organizers will not receive RSVP emails from attendees using Google Calendar, but their RSVP status will still show up on the Calendar event.
  • Organizers will not receive RSVP emails from attendees using third-party calendar tools (e.g. Outlook) and their RSVP status will not show up on the Calendar event.
  • Organizers will not receive any email auto-replies (like out-of-office messages and vacation responders).

This feature is beneficial for organizers of large meetings, who don’t need to be informed about individual RSVP responses. Please note that for recurring events, this setting can only be applied to the full series.


Getting started

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
  • End users: By default, meeting organizers will get email responses for RSVPs. To stop receiving email responses, a meeting organizer must uncheck the box. Visit the Help Center to learn more.

Rollout pace

Availability

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

Resources

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We are introducing improvements to Google Calendar that make it easier to join third-party video meetings, including Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Cisco Webex, when collaborating across different calendar and email clients.

Specifically, users may notice:

  • A better join experience for external recipients (for outgoing invitations): When you send a Google Calendar invitation containing a third-party video conferencing link to external recipients who use clients like Microsoft Outlook or Apple Calendar, Google Calendar now automatically includes the conferencing URL in the event's Location field. Because many external clients render links in the Location field as prominent, clickable buttons or chips in event previews, your guests can join calls with a single click without opening the full invite description.
  • Structured "Join" button in Google Calendar (for incoming invitations): When you receive a calendar invite from an external system (such as Microsoft Outlook) containing third-party conferencing details in the event description or location, Google Calendar now automatically identifies and extracts the meeting URL, meeting ID, and passcode/PIN into structured video conferencing data. Instead of searching through text descriptions, you will see a prominent "Join video call" button directly on the event across Google Calendar on Web, Android, and iOS.


In hybrid work environments, teams frequently collaborate across different organizations, calendaring platforms, and video conferencing providers. Previously, joining third-party meetings from external invitations required manually copying and pasting URLs or passcodes from text descriptions, while external recipients didn't always see conferencing links prominently in their event previews.

These improvements remove friction from the scheduling and meeting-join experience. Whether you or your external collaborators use Microsoft Outlook, Apple Calendar, or Google Calendar, joining video calls is now seamless and effortless.

Getting started

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
  • End users: This feature will be available by default for all incoming and outgoing calendar invitations containing supported third-party conferencing links (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Webex). No additional action is needed.

Rollout pace

Availability

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

Resources

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We’re excited to introduce the ability to specify Context-Aware Access policies to control access to Google Classroom. This update allows Google Workspace administrators to set granular security parameters for Classroom access directly from the Admin console. For example, an organization can create a policy that permits users to access Classroom only if they are connecting from a specific geographic region.

Expanding Context-Aware Access to Classroom gives administrators deeper control over their digital learning environments. Security policies can be tailored based on specific user attributes, including user identity, geographic location, device security status, and IP address.

By incorporating Classroom into broader organizational security frameworks, administrators can seamlessly manage access permissions across their Workspace apps. This ensures that sensitive school and student data remains protected, while making certain that only authorized users can connect to Classroom under secure, approved conditions.





Getting started

  • Admins: Context-Aware Access for Google Classroom can be configured at the organizational unit (OU) or group level. Visit the Help Center to learn more about Context-Aware Access, creating Context-Aware Access levels, and assigning Context-Aware Access levels to apps.
  • End users:  If enabled by your admin, you can access Google Classroom when authenticating using your Google sign-in. If your organization’s Context-Aware Access settings are not set to allow access, you may see a message letting you know that you cannot use Google sign-in to authenticate with Classroom, or you may see remediation messages which will provide some options on how to unblock Classroom.

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Education: Education Standard and Plus

Resources

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On August 31, 2026, we’ll start rolling out the ability to start, stop, and manage the “Take notes for me” feature directly from the Google Meet Hardware touch controller for eligible meetings. This ensures in-room participants have direct control over Gemini note-taking without being in Companion mode.



Controlling “Take notes for me” from the Google Meet hardware touch controller


Historically, managing AI features during a meeting required a user to join from a laptop in Companion mode. This new update surfaces the necessary controls directly on the touchscreen hardware, making it easier for team collaboration. In particular, it offers the following:

Easy visibility & control

We are surfacing a dedicated badge on the touch controller screen, mirroring the web experience. Users can easily see if Gemini is taking notes and toggle its state between active and inactive.



Active and inactive states of “Take notes For me” on the Google Meet hardware touch controller


Off-the-record capability

Users can confidently pause note-taking during off-the-record discussions, then resume with the tap of a button.



Pause and continue taking notes when needed with “Take notes For me” on the Google Meet hardware touch controller


Note: This feature will be available on the touch controller only for meetings where “Take notes for me” is available.

Getting started

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Business: Business Standard and Plus
  • Enterprise: Enterprise Standard and Plus
  • Consumer: Google AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra
  • Other Editions: Frontline Plus
  • Education Add-Ons: Google AI Pro for Education

Note: The plans above include “Take notes for me,” but this feature only operates on Google Meet hardware, which requires a separate license. Some users on Google Meet hardware with licenses that do not include “Take notes for me” functionality may see this feature if they join a meeting that is “Take notes for me’“ capable.

Resources

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Google Sheets now supports grouped field persistence for pivot tables. When you create custom groupings or work with grouped date, time, or numeric fields, these fields are now retained directly in the pivot table editor sidebar as reusable source fields. This allows you to unassign grouped fields from your active table layout without losing their underlying configuration, making it easy to re-add or modify them at any time. 

Additionally, this update improves interoperability with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) files. Previously, when importing Microsoft Excel files containing pivot tables with grouped fields into Google Sheets, those custom groupings were dropped from the field list, requiring manual recreation. With this update, grouped field configurations are accurately preserved when importing/exporting spreadsheet files.



Grouped fields retained as reusable source fields in the Google Sheets pivot table editor sidebar

Getting started

Rollout pace

Availability

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

Resources

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For enterprise organizations, migrating files along with their permissions to a new platform can feel daunting and risk interrupting daily business operations. To help simplify this transition, we are excited to announce general availability of Google Workspace data import (advanced mode) to support large-scale file migrations from Microsoft OneDrive. Just like the other features of the data import, this is available at no additional cost.

This update allows IT teams to execute large migrations efficiently, as you can import multiple concurrent batches at a time. Data import automatically adjusts import speeds to match your Microsoft licensing tier, maximizing throughput without exceeding source quotas.

Data import provides:

  • Ease of use: A turnkey, scalable cloud-native service that can be accessed and used directly from the admin console. 
  • Quicker speeds and accuracy: Finish importing data sooner with faster migration speeds from parallelization and improved algorithms.
  • No additional cost to use: No additional infrastructure costs during migration or licensing costs for third-party data migration tools.


Additionally, customers will be able to use the migration planning utility for file migrations that will help improve their change management and data migration forecasting. The migration planning utility is available to provide source data corpus details and migration timeline estimates. This offers customers no-friction discovery and data-driven planning when undertaking large scale enterprise migrations from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace.


Getting started

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Business: Business Starter, Standard, and Plus
  • Enterprise: Enterprise Standard and Plus
  • Education: Education Fundamentals, Standard, and Plus
  • Other Editions: Frontline Starter, Standard, and Plus; Essentials Starter, Enterprise Essentials, and Enterprise Essentials Plus; Nonprofit

Resources

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For enterprise organizations, migrating communication history and collaboration channels to a new platform can feel daunting and risk interrupting daily business operations. To make this transition smoother, we are excited to announce that migrating chat data from Microsoft Teams to Google Workspace for large scale workloads is now generally available in data import. Just like the other features of the Data Import tool, this is available at  zero tool cost.

This enhancement builds on our existing data import capabilities, allowing admins to easily copy channel messages, group chats, and direct conversations from Teams to Workspace at no additional tool or infrastructure costs.

Data import for Teams offers:

  • Ease of use: A turnkey, scalable cloud-native solution that can be accessed and used directly from the admin console.
  • Quicker speeds and accuracy: Finish importing data sooner with faster migration speeds from parallelization and improved algorithms.
  • No additional cost to use: No additional infrastructure costs during migration or licensing costs for third-party data migration tools.
  • High fidelity: Both Teams channels as well as private chat messages (i.e. 1:1 and group messages) are imported.


Additionally, the migration planning utility now supports Teams to help customers improve their change management and data migration forecasting. The migration planning utility is available to provide migration timeline estimates and organize user data into speed-optimized batches. This offers customers simplified discovery and data-driven planning when undertaking large scale enterprise migrations from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace.


Getting started

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Business: Business Starter, Standard, and Plus
  • Enterprise: Enterprise Standard and Plus
  • Education: Education Fundamentals, Standard, and Plus
  • Other Editions: Frontline Starter, Standard, and Plus; Essentials Starter, Enterprise Essentials, and Enterprise Essentials Plus; Nonprofit

Resources

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Space owners and managers can now control who can view the full list of members in a Google Chat space, providing enhanced privacy and administrative control for sensitive, large-scale, or external collaboration spaces.

Previously, any member of a Google Chat space could view the complete list of participants. We are introducing a new space setting—View members—that allows space owners and managers to restrict member visibility within one of four permission levels:

  • Owners only
  • Owners & managers
  • All members (default)
  • Entire organization

Similar to membership privacy controls in Google Groups, there are scenarios where limiting member list visibility enhances organization security or privacy:

  • Customer spaces: Collaborating with multiple external clients, vendors, or partners
  • Sensitive forums: Allowing users to join communities on sensitive topics without revealing their membership in that community
  • Confidential projects: Prevent participants in broad project spaces from seeing every internal or external user who has been added to the initiative

Please note that regardless of the member visibility restriction, users will always be able to see the name and profile of anyone who actively sends a message in the space.

Getting started

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
  • End users: Navigate to Space Settings > Membership > View Members permission control, and select the desired visibility level.

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers

Resources

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Gemini can transform your questions and complex topics into custom, interactive visualizations — directly within your Gemini app chat.

Previously, responses were largely text with static diagrams. Now, we’re delivering functional simulations that can help you better understand the topic you’re asking Gemini about. Whether you’re rotating a molecule or simulating a complex physics system, you can explore further with just one prompt. Responses include visual elements — like tables, grids, and simulations — made specifically for your question. For example, ask about a topic that could be explained visually, like “show me how DNA works in 3D,” and you’ll be able to interactively rotate and zoom into a 3D DNA structure. Or ask to watch a pendulum trade energy back and forth, or learn about cash burn rates through an interactive table.

Getting started

  • Admins: This feature is ON by default for all organizations with Gemini enabled. The Gemini app and related in-app tools are controlled by the Generative AI settings in the Workspace Admin console. This feature is subject to these existing controls. Visit the Help Center for more information on turning the Gemini app on or off.
  • End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. To get started, users can ask Gemini to “show me” or “help me visualize” a complex concept.

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual subscribers, and as well as users that meet minimum age requirements. Usage limits apply.

Resources

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On August 26, 2026, we are officially launching our updated user interface for Neat touch controllers and  the Poly TC8.

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 spend 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.

Pre-meeting experience UI refresh Neat/Poly touch controller will now have


In-meeting experience UI refresh featuring quick action controls


This launch brings the modern UI experience to an expanded lineup of hardware, ensuring visual consistency across your meeting rooms. These improvements are designed to reduce user friction and support tickets by mirroring the exact interaction layout users are already accustomed to on their individual workstations.

Expanding availability

With the addition of Neat Pad andPoly TC8, we are continuing our commitment to expanding support for the new UI across all Google Meet touch controllers, including various Android Open Source Project (AOSP) ecosystem devices.

Getting started

  • Admins: This feature will be enabled by default for supported Neat Pad and, Poly TC8. You can visit the Help Center to learn more about managing settings and layouts for your organization's devices.
  • End users: No action is required. You will automatically see the updated, intuitive interface the next time you interact with your in-room touch controller. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using the new Google Meet Hardware touchscreen features.

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers with supported Google Meet hardware devices.

Resources

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Enhanced external sharing insights now available in Drive Inventory Reporting

Administrators using Drive Inventory Reporting in Google BigQuery can now access granular external sharing fields designed to simplify complex permission structures. By automatically consolidating direct permissions, group memberships, and public links into clear signals, this update helps organizations easily identify external exposure across their Drive environments. | Learn more.

New enterprise security controls for Workspace Studio enable expanded collaboration use cases

Workspace Studio enables users to boost their productivity with custom, no-code agentic automation. Today, we are adding a new set of enterprise security controls to enable additional collaboration use cases. These granular identity, data protection, observability, and governance controls provide admins with more confidence to safely enable and adopt agentic capabilities in their organization. | Learn more.

Make a copy of a notebook in Gemini Notebook

Gemini Notebook users can now copy entire notebooks, including all associated sources and studio items, if they have copy permission for that notebook. This capability allows users to build upon existing work or templates shared by others. | Learn more.

Use Gemini to help manage Google Workspace for your organization

We are introducing Admin Assist, bringing two new Gemini-powered capabilities to the Google Admin Console: the Sidepanel and Search Overviews. Designed to simplify complex administrative workflows and troubleshooting, this launch makes managing Google Workspace easier and faster. | Learn more.

Managing unsolicited event invitations with user blocking in Google Calendar

You can now protect your calendar from repeated calendar spam and unwanted invitations. When you block a user in Google Calendar, the current event is automatically removed and you no longer receive new calendar invitations from that person. | Learn more.

Elevate your Google Meet experience for shared meeting spaces with Room Display mode

We are excited to introduce Room Display mode, a new dual-window experience for Google Meet on the web. Launching in beta, this feature is designed specifically for "Bring Your Own Device"  meeting spaces, where users connect a personal laptop to a shared external display, such as a TV or projector. | Learn more.

Introducing Ask Gemini in Chat: your new partner in productivity

Google Chat is the central hub for real-time collaboration in Workspace, and starting August 26, 2026, it becomes the place where you can bring the power of Gemini into your flow of teamwork. We’re introducing Ask Gemini in Google Chat, a unified command line for your work, powered by Workspace Intelligence. | Learn more.

Granular space creation restrictions now available in Google Chat

We are introducing a new admin setting in Google Chat that allows administrators to restrict specific users or groups from creating spaces, while continuing to permit them to create 1:1 direct messages (DMs) and group direct messages (gDMs). | Learn more.

Allowlisted Domains API now generally available

The Google Workspace Allowlisted Domains API is now generally available. Previously, administrators had to manage their allowlisted domains list manually through the Google Workspace Admin console. With this release, hosted under the Cloud Identity API suite as a top-level resource, organizations can securely automate and programmatically manage their list of allowlisted domains. | Learn more.

View Google Chat usage metrics in Gemini reports dashboard

Admins can now access Google Chat usage metrics in the Gemini reports dashboard across both organization- and user-level reports. | Learn more.

Record presentations in Google Slides with Google Vids

We are introducing a seamless way to record presentations in Google Slides using Google Vids directly from the Slides interface. Moving forward, you will see a new Record option in the right-hand menu of Slides. Selecting this option guides you through a streamlined recording workflow and outputs an immediately shareable link. | 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.

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We are introducing a seamless way to record presentations in Google Slides using Google Vids directly from the Slides interface. Moving forward, you will see a new Record option in the right-hand menu of Slides. Selecting this option guides you through a streamlined recording workflow and outputs an immediately shareable link.

This new integration provides advanced creation capabilities—including transcript-based editing and voiceover generation—helping you turn simple slide decks into polished, professional video assets in seconds.

Note: For organizations currently using the existing Slides recording experience, here is what you need to know about the transition:

  • Users with access to the existing Slides recording experience will have access to both the legacy experience and the new Vids recording experience.
  • The legacy Slides recording option will move to the View menu (View > Slides Recording).

Getting started

Rollout pace

Availability

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

Resources

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Admins can now access Google Chat usage metrics in the Gemini reports dashboard across both organization- and user-level reports.

At the organization level, this allows admins to track active Gemini users in Google Chat, analyze usage trends, and identify who benefits most from Gemini-powered summarization and generation features.

At the user level, admins can now view the level of Gemini adoption for specific users who actively engage with the app.

This launch also updates a few Gemini summarization interactions in Chat to “Active” as they are initiated by the user. Given this, you may see updated metrics reported for active users and overall usage of Chat.


Getting started

  • Admins: Visit the Help Center to learn more about Gemini reports.
  • End users: There is no end user impact or action required.

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Business: Business Starter, Standard, and Plus
  • Enterprise: Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus
  • Education Add-ons: Google AI Pro for Education

Resources

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The Google Workspace Allowlisted Domains API is now generally available. Previously, administrators had to manage their allowlisted domains list manually through the Google Workspace Admin console. With this release, hosted under the Cloud Identity API suite as a top-level resource, organizations can securely automate and programmatically manage their list of allowlisted domains.

By programmatically managing trusted external sharing boundaries, Workspace administrators can easily automate domain lists. This allows organizations to restrict external collaboration to verified, trusted partners, thereby mitigating data exfiltration risks and strengthening overall security posture without manual administrative overhead.

This launch includes a robust set of core capabilities to support your domain management workflows:

  • Core CRUD operations: Programmatic Create, Delete, List, and Get capabilities to manage your list of allowlisted domains
  • Exact-match filtering: Easily check and verify the presence of specific domains using exact-match filtering within the List API

Note: Reseller-managed workflows are not currently supported.

Getting started

  • Admins: To configure these rules via the API, administrators must have either domain management or domain allowlist management privileges for Google Workspace. See our documentation to learn more.
  • End users: There is no end-user setting or action required for this feature.

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers

Resources

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We are introducing a new admin setting in Google Chat that allows administrators to restrict specific users or groups from creating spaces, while continuing to permit them to create 1:1 direct messages (DMs) and group direct messages (gDMs).

Previously, Chat restriction settings functioned as a single all-or-nothing toggle, which disabled all conversation creation. With this update, administrators gain more flexible policy enforcement with the following restriction levels:

  • No restrictions: All chat creation (1:1 DMs, group direct messages, and spaces) is permitted.
  • Restrict space creation: Users can create 1:1 DMs and group direct messages, but are restricted from creating new Chat spaces.
  • Restrict all creation: Users are restricted from creating 1:1 DMs, group direct messages, and Chat spaces.

This enhancement is particularly useful for organizations—such as educational institutions, frontline environments, and external vendor/contractor teams—that want to ensure space creation is managed through designated approval workflows or admin creation, without disrupting day-to-day direct communication.

Getting started

  • Admins: This feature is available at the domain, Organizational Unit (OU), and group level. To configure space creation restrictions, open the Admin console and navigate to Apps > Google Workspace > Google Chat > Chat and space restrictions. Visit the Help Center to learn more about setting up Chat restrictions.
  • End users: There is no end-user setting for this feature. Restricted users will notice that the option to create a space in Google Chat is disabled, but they will maintain the ability to create 1:1 DMs and group direct messages.

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Business: Business Standard and Plus
  • Enterprise: Enterprise Starter, Standard and Plus
  • Education: Education Fundamentals, Standard, and Plus
  • Other Editions: Frontline Starter, Standard and Plus

Resources

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Google Chat is the central hub for real-time collaboration in Workspace, and starting August 26, 2026, it becomes the place where you can bring the power of Gemini into your flow of teamwork. We’re introducing Ask Gemini in Google Chat, a unified command line for your work, powered by Workspace Intelligence.

Ask Gemini in Chat helps you navigate your day, stay on top of the flow of collaboration, find what you’re looking for, and help you take action.

  • Find answers quickly: Search across your Workspace data (like Gmail, Drive, or Calendar) to gather information.
  • Create content: Generate images or draft critical updates without leaving the conversation.
  • Stay on top of discussions: Catch up on all your conversations in one place.
  • Manage tasks and events: Schedule your meetings and manage tasks without breaking your flow.
  • Organize your work: Structure your conversations with individual sessions to revisit and continue work on specific topics over time.
Ask Gemini helps you reduce time spent searching for information and toggling between tabs, to ensure you have everything you need to take action and keep up with the busy pace of modern teamwork.

A GIF showing how to ask questions from Gemini in Chat

Ask Gemini is available in the Shortcuts menu in Chat

Important changes to Gemini side panel in Chat

  • Ask Gemini in Chat provides many of the functions previously available in the Gemini side panel in Chat, including finding files, capturing action items and summarizing conversations. With this launch, you’ll no longer see the side panel in Chat.
  • In addition, you’ll no longer be able to access Gems via Gemini side panel in Chat. However, Gems will remain available in the Gemini side panel of other Workspace apps.
  • Your conversation history from the Gemini side panel in Chat will not migrate to the new Ask Gemini surface in Chat. However, admins will be able to export Gemini conversation history, including conversation history from the Chat side panel, and if permitted by their organization, end users will be able to download their conversation history as well. Note that in the Data Export tool and Google Takeout, this data is stored under “Gemini in Workspace,” not “Google Chat.”

Language availability

This change will only affect users who have English as their Google account language. Users with other language preferences will be able to continue using the side panel as this update will not apply to them. Support for more languages will be added in the future.

Getting started

Through October 1, 2026, Workspace customers will get promotional access to higher limits for Ask Gemini in Chat, allowing users to experiment with this feature. Usage limits will apply after that date; we’ll provide more information in the Help Center in advance of updated usage limits going into effect.

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Business: Business Standard and Plus
  • Enterprise: Enterprise Standard and Plus
  • Education Add-ons: Google AI Pro for Education

Resources

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We are excited to introduce Room Display mode, a new dual-window experience for Google Meet on the web. Launching in beta, this feature is designed specifically for "Bring Your Own Device"  meeting spaces, where users connect a personal laptop to a shared external display, such as a TV or projector.



Joining in Room Display mode

Historically, setting up a meeting on a shared display (e.g. in a meeting room) meant manually dragging browser windows across screens, dealing with clunky display layouts, and risking showing your browsing windows. Room Display mode removes this complexity by automatically splitting your meeting interface into two dedicated views the moment you connect your device and join the call:

  • Shared View (TV/Monitor): A clean, distraction-free, entire-screen view on your external display. It displays remote participant video tiles and shared presentations edge-to-edge. You can choose to go full screen by clicking the full-screen window button.

Shared View (TV) in Room Display mode with and without and active presentation
  • Personal View (Laptop Controller): Your laptop screen becomes a private personal view and "control center" for the meeting. In addition to your persona
    l view of the active presentation, it houses the meeting controls, peripherals selection, presentation controls, the participant roster, chat panels, and your "Ask Gemini" panel. This ensures you can manage the meeting privately without displaying your browser window or personal workspace to the entire room.

Personal View (Laptop) in Room Display mode with an active presentation with speaker notes and with the Ask Gemini side panel open

Whether you’re hosting a team sync, leading a pitch, or watching a presentation, Room Display mode makes running meetings on a shared display and collaborating in hybrid environments more seamless and professional.

Note: This requires a Chromium-based browser (such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge) with Window Management permissions enabled.

Getting started

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
  • End users: This feature will be available by default when a laptop running a Chromium-based browser is connected to an external display (set to Extended mode, not mirrored). Room Display mode will be highlighted as the main option to join the call when the laptop detects  a shared external display like a meeting room TV. To help us improve the feature, provide feedback via the thumbs up/down icons and the feedback link in the Personal View UI. Visit the Help Center to learn more about joining meetings with Room Display mode.

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Business: Business Starter, Standard, and Plus
  • Enterprise: Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus
  • Other Editions: Frontline Starter, Standard, and Plus; Essentials Starter, Enterprise Essentials, and Enterprise Essentials Plus; Nonprofits

Resources

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Useful Links

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