We are thrilled to announce that Google Pics is generally available starting today, bringing advanced AI image generation and precise, object-based image editing directly into your Workspace creative workflow. To get started, open Pics and simply type in a prompt to generate any image using Google’s best AI imaging models, or import an image from your computer, Google Drive, or Google Photos to edit with AI.

We're transitioning our Google Meet hardware portfolio from ChromeOS to Android to deliver features faster, broaden device choices, and increase flexibility. We're working closely with hardware partners, including Logitech, Neat, and HP Poly, to offer Google Meet-certified devices for spaces of any size, with several exciting Android devices intended for large-format spaces planned for 2027.

Support and transition timeline for ChromeOS

Existing investments in ChromeOS devices are protected. The support timelines for these devices have not changed and will continue to be fully supported through a multi-year transition period, extending up to September 2030 for recent models. We will continue delivering security patches, stability updates, and ChromeOS releases for all Google Meet hardware running ChromeOS.

To help you plan room refresh cycles, hardware partners will gradually end manufacturing and sales for ChromeOS-based hardware according to the following timelines:

• Logitech / CTL Google Meet Compute System: February 2027
• ASUS Google Meet Compute System: April 2027

For customers looking to purchase ChromeOS devices to complement their existing fleet, particularly for large event spaces, we encourage you to purchase devices as soon as possible.

Benefits of Android in meeting rooms

Adopting Android as the foundation for Google Meet hardware provides several benefits:

• Device variety: Android-based room hardware offers a broader range of form factors, including compact all-in-one devices, video bars, and integrated room solutions. Whether equipping a focus room, collaborative huddle space, or boardroom, you have options to find the right fit.
• Enterprise stability: Android-based devices deliver the performance, responsiveness, and stability you rely on with ChromeOS.
• Hardware flexibility: Certified AOSP devices can run multiple video conferencing solutions, protecting your investment by allowing rooms to be repurposed without replacing equipment.
• Long lifecycles: Devices certified for Google Meet are engineered for long-term reliability and predictable software support.

The portfolio of supported hardware is growing as we actively work with partners to certify additional next-generation devices and qualified peripherals.

Partner collaboration

Our partners already offer Google Meet-certified AOSP options. Together, we're simplifying deployment, accelerating AI features like Take notes for me, and making meeting rooms more collaborative. Explore devices options and find contact information for our partners on the links below.

Getting started

• Admins: Use our Help Center to learn more about supported devices for Google Meet hardware.

Resources

• Hardware for Google Meet from our partners
• Logitech
• Neat
• HP Poly
• Google Help: Google Meet hardware certification program
• Google Help: Compare Google Meet hardware options

Previously, adding a co-presenter in Google Meet required multiple manual steps. Now, Gemini will intelligently suggest a co-presenter in the Ask Gemini in Meet panel, and with just one click, a user can allow another user to co-present their Google Slides presentation.

Note that this “nudge” will only appear for the main presenter of a Google Slides presentation in Meet if they’re on a Chrome or Edge browser and if another participant uses a trigger phrase like, “Can you please add me as a co-presenter?” or “Next slide please.”

Getting started

• Admins: This feature 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: Users will only see this “nudge” from Gemini if they’re the main presenter of a Google Slides presentation in Meet, on a Chrome or Edge browser, and hear a trigger phrase (must be said in English). Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Ask Gemini in Meet.

Rollout pace

• Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on August 31, 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
• Google Workspace Help Center Article: Co-present Slides in Google Meet

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.

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

• Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout to Open Beta — targeting completion by September 30th.

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

• Google Drive Help: Label Google Drive files automatically using AI classification | Security & data protection