Google Workspace Updates

Google Workspace Weekly Recap - October 23, 2026

2026-10-23T14:06:14.902-07:00

Follow through on your meeting tasks with meeting recaps in Google Chat

To make it easier for teams to move from planning to action, we’re introducing meeting recaps in Google Chat. Meeting recaps provide a convenient summary directly in Google Chat. | Learn more.

Gemini in Google Sheets is now available on iOS devices

Building upon the power of Gemini in Sheets on the web and our recent launch on Android devices, we’re excited to announce that you can now use Gemini in Google Sheets on your iOS device to quickly analyze and understand your data while on the go. | Learn more.

Publish interactive apps from the Gemini app to Google Sites

You can now export interactive apps built in the Gemini app directly to Google Sites. With one click, your app is added to a new, private site draft — fully interactive and ready to customize. From there, you can add more content, publish the site, and share it just like any other Google Site. | Learn more.

Analyze BigQuery data using natural language with Gemini in Google Sheets

We’re introducing a new way to analyze BigQuery data in Google Sheets. After connecting to BigQuery data with Connected Sheets, you can use Gemini to interact and analyze that data conversationally, right in Google Sheets. Gemini queries run against the full dataset in BigQuery, not just what’s visible in your spreadsheet. | Learn more.

Teacher-led Gemini Notebook in Google Classroom now offers insight summaries for educators and updated sharing settings for admins, including trusted domains

Following the launch of teacher-led Gemini Notebook in Google Classroom, we are introducing insight summaries for educators. This update provides teachers with greater visibility into how students interact with assigned notebooks, helping gauge instructional value and inform lesson planning. | Learn more.

An easier way to customize how Gemini works for you

We’ve introduced a centralized ”customize” hub in the Gemini app, providing a single place to tailor how Gemini responds and connects with your tools. Users can discover apps and add skills to automate repetitive workflows such as adapting to your personal writing style or adhering to specific formatting guidelines. | Learn more.

Video tile pairing is now available on Google Meet mobile to improve accessibility for users and language interpreters

Following our original feature announcement for the web, we are excited to expand video tile pairing in Google Meet to both iOS and Android mobile devices. This update allows users to pair their video tile with another meeting participant, ensuring both tiles are displayed side-by-side for other attendees. | Learn more.

Gain more creative control over Slide Decks and Video Overviews in Gemini Notebook

Gemini Notebook now gives you more creative control over Slide Decks and Video Overviews. Instead of jumping straight to a final output, Gemini Notebook can now walk you through a step-by-step creation flow so you can steer the content further and guide the visual style and format. | Learn more.

Create structured documents using just your voice with Docs Live in Google Docs on mobile

Docs Live is now rolling out to eligible Workspace users of the Google Docs mobile app on Android and iOS. This new feature acts as a hands-free thought partner and co-writer that helps you build structured, context-aware documents on the fly using natural conversation. | Learn more.

Create box and whisker charts in Google Sheets

Google Sheets now natively supports box and whisker charts, a statistical chart type that shows how a dataset is distributed. Select a range of raw numeric values and Sheets calculates the minimum, first quartile, median, third quartile, maximum, mean, and outliers for you, with no helper formulas needed. | Learn more.

Real-time speech translation in Google Meet expands to 63 languages with automatic language detection

Gemini-powered speech translation in Google Meet will now support 63 languages across web and mobile devices (Android and iOS), with listening support on Google Meet hardware devices. | Learn more.

Google Vault now supports filtered exports for Gemini in Workspace

Google Vault now supports eDiscovery filtered exports for Gemini in Workspace. This update adds a new data source to our AI compliance capabilities, allowing administrators to filter and export users' Gemini in Workspace conversations across apps like Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides and Meet in line with the security controls and privacy provisions of Vault. | Learn more.

Adjust video clip playback speed directly in Google Vids

We are introducing the ability to adjust the playback speed of individual video clips directly within Google Vids. This update gives creators precise control over pacing and scene timing, streamlining video editing so teams can optimize storytelling, improve audience engagement, and deliver polished messages without relying on third-party editing software. | Learn more.

Extract audio tracks in Google Vids

We are introducing the ability to decouple and extract the audio track from video clips directly within Google Vids. By separating audio from video, creators gain granular control over multimedia editing, making it simple to custom-tailor voiceovers, remove distracting background noise, and align tracks across scenes. | Learn more.

Take actions on your notebooks from Gemini Notebook directly in the Gemini app

Gemini Notebook is now also available as a Connected App in the Gemini app. This new integration allows you to manage and query notebooks directly within your chats using natural language. | 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.

Take actions on your notebooks from Gemini Notebook directly in the Gemini app

2026-10-23T12:55:25.868-07:00

Gemini Notebook is now also available as a Connected App in the Gemini app. This new integration allows you to manage and query notebooks directly within your chats using natural language.

You can type @Gemini Notebook in a Gemini chat to quickly create new notebooks, add sources to a notebook, save key notes, or retrieve information from their existing notebooks. Gemini can also automatically detect when to use the Gemini Notebook Connected App for relevant prompts. For example, you can ask Gemini to:

Create, edit, or delete a notebook ("Create a Gemini Notebook about solar farm market trends")
Add, update, or delete sources in a notebook ("Add a copy of this chat to my notebook about Bio 101 course")
List notebooks and their sources (“Show me a list of all the sources in my notebook about US National Parks”)
Answer questions using context from your notebook ("What do my Gemini Notebooks say about butterfly migration?")

Getting started

Admins: Access to the Gemini Notebook Connected App is ON by default, and is controlled using the Gemini and Gemini Notebook access settings. As an administrator of your organization's Google Accounts, you can control who can use the Gemini Notebook Connected App. The Gemini Notebook Connected App is available to users who are in a group or OU with both Gemini Notebook and Gemini set to On. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning Gemini and Gemini Notebook on or off for users.
End users: This feature will be ON by default for users globally, except in the European Economic Area, where it will be OFF by default. This feature can be controlled in Settings > Connected Apps in the Gemini app. Visit the Help Center to learn more.

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 Admin Help: Control Gemini App access to Workspace services
Gemini Apps Help: Use & manage Connected Apps in Gemini

Extract audio tracks in Google Vids

2026-10-23T09:26:52.403-07:00

Previously, video tracks could only be muted or unmuted as a single entity and were strictly scene-bound. With this update, you can extract a video's audio as a standalone clip that can play under other video tracks or span freely across multiple scenes on your timeline.

Key capabilities include:

Single-click extraction: Instantly separate any video clip’s audio track into a standalone audio clip on the timeline.
Independent timeline editing: Trim, move, or delete the detached audio track independently of your video footage without disrupting clip timing.

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. Visit the Help Center to learn more about working with audio in Vids.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 19, 2026

Availability

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

Resources

Google Help: Add audio to a video in Google Vids
Google Help: Get started with Google Vids

Adjust video clip playback speed directly in Google Vids

2026-10-23T09:12:34.166-07:00

Whether presenting a fast-paced software walkthrough or slowing down technical steps, video speed controls make scene fine-tuning seamless.

Key capabilities include:

Speed up footage (up to 2x): Condense long demonstrations, trim visual downtime, and keep audience attention sharp.
Slow down playback (down to 0.25x): Emphasize intricate visual moments, highlight key user interface steps, and make technical tutorials easier to follow.

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. Visit the Help Center to learn more.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 16, 2026

Availability

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

Resources

Google Help: Get started with Google Vids

Google Vault now supports filtered exports for Gemini in Workspace

2026-10-22T15:08:28.889-07:00

Filter conversations by custodian and date range: Define export scopes by specific user accounts or organizational units (OUs) up to 5,000 users in size, and filter by a specific date range (with time zone selection).
Export conversations in a JSON format: Export matching conversation histories via the Vault UI or API. While exported in JSON, the metadata tags align with the GenAI conversation format used in the Gemini app.
Include conversation context: Exports include user prompts, AI responses, generated attachments (such as images), and links to referenced Workspace files (such as Drive documents or Gmail threads) and citations.

Google Vault enables customers to govern and export their Google Workspace data from a central tool to meet legal and regulatory obligations. Additional information governance features for Gemini in Workspace, such as retention rules and litigation holds, will follow in future releases.

Additional details

Application scope: This update captures Gemini in Workspace conversations created when conversation history is turned on across integrated Workspace apps (Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Meet).
Conversation history settings: Admins can use OU-level conversation history and deletion settings in the Admin console to govern data retention (such as preventing manual conversation deletion by users or configuring automatic deletion after a period of inactivity).
UI experience: Admins can start an export directly from the Search tab in Vault by selecting "Gemini in Workspace" from the newly alphabetized service dropdown, entering their filter criteria, and clicking "Export."
API support: Support for Vault API users will be available within 14 days of the UI rollout.

Getting started

Admins: Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Vault to export Gemini in Workspace data, as well as supported services and data types.
End users: There is no end-user setting for this feature.

Rollout pace

Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Available now

Availability

Business: Business Plus
Other Editions: Frontline Standard and Plus; Enterprise Essentials Plus
Enterprise: Enterprise Standard and Plus
Education: Education Fundamentals, Standard and Plus
Other Add-ons: Vault

Resources

Google Vault Help: Vault export contents
Google Vault Help: Supported services & data types
Google Workspace Updates: Gemini conversation history in Google Workspace
Google Workspace Updates: Google Vault now supports the Gemini app
Google Workspace Updates: Google Vault now supports retention rules and litigation holds for Gemini app

Real-time speech translation in Google Meet expands to 63 languages with automatic language detection

2026-10-22T10:41:39.219-07:00

Gemini-powered speech translation in Google Meet will now support 63 languages across web and mobile devices (Android and iOS), with listening support on Google Meet hardware devices.

Previously, speech translation supported a limited set of language pairs and required configuring a single language pair for the entire meeting. With this update, powered by Gemini 3.5 Live Translate, participants can translate speech between any combination of the 63 supported languages in the same meeting with minimal configuration, helping global and distributed teams collaborate more naturally across language barriers.

We’re changing and simplifying how participants use speech translation during a multilingual call:

Automatic spoken language detection: Meet automatically detects the language being spoken and translates it into each listener's preferred language in near real-time, even when multiple languages are spoken in the same meeting or when a speaker switches languages.
Individual participant controls: Instead of a meeting-wide configuration, participants can independently enable speech translation for themselves using the dedicated translation control in the meeting toolbar, and optionally configure additional languages they already understand so those languages are not translated.
Synchronized automatically translated captions: When speech translation is active, captions provide a consistent reading and listening experience, matching the translated audio.

Please note a few important considerations regarding access and use of this feature:

Meeting access and direct calls: Speech translation is available to all meeting participants, including guests from other domains, when the meeting is organized by a user with an eligible Google Workspace or Google AI plan. In direct 1:1 calls, speech translation is available to both participants if either person has an eligible plan.
Meeting duration limits: Speech translation is available for up to 90 minutes per meeting for eligible base Workspace and Google AI Pro plans, and up to 8 hours per meeting for AI Expanded Access, AI Ultra Access, and Google AI Ultra plans.
Google Meet hardware devices: Participants in conference rooms using Google Meet hardware can listen to translated speech from remote participants, but speech originating from the conference room hardware will not be translated for others.
Unsupported scenarios: Speech translation is not available in live streams, meeting recordings, client-side encrypted (CSE) meetings, dial-in or third-party interoperability calls, or when using adaptive audio. Availability is also subject to regional and age restrictions.
Privacy and user control: Users choose whether their speech is translated for others and can update their preference at any time in Meet settings. Google does not store voice data or train models on your voice.

Getting started

Admins: Speech translation is ON by default for eligible Google Workspace editions (when the Gemini for Meet admin setting is enabled) and can be disabled or enabled at the organizational unit (OU) or group level in the Admin console under Apps > Google Workspace > Google Meet > Gemini settings. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning Speech translation on or off for Meet.
End users: Speech translation is OFF by default at the start of a meeting and can be enabled by individual participants during a call. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Speech Translation in Google Meet.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on October 22, 2026
Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on November 2, 2026

Note: Feature visibility and synchronized captions may vary during the initial rollout. Mobile users will need to update their Google Meet application to ensure access to these new capabilities.

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
Other Add-ons: AI Expanded Access and AI Ultra Access

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Turn Speech translation on or off for Meet
Google Help: Learn about Speech Translation in Google Meet
Google Workspace Updates Blog: Control Speech Translation in Google Meet for your users
Google Workspace Updates Blog: Speech translation in Google Meet is now rolling out to mobile devices
News from Google: Fluid, natural voice translation with Gemini 3.5 Live Translate

Create box and whisker charts in Google Sheets

2026-10-22T08:06:16.748-07:00

Box and whisker support also comes with enhanced Microsoft Excel import compatibility. Previously, importing Excel files containing box and whisker charts into Sheets would drop the chart entirely. Now, these charts are preserved on import with their data references, calculations, and formatting intact, and charts created in Sheets export back to Excel as editable box and whisker charts.

User creating a box and whisker chart in Google Sheets

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about adding and editing a chart in Google Sheets.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 22, 2026
Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on November 6, 2026

Availability

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

Resources

Google Docs Editors Help: Add & edit a chart or graph

Create structured documents using just your voice with Docs Live in Google Docs on mobile

2026-10-21T14:56:27.010-07:00

Starting a new document from scratch on a phone can be tricky, but it’s often necessary when ideas are fresh right after a meeting or during a commute. Even if your thoughts are unstructured or you're rambling, Docs Live can reference and pull context from your emails, chats, and Drive files to help you draft project updates, feature proposals, customer pitches, event plans, talk tracks for presentations, and more.

Brainstorm requirements, pull context from Workspace, and generate a structured first draft using your voice in the Google Docs mobile app.

Getting started

Admins: This feature will be ON by default for user with Gemini in Docs enabled. Visit the Help Center to learn more about managing access to Gemini features in Workspace.
End users:

Speak naturally and openly: Say what you need and Gemini will help write and polish your ideas right on the page.
Be clear about your goal: Are you trying to put together a summary of a meeting or a project proposal based on notes from a recent call? Be clear and prescriptive. Whatever you need, Gemini can help create the right deliverable based on what you tell it.
Synthesizes information: Gemini automatically and securely draws from relevant content in your Gmail, Drive, Chat, and the web, meaning the output is personalized and relevant to what you need.
Visit the Help Center to learn more about generating documents with voice.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now

Availability

Business: Business Standard and Plus
Enterprise: Enterprise Standard and Plus
Consumer: Google AI Pro and Ultra
Education Add-ons: Google AI Pro for Education
Other Add-ons: AI Expanded Access

Resources

Google Help: Generate documents with voice in Google Docs
Google Workspace Admin Help: Turn access to Google Workspace with Gemini on or off
Keyword: Use your voice to get more done in Gmail, Docs, and Keep

Gain more creative control over Slide Decks and Video Overviews in Gemini Notebook

2026-10-21T10:09:27.862-07:00

Guided customization: In chat, Gemini Notebook suggests relevant focus topics, formats, and visual styles based on your sources. If you already know what you want, you can share specific instructions in your prompt and Gemini Notebook will pre-fill your selections without asking you to repeat yourself.
Outline and producer notes review: If you turn on the Review toggle, you can preview the slide deck outline or video producer notes in the Studio panel and give written feedback before generating the final output.
Quick first pass: If you prefer a quick output, you can still have Gemini Notebook generate a Slide Deck or Video Overview right away without the extra review step.

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning Gemini Notebook on or off for users.
End users: End users can turn on “Review outline” or “Review producer notes” to use this feature. Visit the Help Center to learn more about generating Video Overviews and Slide Decks in Gemini Notebook.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) started on October 16, 2026

Availability

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

Resources

News from Google blog: How to shape your slides and videos with Gemini Notebook
Gemini Notebook Help: Generate a Slide Deck in Gemini Notebook
Gemini Notebook Help: Generate Video Overviews in Gemini Notebook

Video tile pairing is now available on Google Meet mobile to improve accessibility for users and language interpreters

2026-10-21T09:26:26.923-07:00

Tile pairing is particularly valuable for accessibility, giving participants who are Deaf or hard of hearing (HoH) the capability to pair their video tile with a sign language interpreter. By empowering users to keep both tiles visible in the same frame, regardless of who is speaking, video calls can be a more inclusive experience for all participants.

Whether you are co-presenting a session or requiring interpretation services, this mobile expansion ensures that important visual connections remain intact, even when you are on the go. Once paired, meeting participants will see both video tiles highlighted and positioned together in the meeting layout, with live captions displayed and attributed to both speakers.

Video tile pairing offers a side-by-side viewing experience for linked speakers on a mobile interface

Getting started

Admins: This feature will be ON by default and can be turned off at the OU level. Visit the Help Center to learn more about managing Meet settings and accessibility in Google Meet.
End users: This feature will be ON by default and can be enabled by the user. Visit the Help Center to learn more.

Rollout pace

Android Devices

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

iOS Devices

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

Availability

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

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Google Workspace admin guide to accessibility
Google Help: Pair tiles in Google Meet
Google Workspace Updates Blog: Pair your video tile in Google Meet to improve accessibility for users with language interpreters

An easier way to customize how Gemini works for you

2026-10-21T08:31:29.540-07:00

Bringing custom skills and connected apps together into a unified space makes it easy to discover and manage how you customize your experience when using Gemini.

The new hub includes:

Skills: Configure custom skills and prompt preferences to tackle repetitive tasks, preserve tone and voice, or enforce specific response structures.
Connected apps: Add more than 40 external services, as well as Google apps. You choose which apps to connect, and permissions can be audited or disconnected at any time.

Platform & regional availability:

The ”customize” menu is rolling out globally across web, mobile, and the Gemini desktop app on Windows and macOS for all user tiers.
Most connected apps are currently available in English in the U.S., with select apps available in additional English-speaking regions, Brazil, and India.

Getting started

Admins: Connected apps and third-party tool integrations for Gemini can be reviewed and managed in the Admin console under Apps > Additional Google services > Gemini.
End users: In Gemini (web, mobile, or desktop app), open the left navigation menu and select Customize to add skills, explore apps, and manage connected services.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) started on October 13, 2026

Availability

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

Resources

Google Help: Customize how Gemini works and manage connected apps
Google Workspace Admin Help: Control Gemini App access to Workspace services
Google Workspace Admin Help: Manage the Marketplace app allowlist for your organization

Teacher-led Gemini Notebook in Google Classroom now offers insight summaries for educators and updated sharing settings for admins, including trusted domains

2026-10-19T13:23:52.002-07:00

Teachers now have access to actionable insight summaries, powered by Gemini, based on student conversations with teacher-assigned notebooks. Teachers can see:

An overall summary of how students engaged with the assigned notebook
A sample of common themes to help inform instruction, such as common questions, areas of strength and suggested areas to support.
Individual student chat transcripts for assigned notebooks for additional context and to confirm the accuracy of AI provided insights.

This functionality is only available for Gemini Notebooks assigned through Google Classroom, and students will see a notification in the assigned notebook informing them that their conversations in their assigned notebook are visible to their teacher.

Additionally, Google Workspace administrators can now enable external sharing for Gemini Notebook using granular controls in the Admin console, including Trusted Domains. For example, this now allows Classroom users to create and assign notebooks if teachers and students are in different domains that are designated as trusted domains, if sharing with trusted domains is enabled by admins.

Getting started

Admins:

Teachers must be in a group or OU with Gemini Notebook set to On in order to create and assign a notebook, and view insight summaries. Students must be in a group or OU with Gemini Notebook set to On in order to interact with an assigned notebook. Use our Help Center to learn more about turning Gemini Notebook on or off for users.
Gemini Notebook external sharing is OFF by default and can be controlled at the domain, OU, and group level. Visit the Help Center to learn more about managing Gemini Notebook sharing settings, including Trusted Domains.

End users:

Gemini Notebook insight summaries will be available if Gemini Notebook is enabled by your admin, and if students have interacted with an assigned Gemini Notebook.
Use our Help Center to learn more about using Gemini Notebook in Classroom:

For teachers: Create and assign Gemini Notebook in Google Classroom
For students: Use Gemini Notebook in Google Classroom (for students)

Insight summaries are rolling out for Google Workspace for Education users. This feature will be made available for Gemini LTI™ users in the coming weeks.

Rollout pace

Insight summaries: Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on October 19, 2026
External sharing for Gemini Notebook using granular controls in the Admin console: Available now

Availability

Education: Education Fundamentals, Standard, and Plus

Resources

News from Google: Building AI tailored for education, with educators in the lead
Google Classroom Help: Create and assign Gemini Notebooks in Google Classroom
Google Classroom Help: Use Gemini Notebook in Google Classroom (for students)

Analyze BigQuery data using natural language with Gemini in Google Sheets

2026-10-19T13:19:13.824-07:00

Ask questions in natural language: Ask something like “What were total sales in the Northeast last quarter?” and get an answer based on your complete BigQuery data.
Dig deeper with follow-ups: Keep the conversation going with questions like “How does that compare to the same quarter last year?” or “Which products drove the increase?”

Ask Gemini to analyze and pull insights from your largest datasets in BigQuery

Go from analysis to dashboard: Describe what you need, such as “Build a quarterly sales review with revenue by region, a monthly trend, and our top 10 products.” Gemini will share its plan for you to review, then build a new spreadsheet tab with native, connected, refreshable objects like database formulas, pivot tables, and charts.

Gemini can create connected charts, pivot tables, and dashboards that are always up to date with scheduled refreshes

For business users, Gemini handles the legwork of completing their end to end analysis, from querying the data to garnering complex and nuanced insights from the data, to laying out the final dashboard for review, allowing them to get their work done faster without ever leaving Google Sheets. For data teams, this means a shorter backlog of one-off requests for reports and data pulls from BigQuery.

Getting started

Admins: This feature will be ON by default. There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: This feature will be available by default in spreadsheets connected to BigQuery, for users with permission to query the connected data. To get started, open the Gemini side panel in a connected spreadsheet. Visit the Help Center to learn more.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 19, 2026

Availability

Business: Business Standard and Plus
Enterprise: Enterprise Standard and Plus
Consumer: Google AI Pro and Ultra
Education Add-ons: Google AI Pro for Education
Other Add-ons: AI Expanded Access

Resources

Google Docs Editors Help: Get started with BigQuery data in Google Sheets
Google Docs Editors Help: Collaborate with Gemini in Google Sheets

Publish interactive apps from the Gemini app to Google Sites

2026-10-19T10:25:14.930-07:00

This makes it easy to take what you create in the Gemini app and share it with your team, customers, or students, with no code to copy and nothing to rebuild.

Getting started

Admins: There is no new admin control for this feature. Users can only export to Google Sites if Google Sites is turned on for them and they are allowed to create and edit sites. Sites created this way follow your organization's existing Google Sites and Google Drive policies.
End users: In the Gemini app, select Export > Google Sites on your interactive app. It opens directly in Google Sites as a new draft, ready to edit and publish.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now on web, Android, and iOS.

Availability

Available to Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts who have access to the Gemini app.

Gemini in Google Sheets is now available on iOS devices

2026-10-19T10:00:39.796-07:00

Simply tap on the Gemini spark icon, and you can ask questions about your data, generate analytical insights, and create charts. To help you get started, we've included suggested prompts such as “Summarize this table,” and “Analyze for insights.”

Finance Tracker:

Employee Tracker:

Getting started

Admins: There is no specific admin control for this mobile feature beyond the general Gemini for Google Workspace enablement at the domain/OU level. Visit the Help Center to learn more about managing Gemini access.
End users: This feature will be available by default for eligible users. To access it, open a compatible spreadsheet on your iOS device and tap the Ask Gemini icon. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Gemini in Google Sheets.

Rollout pace

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

Availability

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

Resources

Google help article: Collaborate with Gemini in Google Sheets

Follow through on your meeting tasks with meeting recaps in Google Chat

2026-10-19T08:37:48.423-07:00

To make it easier for teams to move from planning to action, we’re introducing meeting recaps in Google Chat. Meeting recaps provide a convenient summary directly in Google Chat, including:

Meeting summary: A high-level overview highlighting key discussion topics and takeaways.
Direct artifact links: One-click access to the full Gemini meeting notes document, the meeting recording, and the transcript.
Key decisions: Core conclusions and agreements reached during the call.
Action items: Assigned next steps with designated owners so team members can immediately take action.

Automatically review key decisions, action items, and artifact links directly in Google Chat after your meeting ends.

Meeting recaps will appear automatically for any conversation with ‘Take notes for me’ enabled in Google Meet, in the Chat space associated with that meeting, bringing essential post-call takeaways directly into the flow of your team's ongoing conversations. Participants can review agreed-upon next steps, and colleagues who missed the meeting or joined late can catch up on what happened without reading lengthy transcripts or hunting for files.

Additional details

Requirements: Meeting recaps are generated when “Take notes for me” is active during a Google Meet call and an associated meeting chat conversation exists.
Notes sharing settings: If the meeting host sets “Send notes to” in Google Meet to “Hosts and co-hosts only,” a recap card will not be posted to the group chat.
Silent notifications: To reduce distraction, recap cards are delivered silently, without bolding the conversation or adding an ‘unread’ badge in the conversation roster.
Recap card management: Any participant in the meeting conversation can delete the recap card by clicking More options (three dots) > Delete. Deleting the recap card removes the summary from the chat thread, but the original notes document remains safely stored in Google Drive.

Getting started

Admins: This feature will be ON by default for organizations with Gemini for Google Workspace enabled. It honors existing “Take notes for me” and Gemini admin policies. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning Gemini for Google Workspace on or off for your organization.
End users: There is no end-user setting for this feature. Meeting recaps will automatically appear in the meeting’s chat conversation once the call ends. Visit the Help Center to learn more about getting meeting recaps with Gemini in Google Chat and using “Take notes for me” in Google Meet.

Access full notes in Google Drive or manage recap cards directly from the chat thread.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) started on October 16, 2026
Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 27, 2026

Availability

Business: Business Standard and Business Plus
Enterprise: Enterprise Standard and Enterprise Plus
Other Editions: Frontline Plus

Resources

Google Help: Get meeting recaps with Gemini in Google Chat
Google Help: Use “Take notes for me” in Google Meet
Google Workspace Admin Help: Manage Google Workspace smart features for your users

Google Workspace Weekly Recap - October 16, 2026

2026-10-16T11:44:55.921-07:00

Google Meet now uses post-quantum cryptography

Calls in Google Meet will use post-quantum cryptography (PQC) for extra protection, starting now with laptop web clients and meeting room hardware, with mobile support coming soon. There are no visible changes, and you can continue using Meet normally. The updated encryption protects your data against potential future quantum computer threats. | Learn more.

Configure Access Management and Access Approvals policies using classification labels with rules in Assured Controls

We’re introducing Assured Controls rules in the Google Workspace Admin Console, giving administrators a more granular, resource-centric way to enforce Access Management and Access Approvals policies on Google Drive files. | Learn more.

Find your routine next steps on the post-meeting screen in Google Meet

We are introducing next steps in Google Meet. Powered by Gemini and Workspace Studio, our new capability allows users to automate repetitive post-meeting tasks directly within Google Workspace. Next steps help you transform meeting discussions into definitive actions, like drafting follow-up emails in Gmail or exporting action items to Google Tasks. | Learn more.

Switch from live stream viewer to contributor in Google Meet on Android

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

An update on the launch of skills in the Gemini app and Workspace

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

Now generally available: Preview client-side encrypted PDF and image files directly in Google Drive

Google Drive now supports previewing CSE files directly within Drive. Previously, users had to download encrypted non-native files to their local devices in order to see the contents. With this capability, authorized users can preview encrypted content instantly in their web browser without ever leaving Drive. | Learn more.

Gmail’s AI Inbox is rolling out to paid Workspace users

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

Gmail Live is rolling out to paid Workspace users

Following our initial rollout of conversational AI voice capabilities, we are bringing Gmail Live to Google Workspace customers on mobile (Android and iOS). Using our latest Gemini models, Gmail Live delivers a low-latency, inbox-aware voice search experience that lets you ask questions naturally and hear synthesized answers directly from your email inbox. | 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.

Gmail Live is rolling out to paid Workspace users

2026-10-15T14:19:41.625-07:00

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

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

Common use cases include:

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

Getting started

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

Rollout pace

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

Availability

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

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

Resources

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

Gmail’s AI Inbox is rolling out to paid Workspace users

2026-10-15T13:14:12.061-07:00

AI Inbox’s core capabilities:

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

Getting started

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

Availability

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

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

Rollout pace

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

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

Resources

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

Now generally available: Preview client-side encrypted PDF and image files directly in Google Drive

2026-10-15T09:59:58.082-07:00

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

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

Encrypted PDF documents
Encrypted image file formats

Getting started

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

Rollout pace

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

Availability

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

Resources

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

An update on the launch of skills in the Gemini app and Workspace

2026-10-13T13:33:42.627-07:00

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

Getting started

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

Rollout pace

Skills in the Gemini app

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout starting on October 13, 2026, with expected completion by mid-November, 2026

Skills in Workspace

Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Delayed until further notice

Availability

Skills in the Gemini app

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

Skills in Workspace

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

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

Resources

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

Switch from live stream viewer to contributor in Google Meet on Android

2026-10-13T12:19:34.665-07:00

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

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

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

Getting Started

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

Rollout pace

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

Availability

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

Resources

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

Find your routine next steps on the post-meeting screen in Google Meet

2026-10-12T12:17:43.586-07:00

During busy work days, meetings are frequently just one part of an expanding workflow. Without the right integrations, capturing decisions and executing on follow-up tasks requires manual data entry that leads to context fragmentation and wasted time.

On your post-meeting screen, look for the section titled, “Routines for this meeting,” where you can enable next steps with one tap. “Take notes for me” must be enabled during the meeting for any next steps to appear. This works for both one-off or recurring meetings, and users can enable a specific next step across all of their meetings (when “Take notes for me” is turned on).

We are starting out with just two routine next steps, draft a follow-up email and add action items to Google Tasks. However, there are several more soon on the way, so be on the lookout!

Draft a followup email or export your action items to Google Tasks on the Google Meet post-call page after a one-off meeting

You can also complete your next steps after a recurring meeting

Getting started

Admins: This feature will be ON by default and can be disabled at the domain/OU/group level via the Workspace Studio Admin settings or the Take Notes for Me setting. Visit the Help Center to learn more.
End users: This feature is available to users when "Take notes for me" is enabled. Users can manage their routine next steps from the Meet post-call screen or in the Workspace Studio Flows library once turned on for the first time in Google Meet. Visit the Help Center to learn more.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) started on October 5, 2026

Availability

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

Resources

Google Help: Complete routine tasks with post-meeting next steps

Configure Access Management and Access Approvals policies using classification labels with rules in Assured Controls

2026-10-12T11:28:27.189-07:00

Previously, Access Management and Access Approvals policies could only be scoped at the user level, applying broadly to all covered data owned by users within a selected Organizational Unit (OU) or group. With Assured Controls rules, admins can now configure both Access Management and Access Approvals policies together in a single unified rule and target specific Google Drive files using classification labels in addition to existing OU and group-based scoping capabilities.

By scoping Assured Controls policies to specific classification labels, organizations can reserve their strictest sovereign and compliance controls for only their most sensitive files while maintaining standard, rapid support workflows for less sensitive business data.

How organizations can use Assured Controls rules:

Automated end-to-end protection with Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Admins can combine data protection rules with Assured Controls rules to automatically apply Access Approvals and Access Management policies based on Drive file contents. A DLP rule can automatically apply a classification label when sensitive content (such as Personally Identifiable Information, financial records, or regulated project identifiers) is detected in a Drive file, which then automatically triggers the corresponding Assured Controls rule using that label as a condition to enforce Access Management and Access Approvals protections.
Regional data sovereignty across multinational teams: Multinational enterprises can apply regional classification labels (such as EU Restricted or U.S. Restricted) to Drive files and restrict access to EU or US support staff based on the contents of the file itself.
Targeted compliance for regulated workloads: Public sector and financial services organizations can apply a classification label (such as CJIS / IRS 1075) to sensitive Drive files and use an Assured Controls rule to restrict support actions on those files to CJIS-authorized and IRS 1075-authorized individuals while simultaneously requiring explicit Access Approvals—without impacting support speed for unclassified files owned by the same users.

Getting started

Admins: Use our Help Center to learn more about Assured Controls rules for Access Management & Access Approvals.
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 September 30, 2026

Availability

Access Approvals rule-based enforcement: Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus and Frontline Plus customers with the Assured Controls or Assured Controls Plus add-on.
Access Management rule-based enforcement: Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus and Frontline Plus customers with the Assured Controls Plus add on.

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Assured Controls rules for Access Management & Access Approvals
Google Workspace Admin Help: Access Management: Limit the Google staff who can take support actions related to your data
Google Workspace Admin Help: Access Approvals: Require Google staff to request approval before viewing support data
Google Workspace Admin Help: About Assured Controls and Assured Controls Plus
Google Workspace Admin Help: What data is covered by Access Management and Access Approvals?
Google Workspace Admin Help: Create data protection rules
Google Workspace Admin Help: Create classification labels for your organization

Google Meet now uses post-quantum cryptography

2026-10-12T08:54:33.769-07:00

The expansion of PQC to all Meet calls will help to secure infrastructure and services against the potential threat of a future cryptographically relevant quantum computer. No such computer exists today; however this change helps protect today's Meet traffic from the theoretical risk of being harvested and decrypted by a future quantum computer, an approach commonly referred to as Store Now, Decrypt Later.

Google Meet has used quantum-safe encryption previously for client-side encrypted calls (CSE).

Google automatically implements all necessary updates to benefit all Meet hosts and participants. Administrators and end users don't need to take any action.

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. Visit the Help Center to learn more about call & meeting encryption in Google Meet.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on Oct 12 for web and room hardware

Availability

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

Resources

Cloud Blog: PQC in Plaintext: Google Cloud’s post-quantum cryptography roadmap
Google Blog: Setting a timeline for post-quantum cryptography migration
Google Help: Learn about Meet client-side encryption (CSE)
Google Admin Help: How Google protects your organization's security and privacy
Google Workspace: Advanced Security & Threat Prevention
Google Cloud: Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) hub