Google Workspace Updates: February 2025

Use Gemini in the side panel of Workspace apps in seventeen more languages

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

What’s changing

Beginning today, Gemini in the side panel of Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Drive, and Gmail can be used in seventeen additional languages:

Arabic
Chinese
Czech
Danish
Dutch
Finnish
Hebrew
Hungarian
Norwegian
Polish
Romanian
Russian
Swedish
Thai
Turkish
Ukrainian
Vietnamese

With Gemini in the side panel of your Workspace apps, you can get help summarizing, brainstorming, and generating content by utilizing insights gathered from your emails, documents, and more—all without switching applications or tabs. Check out our original announcements for Gemini in the side panel of Docs, Sheets, and Drive, and Gmail for even more information. Image generation is supported in these languages as well.

Additional details

While Gemini in the side panel of Docs, Sheets, Drive, and Gmail, is generally available in these additional languages - as we keep rolling out more Gemini alpha features in the side panel, end users with Gemini alpha features turned on may continue to see the “Alpha” badge.
Gemini in the side panel of Slides and Chat is only available in English at this time.
Image generation of people is not supported in these additional languages at this time.

Getting started

Admins: The default setting for Gemini features in Workspace services is on. See how you can manage access to AI features in Workspace services.
End users:

Gemini in the side panel will work according to the language you set in your Google account (myaccount.google.com/language). If you’re accessing other Gemini for Google Workspace features that are supported in English only, you will need to set your Google Account language to English.
You can access the side panel by clicking on “Ask Gemini” (spark button) in the top right corner of Docs, Sheets, Drive, and Gmail on the web. Visit the Help Center to learn more about collaborating with Gemini in the side panel of Docs, Sheets, Drive, and Gmail.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on February 19, 2025
Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on February 26, 2025

Availability

Available to Google Workspace:

Business Standard and Plus
Enterprise Standard and Plus
Customers with the Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on
Customers with the Gemini Business or Gemini Enterprise add-on*

Available for Gemini in the side panel of Gmail for:

Business Starter
Enterprise Starter

*As of January 15, 2025, we’re no longer offering the Gemini Business and Gemini Enterprise add-ons for sale. Please refer to this announcement for more details.

Resources

Expanding data regions coverage to Google Classroom

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

What’s changing

Data regions for Google Workspace allows customers to choose a specific geographic location—in the U.S., in Europe, or globally distributed—for their covered data at rest to help meet organizational or compliance needs.

We previously added data regions coverage to Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides, and today, we’re extending data region coverage to primary user data for Google Classroom for the U.S. and E.U. data regions.

By expanding data regions coverage to Google Classroom user indices, we hope to better support our customers’ data location preferences and give them greater control.

Getting started

Admins: Visit the Help Center to learn how to choose a geographic location for your data and about data covered by data regions.

Note: If Data Regions is already enabled for your organization, no additional action is required from you to enable the Google Classroom feature.

End users: No end user impact.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now.

Availability

Available for Google Workspace:

Education Standard and Plus

Resources

Updating the access experience in Google Drive

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

What’s changing

Last year, we introduced a beta that allows shared drive managers and My Drive owners to restrict folders to specific users. Today, we’re excited to announce the general availability of this feature in shared drives and My Drive, which means that users can restrict access to their My Drive folders using the two options outlined below, and by 2026, we will simplify and align the restricted access principles for My Drive and shared drives.

Current experience for My Drive folders & files (until February 2026):

Users have two options to restrict access to files or folders in their My Drive:

1. Update item only: Go to your My Drive > choose a file or folder you want to limit access to for a specific user > Change the role of the specific user (e.g. from Commenter to Viewer) > click on "Update item only"

updating role on a parent folder in drive

2. Limit folder access: Go to your My Drive > choose the folder you want to limit access > click the overflow menu > share > select share settings in the top right corner > click limit access to “Folder Name”.

For My Drive folders & files after February 2026:

By February 2026, we will stop allowing restricted access on specific files and folders as outlined in option 1 above (update item only), and limited access will be done consistently via the limited access folder setting as outlined in option 2 above (limit folder access). In the future, we will identify all the files and folders that are shared less broadly than their containing folder and enable limited access on them. This will not immediately change who has access to those items, but it will make it so that if someone were to share or unshare the item’s parent later, those changes will not apply to the item with limited access. We will provide an update in early 2026 before this process takes place.

For shared drives:

Only shared drive managers and content managers with sharing access can specify who can open a folder and see what's inside. Everyone else with regular access to the shared drive folder will be able to see that a "sensitive" file or folder exists, and can request access to it. This provides shared drive managers with greater flexibility to keep restricted and unrestricted content within a single shared drive, instead of having multiple folders for different access levels.

Who’s impacted

Admins, end users and developers

Why it’s important

For My Drive, folders with limited access allow users to control the information viewed by others in their organization. For shared drives, folders with limited access allow users to organize files by project, in a single shared drive or shared folder, while ensuring that sensitive information is only accessible to the right team members.

Additional details

Drive’s public API

We’re adding improvements to Drive’s public API that make it easier for developers to adopt the expansive access changes outlined above. Given these updates better align the behavior for items in My Drive and in shared drives, we recommend developers opt in to the expansive access API behavior in My Drive ahead of 2026. Visit this developer guide for more information on managing folders with limited and expansive access.

“Editors can change permissions and share” setting

As a result of this update, the “Editors can change permissions and share” setting will change by August 2025.

Getting started

Admins: Admins need to set up shared drives for their organization in order for end users to access this feature. Visit the Help Center to learn more about folders with limited access.
End users:

As a shared drive manager or My Drive folder owner, go to your shared drive or My Drive folder > choose the folder you want to limit access > click the overflow menu > share > select share settings in the top right corner > click limited access to “Folder Name”.
Folders with limited access can only be opened by people who have been added to it directly. People with general access to the shared drive or shared folder can see the restricted folder in Drive, but will not be able to open it.
Folders with limited access are available in both shared drives and My Drive:

Shared drive managers can always access folders with limited-access
Folder owners can always access limited-access folders in their My Drive

For users whose access has been limited, you will see the folder name, but the folder will be grayed out:

Visit the Help Center to learn more about folders with limited access.

Developers: Visit the Developer Documentation to learn more about managing folders with limited and expansive access. If you decide to opt into the expansive access API early, your app's behavior will not change when Drive stops allowing restricted access in 2026.

Rollout pace

Folders with limited access:

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on February 18, 2025

API changes for Expansive Access:

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on February 18, 2025

Availability

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

Resources

Scroll through live captions and translated captions in Google Meet

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

What’s changing

We’re improving the live captions and translated captions experience in Google Meet by including the ability to scroll through the text. Previously, captions were displayed in real-time, but disappeared once they were no longer relevant to the current conversation. This update makes it possible to scroll back and review the last 30 minutes of captions at your own pace. This can be particularly helpful if you’ve missed a portion of the conversation or you want to review specific details mentioned earlier in the conversation.

Scrolling through the caption history in Google Meet

You can use “Jump to the bottom” to see the latest real-time captions

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about using live captions in Google Meet, as well as a list of available languages for captions and translated captions.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on February 18, 2025
Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on February 24, 2025

Availability

Available for all Google Workspace customers, as well as users with personal Google accounts

Resources

“Take notes for me” in Google Meet now captures “next steps”

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

What’s changing

In August 2024, we introduced “take notes for me” in Google Meet. When turned on, this Gemini in Meet feature is designed to boost meeting productivity by automatically capturing key discussion points and sending a recap email, helping keep everyone informed.

Today, we’re pleased to announce that “take notes for me” will capture next steps discussed during the meeting in a new “suggested next steps” section. Powered by AI, these next steps and follow-ups will automatically be identified and organized within the meeting notes document. You can review and edit the next steps and follow-ups as needed, and even assign the task to someone. This latest note-taking enhancement will help ensure important follow-ups aren’t missed and keeps everyone aligned on what happens next after your meeting.

Suggested next steps will be included in the meeting notes document

Getting started

Admins: Visit the Help Center to learn more about allowing Google Meet AI to take notes for my users.
End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about using "Take notes for me" in Google Meet.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on February 18, 2025

This feature will be rolling out at a much slower pace than usual as we carefully monitor performance and quality. We will update this post when rollout for Rapid Release domains is complete and Scheduled Rollout is expected to begin.

Availability

Available to Google Workspace

Business Standard and Plus
Enterprise Standard and Plus
Also available with the Gemini Education Premium add-on

Anyone who previously purchased these add-ons will also receive this feature:

Gemini Enterprise*
AI Meetings & Messaging*

*As of January 15, 2025, we’re no longer offering the Gemini Enterprise add-ons for sale. Please refer to this announcement for more details.

Resources

Workspace data loss protection (DLP) for Gmail is now generally available

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

What’s changing

A big threat organizations must prepare for is the risk of data exfiltration through unwanted and/or unauthorized means. Whether it’s small-scale, unintended sharing, or a larger breach scenario, organizations need powerful defenses to protect themselves from these risks. To that end, we’re pleased to announce that today Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is generally available in Gmail, alongside Drive and Chat.

DLP is one of the most powerful ways organizations can protect themselves from these risks. With DLP capabilities in Gmail, organizations can identify, monitor, and control the sharing of sensitive data. It works through a series of easy to apply data protection rules that can be implemented to instantly detect sensitive content in outgoing messages, including body content, attachments, headers, and subject lines.

Additional details

How does DLP in Gmail compare to Content Compliance rules?

To prevent the exfiltration of sensitive data from Gmail, data protection rules with DLP are recommended. These rules offer a rich set of predefined detectors and the ability to build flexible conditions.

Additionally, organizations can tailor warning messages based on their organization's data governance requirements, terminology, and processes; these messages will help educate users on their organization's specific security and data protection policies to prevent sharing sensitive content.

Other features, such as content compliance, can still be used for different purposes, like evaluating inbound messages and routing them internally to relevant departments.

For more information, please refer to our initial open beta announcement.

DLP within the Google Workspace ecosystem

As part of Google Workspace ecosystem, DLP for Gmail comes with capabilities available across other applications, such as Drive and Chat, so admins can configure, implement and investigate Data Loss Prevention incidents using unified tools, such as Security Investigation Tool, or build custom dashboards using unified audit logs or export to BigQuery.

Taken together, DLP capabilities across Workspace provide powerful protections for organizations to reduce the risk of data breaches, comply with regulatory requirements, and protect their reputation and intellectual property.

Getting started

Admins:

Data loss prevention rules can be configured at the domain, OU, or group level. DLP rules can be enabled in Gmail in the Admin console under Security > Access and data control > Data protection. Visit the Help Center to learn more about controlling sensitive data shared in Gmail. Note that you can modify existing DLP rules for Drive and Chat to also apply to Gmail.
DLP events can be reviewed in the Security Investigation Tool or Security > Alert Center, if alerts are configured in rules.
With DLP for Gmail, data protection rules can be scanned synchronously or asynchronously. Visit our Help Center for more information.
For new rules, we recommend starting with “Audit only” mode. This allows you to thoroughly test and monitor the rule's performance and ensure it correctly identifies the intended data without interrupting email flow for users. Once you've validated the rule's behavior and are confident in its accuracy, you can then implement actions such as blocking or warning users as needed.

End users: Depending on your admin configuration, you’ll be notified if your message contains information that violates DLP rules.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on February 18, 2025

Availability

Available to Google Workspace:

Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus
Education Fundamentals, Standard, Plus, and the Teaching & Learning add-on
Frontline Standard
Cloud Identity Premium customers

Resources

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - February 14, 2025

Friday, February 14, 2025

4 New updates

Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are available to all Google Workspace customers, and are fully launched or in the process of rolling out. Rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete if launching to both Rapid and Scheduled Release at the same time. If not, each stage of rollout should take no more than 15 business days to complete.

2.0 Flash is now the default model in the Gemini app and Gemini Advanced for Workspace users

The Gemini app is now operating on 2.0 Flash, which features improved response quality, speed, and efficiency. This update is applicable when using Gemini or Gemini Advanced on web or mobile. | Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to all Google Workspace users accessing the Gemini app or Gemini Advanced. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about accessing the Gemini app with your Workspace account.

Pin conversations on your Google Group

Users can already star, mark as read/unread, report, delete, or lock a conversation in a Google Group. Today, we’re excited to reintroduce the ability to pin a conversation, which can be useful to highlight a conversation for other users in a group. The ability to pin messages is limited to users who have permissions to “moderate” a group. | Rollout to Rapid Release domains is complete; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for February 18, 2025. | Available to Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about pinning conversations.

pinning a conversation to your google group

Managing bills & finances using summary cards in the Gmail mobile app

Following last month's announcement of event summary cards, we're excited to introduce updated summary cards that enable you to view and pay bills, or set a reminder to pay later using Google Tasks. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains on Android and iOS devices. | Available to Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about using summary cards in Gmail.

summary cards that enable you to view and pay bills, or set a reminder to pay later using Google Tasks

Now generally available: migrate messages from Microsoft Teams to Google Chat

In December 2024, we introduced the ability for Google Workspace admins to migrate conversations from channels in Microsoft Teams to spaces in Google Chat in open beta. Beginning today, this functionality is generally available for all Google Workspace customers, making it easier for organizations to onboard and deploy Chat in their organizations. | Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available for all Google Workspace customers. | For detailed information, please refer to our original announcement, as well as our Help Center.

Example of a completed migration

Previous announcements

The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.

Google Meet Learning Tools Interoperability™ update: control when meeting recordings are shared with a new toggle

Instructors using Meet LTI™ to create and host meetings can control how meeting recordings are shared. | Learn more about Google Meet Learning Tools Interoperability™.

Create and vote on polls directly in Google Chat

In order to provide users with an easy way to gather feedback directly in their Google Chat conversations, we’re introducing a new Poll app. | Learn more about the poll app.

Improving the cover images experience in Google Docs

We’re introducing improvements to adding and working with cover images in Google Docs. | Learn more about the cover image improvements.

Data classification labels in Gmail are now available on all Android and iOS devices

In November 2024, we launched an open beta for data classification labels in Gmail. Beginning this week, data classification labels will be available when using the Gmail app on mobile Android and iOS devices. | Learn more about Data classification labels in Gmail.

Create names for group direct messages in Google Chat

Users can now create names for existing and new group direct messages. | Learn more about naming group messages in Chat.

Introducing the board tab in Google Chat

In our continuing effort to improve the ways Google Chat helps teams communicate and collaborate, we’re excited to introduce board in Google Chat. This feature, which can be thought of as a virtual bulletin board, organizes important information and helps keep your team on the same page. | Learn more about board in Chat.

Completed rollouts

The features below completed their rollouts to Rapid Release domains, Scheduled Release domains, or both. Please refer to the original blog posts for additional details.

Rapid Release Domains:

Easily convert data to people chips and update chip format in Google Sheets (People chip formats only)

Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains:

For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).

Introducing the board tab in Google Chat

Thursday, February 13, 2025

What’s changing

In our continuing effort to improve the ways Google Chat helps teams communicate and collaborate, we’re excited to introduce board in Google Chat.

This feature, which can be thought of as a virtual bulletin board, organizes important information and helps keep your team on the same page by enabling anyone to:

Pin and share crucial messages, files, and links for quick access
Use intelligent suggestions to quickly find and add relevant resources
Maintain an organized workspace by displaying the board next to your conversation stream when needed and hidden at other times

The board in Chat helps you stay focused and reduces context-switching. By gathering relevant assets in a consistent, accessible location, this feature helps with common tasks:

A project manager can maintain a single source of truth for all project-related files and resources shared with their team
A workgroup leader can provide one location to find relevant information and resources used on a regular basis
A new team member can quickly find resources to get up to speed on their role and responsibilities so they can contribute to the team as soon as possible

Who’s impacted

End users

Why it’s important

Save time and keep assets and conversations organized with the board in Chat, a place where any team member can pin important messages, files and web links. Curating a repository of relevant information for a team or workgroup can be highly beneficial, but ongoing management can be time consuming and cumbersome. The board in Chat solves for this by providing a dynamic, customizable, and visually appealing way to consolidate important information, with file suggestions from Gemini to ensure that all relevant assets are included.

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users:

The board is for everyone in a conversation to use and reference. However, space managers can restrict who can update a board by going to space settings > Modify space board and details.
The board tab will appear in all direct messages, group messages and spaces. Clicking on it will open a dedicated right panel displaying the board alongside the message stream.

By default, all users can pin, add resources, edit, and delete information from the board with the exception of announcement spaces.
For spaces, a space manager has the ability to restrict board modification access.
For announcement spaces, only space managers can edit a Board by default. Managers can change this default if needed to allow all members to edit it.

The board will feature sections for pinned messages and pinned resources.
Visit the Help Center to learn more about the Board tab in Chat.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on February 13, 2025
Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on March 3, 2025

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers and Workspace Individual Subscribers

Resources

Pin messages, files & links in spaces & messages

Create names for group direct messages in Google Chat

Thursday, February 13, 2025

What’s changing

Spaces in Google Chat are meant to focus a conversation around a topic, project, or shared interest with multiple people. However, we know there are times when users prefer to message a group instead of a space. In order to manage discussions more easily and find conversations quicker, users can now create names for existing and new group direct messages.

Name any group direct messages with the new option in the Chat menu

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users:

Named group direct messages will continue to show in the direct messages section of Chat.
Named group direct messages are still private to the members of the group.
The group name will be visible to all members of the group direct message.
Visit the Help Center to learn more about naming a group direct message.

Rollout pace

Web:

Android:

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on February 27, 2025

iOS:

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on March 4, 2025

Availability

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

Resources

Google Help: Name a group direct message or convert it into a space

Data classification labels in Gmail are now available on all Android and iOS devices

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

What’s changing

In November 2024, we launched an open beta for data classification labels in Gmail. Beginning today, data classification labels will be available when using the Gmail app on mobile Android and iOS devices. Expanding data classification labels to mobile enables organizations to protect their data whether their users are sharing and accessing information from desktop devices or from mobile devices in the field or on-the-go.

Classification labels on mobile when composing a message, reading a message, and a message thread.

Additionally, these protections provide an automated way to enhance data security. For more information on data classification labels in Gmail, please refer to our original announcement.

Getting started

Admins:

If there are classification labels enabled for Gmail, users will start seeing classification fields in the compose flow on iOS and Android.
If you’re new to classification labels, they can be enabled at the domain, group level, or individual user level. Visit the Help Center to learn more about getting started with classification labels, Gmail DLP & automatic classification labels, and preventing data leaks in email and attachments.
Since this feature is still in an open beta period, and with the introduction of mobile support, we strongly encourage you to continue providing feedback so we can optimize the feature for general availability.

End users: If configured by your admin, you’ll see the “Classification” option when composing a new messaging or replying to or forwarding an existing message on mobile. When you open the menu, you can select labels relevant to your message. Visit the Help Center to learn more about adding classification labels in Gmail.

Rollout pace

Availability

The Label Manager and manual classification is available to Google Workspace:

Frontline Starter and Standard
Business Standard and Plus
Enterprise Standard and Plus
Education Standard and Education Plus
Essentials, Enterprise Essentials, and Enterprise Essentials Plus

Data loss prevention rules with labels as a condition or labels as an action are available to:

Enterprise Standard and Plus
Education Fundamentals, Standard, Plus, and the Teaching & Learning Upgrade
Frontline Standard
Cloud Identity Premium (in combination with a Workspace Edition eligible for Gmail)

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Gmail DLP & automatic classification labels (beta)
Google Workspace Admin Help: Get started as a classification labels admin
Google Workspace Admin Help: Prevent data leaks in email & attachments (beta)
Google Help: Add classification labels in Gmail

Improving the cover images experience in Google Docs

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

What’s changing

Last year, we made it easier for you to personalize and differentiate documents with full-bleed cover images that extend from one edge of your document to the other. Since then, many users have added cover images to help set the tone for a document, and today we’re announcing the following updates:

In addition to the “Choose from stock images” and “Upload from computer”, insertion options, users can now add images via:

Searching the web
Uploading from Drive
Importing from Google Photos
Pasting a URL

The addition of 100+ new stock images to provide users with more options. The stock image gallery will also include filtering options for categories like art, food, and abstract

When clicking the “Cover image” chip at the top of your Doc, a placeholder image will appear, followed by the menu with options to create with Gemini or insert a different image via the options outlined in #1.

When clicking the “Cover image” chip at the top of your Doc, a placeholder image will appear

Additional details

Cover images can only be added to documents set to pageless mode, allowing the image to span the entire width of the document. To set up the more immersive experience of pageless mode, go to File > Page setup > Pageless or Format > Switch to Pageless format.

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users:

A stock cover image is not AI-generated and automatically uploads to your document. You can update or change the image.
Visit the Help Center to learn more about adding a cover image to your document.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on February 11, 2025

Availability

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

Resources

Google Help: Insert or delete images & videos

Create and vote on polls directly in Google Chat

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

What’s changing

In order to provide users with an easy way to gather feedback directly in their Google Chat conversations, we’re introducing a new Poll app.

Through a simple creation process, teams and groups can share questions for feedback. This feature can be useful in scenarios in which you need to poll colleagues about an upcoming event, meeting time or team outing. The Poll app provides the ability to see results instantly, along with options to make polls multi-choice or anonymous. Using the Poll app, teams can arrive at faster, more inclusive decisions while keeping the conversation flowing.

Creating a poll

Seeing the results of a poll

Additional details

Some poll questions that ask where to eat, grab coffee, meet may have special icons.

Getting started

Admins:

End users:

Create a new poll by typing “/poll” in any chat conversation and clicking enter.
You can also access the Poll app by typing “@Poll” or use the recently announced quick command and click the plus button menu in the compose box and search for “Poll.”
Users outside of your domain cannot vote on polls posted in spaces with external members.
Visit the Help Center to learn more creating polls in Google Chat.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now.

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers that have enabled Chat apps in their domain, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts

Resources

Google Meet Learning Tools Interoperability™ update: control when meeting recordings are shared with a new toggle

Monday, February 10, 2025

What’s changing

Instructors using Meet LTI™ to create and host meetings can control how meeting recordings are shared. Previously, everyone in the meeting could access the recording after the meeting. Now, instructors can control when recordings are shared with students.

From Meet LTI, select the “Meet artifacts” tab to toggle the “Share recordings with students” settings

We plan to introduce similar controls for other meeting artifacts, like Meeting transcripts, in the future. We’ll share more here on the Workspace Updates blog when more controls become available.

Getting started

Admins: Visit the Help Center for an overview of Google Workspace LTI™ as well as turning Meet recording ON or OFF for your organization.
End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about creating, editing, and deleting meetings, opening meeting artifacts, as well as using Google Meet LTI™ in general.

Rollout pace

Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on February 10, 2025

Availability

Available for Google Workspace Education Fundamentals, Standard, Plus, and the Teaching & Learning add-on

Resources

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - February 7, 2025

Friday, February 7, 2025

3 New updates

Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are available to all Google Workspace customers, and are fully launched or in the process of rolling out. Rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete if launching to both Rapid and Scheduled Release at the same time. If not, each stage of rollout should take no more than 15 business days to complete.

Insert responses from Gemini directly into email drafts in the Gmail app

Last year, we introduced the ability for users to ask Gemini questions about their inbox or do things like find specific details in their emails, show unread messages, and more through Gmail Q&A on iOS and Android devices. To build upon this, users can now quickly insert responses or content received after asking Gemini a question directly into an email draft. To do so, open Gemini in the Gmail app (via the Gemini spark at the top right or from a “summarize this email” chip) > ask Gemini a question about the email or your inbox > insert the response by tapping the insert arrow on Android or “Insert” button on iOS. | Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to Google Workspace Business and Enterprise users with access to Gemini in Gmail. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about Gemini in Gmail.

Improving Google Chat app commands

Currently, you can use slash commands in Google Chat messages to communicate quickly with apps. To simplify this process, we’re excited to introduce quick commands, a way for users to invoke an app command directly without typing a slash command. Developers should use this resource to learn how to set up and respond to quick commands for their Google Chat app. When users invoke a quick command, your Chat app receives an APP_COMMAND interaction event, instead of the MESSAGE interaction event that is sent for slash commands. To modify an existing slash command into a quick command, please follow these steps. After a developer configures quick commands through the Chat API configuration page, users can access them by clicking the plus button menu next to the Chat compose box and then selecting their desired quick command. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains at an extended pace (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility), with expected completion by March 3, 2025. | The ability to configure app commands is available to all Google Workspace customers. | The ability to use app commands is available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit this developer documentation to learn more about quick commands for Chat apps.

adding quick commands to google chat apps

The ability to generate images with people powered by Imagen 3 is now available across Workspace

We recently upgraded our AI image generation in Workspace to the latest version of Imagen 3, delivering richer details and textures to help bring your creative vision to life. Today, we’re excited to announce that you can now use this technology as you generate images of people in:

Rollout for generating images with people using Gemini in the side panel of Docs, Sheets, Drive, Slides, Gmail, and Vids is complete (in English only). | Available to Google Workspace Business and Enterprise users with access to Gemini. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about the best of Google AI is now included in Google Workspace subscriptions.

Previous announcements

The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.

Now generally available: improved syncing experience between Google Calendar and third-party calendars

In June of 2024, we introduced an improved email notification experience between Google Calendar and third-party calendar services, like Outlook, via beta. Beginning this week, this update is now generally available. | Learn more about improved syncing between Google Calendar and third-party calendars.

Additional improvements to everyday actions in Google Sheets

This week, we announced additional improvements available for everyday actions in Sheets: 1) pasting data is now up to 50% faster when you’re pasting from one spreadsheet to another, 2) filter conditions can now be set up to 50% faster than before, and 3) spreadsheets now load existing data up to 30% faster. | Learn more about Sheets improvements.

Google Meet adds more screen reader options for in-meeting reactions

To improve access for users with vision disabilities, we are adding several more options for how reactions in Google Meet are experienced through screen readers. You can access and adjust the settings at any time during the meeting by pressing Shift+R or from the Settings menu (Three-dot overflow button > Settings > Reactions > Accessibility). | Learn more about screen reader options.

Developers can now add form field validation to Google Workspace add-ons and Google Chat app cards

Workspace add-ons and Chat app developers can add client-side input validation to Chat apps and add-ons. | Learn more about adding form field validation to add-ons and app cards.

Know who an event is shared with when using shared Google Calendars

Users with the ability to “Make changes to events” can now see the members of the shared calendar, i.e. who their events are shared with. | Learn more about using shared Google Calendars.

Now generally available: Easily migrate files from Microsoft OneDrive to Google Drive

In October 2024, we expanded our data migration services to include the ability for Admins to transfer OneDrive data to Google Drive. This functionality is now generally available. You can migrate the files of up to 100 users at a time, including the files corresponding access permissions with shared members. | Learn more about migrating files.

NotebookLM and NotebookLM Plus now available as a Google Workspace core service with enterprise-grade data protection

NotebookLM and NotebookLM Plus, previously introduced as additional services, are now included as core services for Workspace Business and Enterprise customers. Covered under your Google Workspace terms of service, these apps offer the same enterprise-grade data protections and level of technical support as other Workspace core services. | Learn more about NotebookLM and NotebookLM Plus.

Easily convert data to people chips and update chip format in Google Sheets

Similar to the functionality in Google Sheets that helps you easily convert data to dropdown chips, you can now use bulk chip conversion for people chips. | Learn more about chips in Sheets.

Google Vault now supports the Gemini app

Google Vault now supports the Gemini app (on web and mobile). Going forward, admins can use Vault for eDiscovery tasks to search Gemini app conversations and create an export of your search results. | Learn more about Vault supporting the Gemini app.

Completed rollouts

The features below completed their rollouts to Rapid Release domains, Scheduled Release domains, or both. Please refer to the original blog posts for additional details.

Rapid Release Domains:

Improved comments experience in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides on Android tablets (Google Docs)

Scheduled Release Domains:

Introducing huddles: instant-on, audio-first meetings in Google Chat
Improvements to mentions in Google Chat

Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains:

For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).

Google Vault now supports the Gemini app

Friday, February 7, 2025

What’s changing

Google Vault now supports the Gemini app (on web and mobile). Going forward, admins can use Vault for eDiscovery tasks to search Gemini app conversations and create an export of your search results. Specifically, the following actions can be taken around Gemini app data:

Search prompts and responses with a number of filters, such as user and date to quickly refine your search. These searches can be across groups of users or by Organizational Units (OUs) up to 5000 in size.
Export conversations in an XML format for the above searches via the UI or API.

Who’s impacted

Admins

Why it’s important

Vault is an eDiscovery and information governance tool for Google Workspace, which enables customers to retain, hold, search, and export users’ Google Workspace data. With this update, customers can now expand their regulatory and legal eDiscovery needs to include the Gemini app. This integration makes it easier for customers to comply with their eDiscovery obligations surrounding Gemini collaborative data, all from a central tool.

Additionally, Vault’s integration with Gemini rounds out support for critical Workspace apps such as Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Chat, Calendar and Meet, providing customers with a consistent experience across all products that are managed within Vault for eDiscovery. Additional information governance and hold features, such as preview, retention, and litigation holds will follow in future releases. We’ll share more information on the Workspace updates blog when it’s available.

Additional details

This update is not applicable for Gemini for Google Workspace, as no prompts or responses are retained for those interactions. Visit our Privacy Hub for more information on how we’re protecting your Google Workspace data in the era of generative AI.

Getting started

Admins: Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Vault to search Gemini, as well as supported service and datatypes.

Rollout pace

Availability

Available to Google Workspace

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Use Vault to search Gemini

Google Vault Help: Supported services & data types

Useful Links

Join the official community for Google Workspace administrators

In the Google Cloud Community, connect with Googlers and other Google Workspace admins like yourself. Participate in product discussions, check out the Community Articles, and learn tips and tricks that will make your work and life easier. Be the first to know what's happening with Google Workspace.

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Learn about more Google Workspace launches

On the “What’s new in Google Workspace?” Help Center page, learn about new products and features launching in Google Workspace, including smaller changes that haven’t been announced on the Google Workspace Updates blog.

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Updates

Use Gemini in the side panel of Workspace apps in seventeen more languages

Expanding data regions coverage to Google Classroom

Updating the access experience in Google Drive

Scroll through live captions and translated captions in Google Meet

“Take notes for me” in Google Meet now captures “next steps”

Workspace data loss protection (DLP) for Gmail is now generally available

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - February 14, 2025

Introducing the board tab in Google Chat

Create names for group direct messages in Google Chat

Data classification labels in Gmail are now available on all Android and iOS devices

Improving the cover images experience in Google Docs

Create and vote on polls directly in Google Chat

Google Meet Learning Tools Interoperability™ update: control when meeting recordings are shared with a new toggle

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - February 7, 2025

Google Vault now supports the Gemini app

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