Google Workspace Changes

Organize My Files in Drive is now generally available, using Gemini to suggest file organization.

Google Drive has introduced the general availability of 'Organize My Files in Drive'. This feature leverages Gemini to help users reduce digital clutter by suggesting moves for loose files into existing folders or proposing new folder groupings. Users can review, customize, and batch-approve these recommendations through a dedicated 'Suggest File Moves' interface, which supports interactive adjustments like hovercards and inline renaming.

Admins can now bulk export client-side encrypted (CSE) Slides via Vault or Takeout and convert them to PowerPoint files.

Google Workspace admins can now bulk export client-side encrypted (CSE) Slides using Google Vault or Data Export (takeout) and subsequently convert these exports into PowerPoint files. This feature, currently available in beta for eligible organizations, allows organizations to retain complete ownership, access, and control of sensitive data in a highly portable format.

Google Classroom now allows educators to tag coursework and rubrics with learning goals, standards, and skills to monitor student progress.

Educators in Google Classroom can now tag assignments, quizzes, questions, and materials with specific learning standards and skills, either by searching established sets or using AI-powered suggestions. This feature provides data-driven analytics to help teachers identify instructional gaps and allows students and guardians to see how coursework aligns with learning milestones. The standards are sourced through partnerships with 1EdTech and Common Good Learning Tools via the Satchel Rosetta Exchange.

Google Chat now supports external interoperability with Microsoft Teams via NextPlane OpenHub.

Google Chat has launched external interoperability with Microsoft Teams through NextPlane OpenHub, enabling seamless cross-platform collaboration across organizational boundaries. This integration supports presence, 1:1 and group chats, Channels and Spaces, file sharing, and meeting/call initiation. Designed for enterprise governance, OpenHub is deployed as a dedicated single-tenant service in a customer-owned GCP project and is managed through the existing Google Admin console and Microsoft Teams admin center, requiring separate NextPlane licensing.

Anomaly detection is now available in Connected Sheets for BigQuery data sets.

Google Sheets has introduced anomaly detection in Connected Sheets, allowing users to identify critical irregularities and outliers in time-series BigQuery data sets without requiring SQL knowledge or manual model training. Powered by BigQuery ML and TimesFM, the feature offers zero-shot analysis with a user-friendly configuration side panel, built-in formatting for anomaly indicators and bounds, customizable thresholds, and automated refresh capabilities.

Ask Gemini prompt box moved to the bottom left-hand corner of the Google Meet web interface.

Google is improving the accessibility of the Ask Gemini feature in Google Meet on the web by moving the prompt box from the top right corner (where it was previously accessed via hover) to the bottom left-hand corner of the interface. This change is intended to make the feature easier to discover and use during calls, without changing the underlying functionality of the tool.

Google Workspace is updating app icons for a modern visual design.

Google is introducing a fresh visual identity for Google Workspace app icons across Gmail, Calendar, Chat, Meet, Drive, Docs, Slides, Sheets, Vids, Keep, Forms, Voice, Sites, and Tasks. These updates aim to provide a more distinct identity and consistency across the product suite without altering core functionality or administrative controls.

Polly is now available for Google Chat, enabling interactive polls within conversations.

Polly allows teams to create interactive polls directly within Google Chat conversations by mentioning @Polly. This integration helps teams drive consensus, manage meeting logistics, and gather team preferences in real-time without leaving the chat stream, reducing friction and speeding up decision-making. Admins can install the app for their organization, or end users can find it via the Google Workspace Marketplace.

Android-based all-in-one room devices from Neat and Logitech are now certified for Google Meet.

The Neat Board series (32, 50, and Pro) and the Logitech Rally Board 65 are now certified for Google Meet as the first Android-based all-in-one devices. These devices feature touch displays for video meetings and interactive whiteboarding via Figma, Lucid, and Miro add-ons, and are available for order through authorized partners.

Expanded options for header images in Google Forms.

Google Forms creators now have more flexibility when choosing header images. In addition to using pre-selected themes, uploading an image, or selecting from Google Photos, users can now choose images from Google Drive, Google Images, or provide a direct URL to make their forms more compelling.

Gemini in Google Chat now supports additional languages for refining message drafts.

Google is expanding the capabilities of Gemini in Google Chat by adding support for French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish when refining message drafts. This update allows a broader range of global users to improve the clarity, grammar, and professional tone of their communications, which is particularly beneficial for teams in multilingual environments.

Assignments LTI™ is now available for Moodle.

Assignments LTI™ allows educators using Moodle to securely distribute, analyze, and grade student work while utilizing originality reports to ensure authenticity. Moodle administrators can benefit from a streamlined setup process via the LTI Dynamic Registration specification.

Add AI avatars when converting Google Slides presentations to Google Vids.

Users can now enhance their Google Vids by adding AI-powered spokesperson avatars when importing content from Google Slides. These avatars are dynamically inserted throughout the video to make the generated content more relatable and engaging, complementing existing Gemini-powered features like script generation, voiceovers, and background music.

Google Meet now automatically redirects users to the live stream when an adaptive meeting reaches its maximum contributor capacity.

When an adaptive Google Meet meeting reaches its maximum capacity for contributors (those with camera, microphone, and screen sharing privileges), any additional users attempting to join the main call are automatically redirected to the live stream. In the live stream, users can still interact using reactions, chat, polls, and Q&A, depending on the host's settings. This update provides a smoother experience for large meetings without altering existing access settings or host controls.

Google Meet now allows administrators to require explicit consent from participants before recording, transcription, or Gemini note-taking begins.

Google Meet is introducing a new feature that allows administrators to require explicit consent from meeting participants before automatic note-taking with Gemini, recording, and/or transcription begins. This ensures that participants on supported devices must actively agree to be recorded, transcribed, or have notes enabled. The feature is OFF by default and can be enabled at the domain, OU, or group level via the Admin console.