Google Workspace Changes

New 'Take notes for me' automatic configuration for Gemini Alpha customers.

Google is introducing a new setting for customers in the Gemini Alpha program that automatically enables 'Take notes for me' for meetings with three or more participants. This setting is on by default, but admins can disable it via the Google Meet Admin Console under Gemini settings, and end users can opt out through their Meet user settings.

New Admin console configuration for "Take notes for me" in Google Meet for Gemini Alpha customers.

Google Meet is introducing new settings in the Admin console, initially for organizations participating in the Gemini Alpha program for Workspace, to pre-configure AI note-taking. This 'Take notes for me' setting will automatically enable AI note-taking for meetings with three or more participants and will be on by default for Alpha program organizations, with the functionality for end-users starting no sooner than March 11th, 2026. Admins will gain control to manage this setting in their console, with visibility starting from February 18th, 2026. Additionally, all Google Meet users, regardless of Alpha program participation, will soon have the ability to turn off "Take notes for me" directly from the green room before joining a call.

New 'Video calling' setting to enable or disable video calling on Google Meet hardware devices.

Google is introducing a 'Video calling' setting for Google Meet hardware, allowing administrators to turn video calling on or off at both the device level and the customer level for newly-enrolled devices. This feature supports secure setup processes, enabling installers to enroll devices with video calling disabled and allowing admins to enable it once the device is in a secure environment. Additionally, Calendar has been moved into its own distinct setting.

Google Meet now allows participants to move shared content into a separate standalone window.

Google Meet is introducing an 'Open in new window' option that allows meeting participants to undock screen shared content, such as presentations, spreadsheets, or documents. This enables users to move the shared content to a secondary screen or resize it independently, making it easier to view both the content and the meeting participants simultaneously for better collaboration.

Google Meet users can now move shared content into a separate window for improved multitasking and viewing.

Google Meet is introducing a new feature that allows users to move shared content, such as presentations or documents, into a separate window during a video call. This enhancement is designed to improve the meeting experience by enabling better multitasking, allowing participants to view shared content and other meeting elements simultaneously. This provides greater flexibility for users to arrange their screen layout according to their preferences and stay connected and collaborate more easily.

Real-time speech translation with higher access in Google Meet.

Google Meet is introducing real-time speech translation that bridges language gaps while maintaining the tone and voice of the speaker. Higher access to this feature is available through the AI Expanded and AI Ultra add-ons.

Speech translation in Google Meet is rolling out for higher limits with promotional access until March 31, 2026.

Speech translation, a feature enabling real-time language bridging in meetings while preserving tone and voice, is currently rolling out. Users currently have promotional access to higher limits for this feature in Business and Enterprise plans until March 31, 2026. After this date, higher access to speech translation will require the purchase of the AI Expanded Access add-on.

Speech translation in Google Meet is now generally available for business customers.

Google Meet has launched real-time speech-to-speech translation for select Google Workspace business plans, moving the feature out of limited alpha. This technology allows participants to speak in their native language while others hear a dubbed audio translation that preserves the speaker's tone and cadence, rather than just displaying text captions. At launch, it supports bidirectional translation between English and Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and Italian, with one language pair active per meeting.

New built-in interoperability between Google Meet and Microsoft Teams hardware.

Google is introducing video conferencing device interoperability for Google Meet with Microsoft Teams. This update allows users to join Microsoft Teams meetings from Chrome OS-based Google Meet hardware devices and join Google Meet meetings from Windows-based Microsoft Teams Rooms devices.

New admin controls for 'Take notes for me' sharing settings in Google Meet.

Google Meet is introducing two new admin settings to provide organizations with more control over how meeting notes generated by 'Take notes for me' are shared. Administrators can now set a default sharing value to determine who receives access to the notes and recap email by default, and they can also restrict whether meeting hosts and co-hosts have the ability to override these sharing settings during a meeting.

New admin controls for 'Take notes for me' sharing settings in Google Meet

Google Meet is introducing two new admin settings to enhance control over how meeting notes generated by the 'Take notes for me' feature are shared within an organization. Admins can now set a default sharing value for the notes document and recap email, choosing between 'Invited guests in your organization,' 'All invited guests,' or 'The host and co-hosts.' Additionally, admins can restrict meeting hosts and co-hosts from overriding these sharing settings during a meeting. This allows organizations to enforce company policies regarding meeting note sharing.

Ask Gemini in Meet is becoming available on the Google Meet mobile app.

Starting in February, users will be able to access Ask Gemini in Meet via the Google Meet mobile app by tapping the Gemini icon in the top right corner during a meeting.

Ask Gemini in Meet is adding support for seven additional languages.

Beginning in early February, Ask Gemini in Meet will expand its language support beyond English to include French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. The feature currently supports one language per meeting.

Ask Gemini in Meet is expanding to Workspace Business Standard customers.

The Ask Gemini in Meet feature, which allows users to get meeting briefs and list key takeaways, is expanding from Enterprise customers to include Workspace Business Standard domains starting in late January.

Google Meet hardware now includes a 'Reboot when idle' option for administrators.

Administrators can now choose to reboot Google Meet hardware devices only when they are idle, preventing disruptions to ongoing meetings, presentations, or add-on activities. This adds a 'Reboot when idle' option alongside the existing 'Reboot now' force-restart capability in the Admin console, allowing the system to intelligently wait for device inactivity before initiating a restart.