Google Workspace Changes

Workspace Studio gains new enterprise security controls—including agent identities, access management, auditing, admin settings, and runtime protections—to enable safer cross‑user collaboration.

The update introduces granular identity, data protection, observability, and governance controls for Workspace Studio, giving admins confidence to adopt agentic capabilities. Features include least‑privilege agent identities (with optional identity attribution), audit logs that capture flow context, an agent access management dashboard for suspending flows or OAuth scopes, admin settings such as human‑in‑the‑loop and disabling specific step types, and runtime protections via DLP for Gemini data access and Studio flows. Rollout begins in Rapid Release domains on August 17, 2026 (admin console) and August 20, 2026 (end‑user visible features), with visibility up to three days after each start, and in Scheduled Release domains starting September 1, 2026 for both admin and end‑user features, lasting up to fifteen days.

Google Workspace now supports inbound SCIM APIs for automated identity lifecycle management with external IdPs.

The new inbound SCIM support enables Google Workspace to act as a SCIM Service Provider, allowing identity providers, HR systems, or custom apps to automatically provision, update, and deactivate users and groups in real time. This eliminates manual account management, ensures day-one productivity for new hires, provides instant deprovisioning for departing employees to enhance security, and simplifies admin tasks with one-click token generation and controls to lock synced groups from external sources.

Introducing the ability to loop over a list of items in Workspace Studio flows.

Google Workspace Studio now supports looping over lists of items within flows to increase workflow flexibility. This update introduces a 'Response format' configuration in the 'Ask Gemini' step, allowing users to choose between text or list formats. When a list is selected, a new 'Repeat for each' step can be used to iterate through the items. Additionally, the 'Repeat for each' step can be used to process Google Sheet data row by row to execute substeps, such as drafting individual emails for a list of sales leads.

More granular admin controls for Workspace Studio steps and starters.

Google is introducing more granular admin controls for Workspace Studio steps and starters, allowing administrators to define which specific steps and starters users in their organization can use to create flows. These controls can be applied by Workspace service or individually at the domain, organizational unit, or group level, facilitating a more controlled and gradual rollout of Studio functionality within an organization.

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.

Integration of NotebookLM into Google Workspace Studio flows.

Google is integrating NotebookLM into Google Workspace Studio, allowing users to use their existing notebooks as an AI knowledge source for automations. A new 'Ask NotebookLM' step enables the generation of grounded responses based on the insights, summaries, and research stored within a user's notebooks.

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.

Google Workspace Studio is now available in seven additional languages.

Google Workspace Studio has expanded its language support to include French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish, in addition to English. This update provides full capabilities of the tool to users across these seven new languages.

New 'Block time' capability for Google Workspace Studio flows.

Google Workspace Studio now allows flows to block time on a user's calendar via a new 'Block time' step. This can be integrated with 'Ask Gemini' or 'Extract' steps to automate the creation of personal reminders, such as appointment confirmations or focus time. These calendar events are private to the user and do not support the addition of guests.

Enhancements to the Google Meet starter step in Google Workspace Studio.

The Google Meet starter step 'When a meeting transcript is ready' has been renamed to 'When meeting outputs are ready'. This updated step now allows workflows to be triggered by either meeting transcripts or Notes by Gemini. Additionally, users can now select up to 100 different meetings to trigger a flow, significantly increasing from the previous limit of one meeting.

Google Workspace MCP server is now in public developer preview.

The Workspace MCP server provides a standardized bridge for AI agents to safely access Workspace capabilities. It includes dedicated tools for Gmail (drafting, searching), Drive (file fetching, permissions), Calendar (event management), Chat (message searching, replying), and a People dictionary for contact management.

Introduction of a standardized tiering model for Workspace agent tools and APIs.

To address risks associated with large-scale agentic actions such as API abuse and data egress, Google is introducing a standardized tiering model for all agent tools and APIs. This framework allows the majority of developers to continue innovating without friction while providing a predictable scaling path for high-volume applications.

Integration of Gems into Google Workspace Studio flows via the 'Ask a Gem' step.

Google is integrating Gems into Google Workspace Studio, allowing users to add an 'Ask a Gem' step to their automation flows. This feature enables flows to send prompts to private Gems to automate tasks such as writing documents or creating summaries. The functionality is available for Gems that utilize Drive files in their knowledge base.

Introducing Data Import for easier, faster, and higher-fidelity migration to Google Workspace.

Google is introducing Data Import, a new Google Workspace data migration tool for enterprises. This tool enables easier, faster, and higher-fidelity data migrations for emails, calendars, and contacts at no additional tool cost. It's a cloud-native solution accessible from the admin console, offering quicker migration speeds and no additional infrastructure costs. Additionally, a new migration planning utility is available to help with change management and forecasting for large-scale enterprise migrations from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace.

Users in the US and Canada with Business editions can now purchase the AI Expanded Access add-on directly.

Google Workspace is introducing a new capability that allows end users in the United States and Canada with Business Standard or Business Plus editions to purchase the AI Expanded Access add-on directly using their own payment method. This update aims to reduce bottlenecks by allowing motivated users to obtain higher access to advanced AI tools—such as Gemini, NotebookLM, Veo 3, and Google Vids—without requiring IT administrator procurement. Administrators maintain full control and can disable the feature or cancel subscriptions through the Admin console.