Google Workspace Updates Note

Google Workspace Updates

Google Workspace Updates is a blog providing news, trends, and insights on Google Workspace, which is a suite of productivity applications designed for businesses. It primarily covers new features, updates, and developments in the numerous tools that make up Google Workspace, including Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides. The blog also shares best practices and customer success stories, providing valuable information for users and companies that manage or use Google Workspace.

Thread Of Notes

Starting August 26, 2026, Google Chat will integrate Gemini, a powerful AI assistant, into its real-time collaboration features. This new functionality, called Ask Gemini in Chat, will act as a unified command line for work within Workspace. Ask Gemini will help users quickly find information across Gmail, Drive, and Calendar, and even draft content like critical updates or generate images directly within conversations. It aims to reduce the time spent switching between applications by allowing users to manage meetings and tasks without leaving Chat. Conversations can be organized into sessions for revisiting specific topics. This new Ask Gemini feature replaces the Gemini side panel in Chat, meaning the side panel will be removed. Gems will remain accessible in side panels of other Workspace apps, but not in the Chat side panel. Conversation history from the previous Gemini side panel will not migrate, though admins can export it. This update initially applies only to users with English as their Google account language. Admins will need to have Gemini in Workspace and Workspace Intelligence enabled for Ask Gemini to be available by default. End users must be enrolled in Workspace Smart Features to access these capabilities. Promotional access with higher limits will be available until October 1, 2026, after which standard usage limits will apply. This feature will be available for Business Standard and Plus, and Enterprise Standard and Plus editions, along with Education Add-ons.
Workspace Studio now includes new enterprise security controls to enhance collaboration and safe adoption of agentic automation. These controls cover identity, data protection, observability, and governance, offering administrators greater confidence. Key features include agent identities, access management, auditing, admin settings with human-the-loop, and runtime protections.The update enables cross-user collaboration through new steps with built-in safeguards. Agent identities ensure flows run with least privilege, uniquely auditable, and newly created flows will benefit from this immediately. Identity attribution allows admins to decide if actions are shown as the owner's or the flow's, defaulting to the flow's attribution.Auditing and observability now record all Studio configuration and execution events, with flow context in audit logs for actions like file edits or email sends. An Agent access management dashboard empowers admins to suspend flows or targeted OAuth scopes, facilitating quick remediation.Admin settings offer control over step types, Gemini data access, external data sharing confirmations, and webhook integrations. Runtime protections integrate additional data loss prevention (DLP) for Gemini data access and Studio flows, restricting access and enforcing user review based on data conditions.Rollout of admin console settings begins today for rapid and scheduled release domains. End-user visible features and beta identity attribution will roll out in August and September 2026. These features are available across various Google Workspace editions and Google AI Pro/Ultra, with specific DLP features for certain enterprise and education tiers.
Google Classroom is introducing a redesigned homepage that will be available globally across all editions, providing an easy way for teachers, students, and administrators to find relevant content and tools. The updated interface will transform the homepage into a dynamic hub that surfaces existing information and tools, making it easier for users to access what they need. The new experience is personalized based on a user's role and available features, and will begin rolling out on July 27, 2026. For teachers, the new dashboard will provide actionable insights, track assignment completion, and surface instructional tools and resources. Students will have a dedicated 'Enrolled' view to help them manage their deadlines and coursework, while school leaders and IT administrators will have a centralized view to monitor performance analytics and access administrative settings. Users with multiple roles can easily switch between views by clicking on their role, and the homepage will return to the previous role view when loaded. The new homepage modules are collapsible, allowing users to control their view and focus on what matters most to them. Not all features and views will be available to all users, with eligibility determined by role, feature access, account type, and settings. The rollout will start on July 27, 2026, and will be available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. The Google Classroom Help Center will provide more information and resources on the new homepage, including a guide on navigating the Classroom homepage and an overview of the new features.