Google Workspace Updates
This official feed from the Google Workspace team provides essential information about new features and improvements for Google Workspace customers.
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Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - September 13, 2024
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.
Co-annotate from select Google Meet hardware devicesWe’re expanding annotation capabilities in Meet to include select Google Meet hardware devices. These devices can be appointed co-annotators by presenters and you can use annotation tools such as a pen, sticker and more directly from the touchscreen of the device. | Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Standard, and Plus; Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus; Frontline Starter and Standard; Essentials, Enterprise Essentials, and Enterprise Essentials Plus; Education Standard, Plus, the Teaching & Learning Upgrade; Workspace Individual subscribers. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about using annotations in Google Meet.New advancements in Connected Sheets for LookerLast year, we introduced Connected Sheets for all Looker-hosted instances, enabling users to analyze data using pivot tables, charts, formulas, and other integrated data sources. This week, we’re excited to announce the ability to directly link Connected Sheets to existing Looker queries, rather than having to start from scratch in Sheets by connecting to an Explore every time. This highly-requested feature is especially useful for Looks, a special type of query that’s been saved in the Looker UI, and whose definition can be updated over time if needed. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. | Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Admins should use the Looker's Admin menu to make sure Connected Sheets for Looker is enabled. End users can visit the Help Center to learn more about using Connected Sheets in your organization.A TeamViewer add-on for Google Meet is now available in the Google Workspace Marketplace, allowing Meet to tap into a leading remote connectivity platform. You can now rely on Meet + TeamViewer to enable remote support (e.g., IT support desk) that's easy, secure and reliable for your business. | Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Admins can visit the Help Center to learn more about managing Marketplace apps on your allowlist or installing Marketplace apps in your domain. End users can view the TeamViewer Remote Control listing, learn more about the offering on TeamViewer’s website, and use the Help Center to learn more about using add-ons with Google Meet.TeamViewer Add-on for for Google Meet now supports remote desktop
TeamViewer launched as a featured Meet add-on to enable remote IT supportPrevious announcements
The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.Gemini reports now include user-level usage, including app usage insightsWe’re incorporating additional data in Gemini reports to help our customers gain a deeper understanding of Gemini usage and adoption across their organizations. Gemini reports now include user and app level Gemini usage and adoption data based on the last 28 days of usage. | Learn more about Gemini reports.Access and sort shared files more easily in Google Chat conversationsThe Shared tab is now available in 1:1 direct messages and group messages, enabling easier collaboration across all conversation types. | Learn more about the shared tab in Chat.Google Cloud Directory Sync now complies with your conflicting accounts management settingsWhen Google Cloud Directory Sync (GCDS) attempts to create new users, it may encounter unmanaged accounts that conflict with the accounts it’s attempting to create. In these instances, GCDS will now comply with the conflicting accounts management settings specified in the Admin console. | Learn more about Google Cloud Directory Sync.Google Meet Add-ons SDK is now generally availableThe Meet Add-ons SDK is now generally available for the web, which allows developers to iframe their app into Meet, and lets meeting participants interact with the app’s content directly inside the Meet canvas. | Learn more about Meet Add-ons SDK.Improving the Google Workspace Marketplace app publishing experience with DraftsDevelopers can now make changes to their app listing, save them as a draft, and send the draft version to review. | Learn more about app list drafts.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 and Scheduled Release Domains:- Enhancing your productivity on Android devices with new features in Gmail and Google Chat apps
- “Take notes for me” in Google Meet is now available
- Gemini (gemini.google.com) now shows related content links in its responses
- Improved user experience for Google Meet on Android devices
- Gemini reports now include user-level usage, including app usage insights
- Google Cloud Directory Sync now complies with your conflicting accounts management settings
- Google Meet Add-ons SDK is now generally available
For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).
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Improving the Google Workspace Marketplace app publishing experience with Drafts
What’s changing
Developers can create apps for the Google Workspace Marketplace that automate tasks, integrate Google Workspace with third-party products, and enhance communication and collaboration.To improve upon the publishing experience, we’re excited to announce that developers can now make changes to their app listing, save them as a draft, and send the draft version to review. This will allow developers to preview changes and share drafts with specific users to help with validation before publishing a listing.
Who’s impacted
DevelopersWhy you’d use it
This update allows developers to test and preview their Google Workspace Marketplace app listing prior to publishing, which enables feedback collection and ultimately makes updating an app listing much easier.Additional details
While changes are under review in the draft state, the original app listing remains available on the Google Workspace Marketplace.Getting started
- Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. Visit the Help Center to learn more about Google Workspace Marketplace and getting started as a Marketplace app admin.
- Developers: Visit the developer resources to update your app listing with drafts, learn how to develop apps and add-ons for Google Workspace, and how to make your apps and add-ons available in the Marketplace.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 12, 2024
Availability
- Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts
Resources
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Google Meet Add-ons SDK is now generally available
What’s changing
We’re pleased to announce that beginning today, the Meet Add-ons SDK is now generally available for the web. This SDK allows developers to iframe their app into Meet, and lets meeting participants interact with the app’s content directly inside the Meet canvas.
Who’s impacted
Admins, end users, and developersWhy it matters
The Add-ons SDK expands Meet’s existing platform capabilities, providing the opportunity for developers to build interactive and collaborative experiences for their users in Google Meet which they can find and install from the Google Workspace Marketplace. These experiences allow for users to launch, install, and engage with the app’s content during their meetings, all without ever leaving Google Meet. Examples of already built add-ons include whiteboarding experiences with Figjam, Lucidspark and Miro; note taking experiences with Read Notetaker; and also polling and surveying experiences via Polly.Add-ons can be displayed in two ways during a meeting:- The main stage allows apps to be the focal point of a meeting experience, unlocking the opportunity for add-on users to supercharge collaboration while in a meeting.
- The side panel allows users to do actions such as share data, take surveys, or update records and notes while keeping the meeting and the discussion with other participants the focal point of this experience.
Additional details
The Google Workspace Marketplace automatically respects any controls that have been configured by admins, including whether their users can download and install add-ons. Additionally, all apps on the Marketplace have been reviewed and approved by the Google Marketplace team before they’re published.Getting started
- Admins:The availability of Google Meet Add-ons in meetings can be controlled through the Google Meet Admin Controls. Visit the Help Center to learn more about admin controls for Add-ons.
- Developers:Our Developer Documentation has more information about using the Meet Add-Ons SDK.
- End users:
- Visit the Help Center to learn more about using add-ons with Google Meet.
- Meeting hosts can control the availability of add-ons during meetings by going to Host Controls (lock icon) > Meeting Activities > Let contributors share add-on activities. Refer to this announcement on the Workspace Updates blog for more information.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now.
Availability
- Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts
Resources
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Google Cloud Directory Sync now complies with your conflicting accounts management settings
What’s changing
When Google Cloud Directory Sync (GCDS) attempts to create new users, it may encounter unmanaged accounts that conflict with the accounts it’s attempting to create. In these instances, GCDS will now comply with the conflicting accounts management settings specified in the Admin console. This update helps reduce the time spent migrating user accounts to business accounts, helping to accelerate the adoption of Google Workspace and Google Cloud. Visit the Help Center for specific information on how GCDS will handle conflicting accounts based on your configured settings.Getting started
- Admins: Google Cloud Directory Sync will automatically respect your existing Admin console settings for handling conflicting unmanaged accounts. We do not recommend turning this feature off in GCDS, rather you should configure these settings as you see fit in the Admin console. Visit the Help Center to learn more about handling conflicting unmanaged accounts with Google Cloud Directory Sync, as well as unmanaged accounts in general.
- End users: Depending on your admin configuration:
- You’ll be invited to transfer your account — if accepted, your admin will have the ability to manage your account.
- If you do not accept the request, your admin may replace your unmanaged account with a managed one. In that case, you’ll receive a new @gmail.com address and retain your content in this unmanaged, personal Google account.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now.
Availability
- Available for all Google Workspace customers
Resources
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Access and sort shared files more easily in Google Chat conversations
What’s changing
Earlier this year, we improved upon the file management experience in Google Chat spaces by creating the Shared tab, a central place to manage all conversation-related artifacts including files, links and media. Today, we’re excited to announce that the Shared tab is now available in 1:1 direct messages and group messages, enabling easier collaboration across all conversation types.
Who’s impacted
End usersWhy you’d use it
The Shared tab provides a centralized and visible method to access shared content shared within a conversation.Additional details
Using the new sort drop-down, you can narrow down the list of documents displayed based on category (file, link, media) or date shared.Getting started
- Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
- End users:At the top of a Google Chat message, you will see the following tabs: Chat and Shared. Upon clicking Shared, you will see three sections: Files, Links and Media. Visit the Help Center to learn more about sending & sharing files in Google Chat messages.
Rollout pace
Web:- Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 10, 2024
- Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 23, 2024
Android & iOS:- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 16, 2024
Availability
- Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts
Resources
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Gemini reports now include user-level usage, including app usage insights
What’s changing
We’re incorporating additional data in Gemini reports to help our customers gain a deeper understanding of Gemini usage and adoption across their organizations.Gemini reports now include user and app level Gemini usage and adoption data based on the last 28 days of usage. These insights can help admins identify power users in their organization, whom they can tap into for practical use cases and best practices, which can then be shared broadly with other users to drive adoption. Identifying users with lower adoption rates is equally important and can provide helpful context for creating training, change management programs and materials, and more.
From Menu > Generative AI > Gemini Reports > User-led usage you can track active Gemini usage days and how that usage is spread across various apps. You can also export this information for further analysis.As of August 22, usage of gemini.google.com is now captured in the org-level usage portion of the report under the “Chat with Gemini” label, as well as in the new user-level usage reports. Including gemini.google.com usage and adoption information provides a more complete picture of how users are interacting with all Gemini tools across Workspace.
Gemini.google.com adoption data can be found under the “Chat with Gemini” label. Data reported as of August 9, 2024Note: Gemini reports are denoted as 'beta' as we continue to optimize reporting functionality based on customer feedback. These are subject to the "Pre-General Availability Offerings Terms" section of the Google Workspace Service Specific Terms"Getting started
- Admins: Visit the Help Center to learn more about reviewing Gemini usage in your organization.
- End users: There is no end user impact or action required.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on September 9, 2024
Availability
Available for Google Workspace customers with these add-ons:- Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, Education Premium
Resources
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Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - September 6, 2024
1 New update
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.
Improved user experience for Google Meet on Android devicesIf you’re joining a Google Meet call from Android phone, tablets or large screen devices, you’ll now see a more streamlined, space-efficient experience with edge-to-edge video. We’ve expanded the video feed to encompass spaces where there were previously margins around the video feed. This helps provide a richer, more immersive viewing experience. You’ll also notice a sleeker user interface for meeting controls, and clearer indicators for information such as the meeting title. | Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available now for all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about joining a meeting.
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.Gemini (gemini.google.com) now shows related content links in its responsesYou can now access additional information on topics directly in Gemini’s (gemini.google.com) responses to your prompts. Specifically, you’ll see links to related content in responses to fact-seeking prompts — you can click the arrow chips to dive deeper into the topic. If you have a Gemini for Workspace license and Google Workspace extensions in Gemini are enabled, Gemini will also now include inline links to relevant emails referenced in responses where the Gmail extension is used. | Learn more about related content links shown in Gemini.View your most relevant Google Drive folders and files on a single pageYou will now see a combined, unified view for file and folder suggestions on the Drive homepage that leverages machine learning to help you find and organize your most relevant content faster and intuitively. | Learn more about the view in Drive.Empowering Google Workspace customers to take control of their emissions with Electricity MapsTo help our customers continue to understand and measure the carbon intensity of their cloud computing, we have partnered with Electricity Maps to provide hourly emissions data within the Carbon Footprint report. | Learn more about Electricity Maps.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.Scheduled Release Domains:Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains:- Updated design for meeting controls in Google Meet
- Available in beta: Policy Visualization across Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Drive (Beta application is now closed)
- Allow dropdown chips to have multiple selections in Google Sheets
- Business Starter customers will soon have access to shared drives (Admin setting)
- Gmail Q&A: A new way of searching your inbox with Gemini on Android devices
- Additional data protection in Gemini (gemini.google.com) when using a school account is now available
- The AppSheet Admin Console is now available in public preview
- Google Workspace for Education users can now set and share personal pronouns and name pronunciation (Pronouns only)
- Empowering Google Workspace customers to take control of their emissions with Electricity Maps
For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).
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Empowering Google Workspace customers to take control of their emissions with Electricity Maps
What’s changing
To help our customers continue to understand and measure the carbon intensity of their cloud computing, we have partnered with Electricity Maps to provide hourly emissions data within the Carbon Footprint report. Since we launched the Google Workspace Carbon Footprint report at Cloud Next 2023, we have continued our collaboration with Electricity Maps to further help users understand their emissions. Directly within the Admin console, admins can track the carbon footprint and emissions of using Google Workspace, down to specific tools such as Google Meet, Gmail, Google Docs, and more.
We’ve also added a new admin role for accessing Carbon Footprint reports. Previously, only Workspace admins with reporting privileges had access to the carbon footprint dashboard. However, we know our customers have specialists, such as a dedicated Sustainability team, who rely on this information to inform their work. Now, admins can grant access to the Workspace Carbon Footprint report to select users by creating a custom role.
Who’s impacted
Admins
Why it’s important
Cloud computing has immense significance for powering global business operations and innovation. But, in a world facing the accelerating impacts of climate change, it is increasingly important to keep an eye on its environmental impact. The dynamic and global nature of cloud computing creates challenges for precisely measuring its emissions and requires granular data that captures the carbon emissions of electricity at every hour in locations around the world. Partnering with Electricity Maps gives our customers a way to monitor their cloud emissions over time by product — giving IT teams and developers the high quality metrics they need to monitor, improve, and reduce their carbon emissions.
Electricity Maps gathers real-time and historical power generation and power exchange data from multiple sources around the globe, calculating the hourly consumption mix available on the grid and its carbon intensity. Electricity Maps follows a highly granular approach, combined with a transparent and scientific methodology and a strict collective vetting process of their open-source community. This guarantees high-quality and trustworthy data that aligns with Google’s ambition for a realistic and science-backed perspective on climate impact. For maximum transparency, emissions can be viewed on either location-based or market-based Scope 2 accounting standards. Location-based emissions show the emissions linked to the actual electricity used for the operations, whereas the market-based emissions represent emissions from the purchased electricity, including Google’s annual renewable energy purchases. More information about the methodology behind Google’s Workspace and Cloud Carbon Footprints can be found here.
Additional details
More about Google's sustainability commitmentsIn 2020, we set a goal to run on 24/7 carbon-free energy—every hour of every day on every grid where we operate—by 2030. We continue to make product and operational improvements to reduce environmental impact and we're sharing technology, methods, and funding to enable organizations around the world to transition to more carbon-free and sustainable systems — see here for more information about our sustainability commitments.Google uses the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, the global standard for carbon accounting to generate the Workspace Carbon Footprint reports. We recommend that admins familiarize themselves with the GHG terminology — you can find more information in our Help Center or the video below.Getting started
- Admins:You can find your Carbon Footprint report in the Admin console under Reporting > Carbon footprint. Visit the Help Center to learn more about the Workspace Carbon Footprint.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now.
Availability
- Available to all domain verified Google Workspace customers
Resources
- Google Workspace Admin Help: View your organization's carbon footprint report
- YouTube: How Google creates Carbon Footprint reports for Google Cloud and Google Workspace customers
- Google Workspace Updates Blog: Track the carbon footprint associated with the usage of Google Workspace across your organization
- Electricity Maps: How Google is working with Electricity Maps to drive their sustainability goals
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View your most relevant Google Drive folders and files on a single page
What’s changing
Last year, we introduced a new homepage view in Google Drive that makes it faster and easier for you to find files that matter most. That update included personalized file and folder suggestions with machine learning algorithms that can help you get started quickly.Starting today, you will see a combined, unified view for file and folder suggestions on the Drive homepage that leverages machine learning to help you find and organize your most relevant content faster and intuitively. More specifically, you’ll notice:- Combined file and folder suggestions: Drive's homepage shows suggested files and folders, intelligently chosen based on recent activity, sharing patterns, and connected Google Calendar events.
- Seamless navigation and organization: You can easily switch between viewing additional files or folders, or organize content directly from Home.
- Enhanced search filters: Search chips allow you to quickly start a search by by file type, people, modification date, and location modification date, location, and people.
Getting started
- Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
- End users:
- Up to 6 suggested folders will show at the top of the homepage view of Drive and you can click the “View more” option to see up to 12 total folders.
- Up to 10 suggested files will show underneath the suggested folders in the collapsed state and up to 30 suggested files will show if you click the “View more” option.
- You may not see the “View more” option if you do not have additional file or folder suggestions.
- The homepage view of Drive will be ON by default and can be opted-out by the user. If a user chooses to opt-out, their default page will be My Drive. To opt-out, go to the Settings icon in top right corner > Settings > Start page and select My Drive.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 5, 2024
- Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on September 25, 2024
Availability
- Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts
Resources
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Gemini (gemini.google.com) now shows related content links in its responses
What’s changing
Starting today, you can access additional information on topics directly in Gemini’s (gemini.google.com) responses to your prompts. Specifically, you’ll see links to related content in responses to fact-seeking prompts — you can click the arrow chips to dive deeper into the topic. If you have a Gemini for Workspace license and Google Workspace extensions in Gemini are enabled, Gemini will also now include inline links to relevant emails referenced in responses where the Gmail extension is used.Including this information offers another easy way to dig deeper into Gemini’s responses. You can also use Gemini’s double-check feature to verify responses by using Google Search to highlight which statements are corroborated or contradicted on the web.
Additional details
- At this time, this feature is limited to English prompts only.
- This feature is available in most countries where Gemini (gemini.google.com) is available
Getting started
- Admins: Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning Gemini (gemini.google.com) on or off for your users and turning Google Workspace extensions on or off for your organization.
- End users: You’ll automatically see related content where applicable in Gemini’s responses. If you have a Gemini for Workspace license and your admin has enabled Google Workspace extensions, you may see related content from email for prompts that use the Gmail extension. Refer to the Gemini Apps FAQ for more detail.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on September 4, 2024.
Availability
- Available to any Google Workspace users with access to gemini.google.com.
- Users with a Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, Education Premium add-on license will see Gmail citations if Google Workspace extensions in Gemini are enabled by their admin.
Resources
- Google Workspace Admin Help: Turn Gemini on or off as a core service
- Google Workspace Admin Help: Turn Workspace Extensions in Gemini on or off (Beta)
- Gemini Apps Help: Double-check responses from Gemini Apps
- Gemini Apps Help: Use extensions in Gemini with a work or school Google Account
- Gemini Apps FAQ: How and when does Gemini include sources in its responses?
