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Google Workspace Updates

This official feed from the Google Workspace team provides essential information about new features and improvements for Google Workspace customers.

  • Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - October 17, 2025

     

    A summary of announcements from this week:
    The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.

    AI-powered makeup in Google Meet
    Now you can choose from 12 new studio makeup looks, with a range of options from a polished, professional touch to a more expressive flair. Your AI-powered makeup remains seamless and untouched—even through everyday movements like sipping your coffee or touching your face. | Learn more about using AI makeup in Meet. 


    The AI function in Google Sheets is now enhanced with Google Search results for more up-to-date answers
    Earlier this year, we announced AI function in Sheets to help you generate text, summarize information, categorize data, and analyze sentiment at scale, directly from any cell in your spreadsheet. Last month, we expanded feature availability to seven additional languages. Now, we're making AI function even more powerful by automatically grounding it in results from Google Search, so it can access up-to-the-minute information from the web to answer your prompts. | Learn more about Google Search in the Sheets AI function. 


    Google Keep reminders now saved to Tasks
    As announced last year, Keep reminders will be automatically saved to Tasks. This means that now users can view their Keep reminders as tasks in Calendar, in the Tasks app, and even ask the Gemini app about them (via the Tasks extension). As part of this launch, any existing date/time based Keep reminders will automatically be saved to Google Tasks. | Learn more about the reminders to Tasks migration. 


    Use Help me schedule to easily set up a meeting time over email
    Gmail with Gemini will detect when you’re trying to coordinate a time within an email and will surface a Help me schedule button in the toolbar. After you click on the Help me schedule button, Gemini will automatically suggest ideal slots based on your Google Calendar and the email's context. | Learn more about Help me schedule in Gmail. 


    Summarize shared files with Gemini in Google Chat, now available on mobile
    Simply tap the “Summarize” button on the file preview card in your conversation. Gemini will summarize the file so you can get a quick overview without having to leave Chat. | Learn more about summarizing files in Chat. 


    Video Overviews in NotebookLM are now available to users of all ages
    Google Workspace for Education users of all ages can now use Video Overviews in NotebookLM. Users can now turn documents, slides, charts and more into engaging explainer videos that are narrated by an AI voice. | Learn more about Video Overviews in Notebook LM. 


    Extract, categorize, and summarize data in AppSheet with the power of Gemini
    AppSheet Enterprise Plus users can now add the new AI Task powered by Gemini, directly into their existing AppSheet automations. The AI Task can perform the following functions: Extract, Extract Rows, Categorize, and Summarize. | Learn more about Gemini in AppSheet. 


    Gemini in Google Sheets now tackles multi-step tasks with expanded editing capabilities
    Earlier this year, we introduced powerful new editing options within Gemini in Sheets like creating pivot tables, applying filters, and adding conditional formatting. Building on that momentum, we’re excited to announce that Gemini can now execute multiple actions at once from a single prompt - no need to simplify your instructions or disrupt your workflow by typing multiple different prompts. | Learn more about multi-step actions using Gemini in Sheets. 


    Your organization's logo will now appear in the Gemini app
    Similar to other Google Workspace service pages, your organization’s logo will now appear next to a user’s profile picture in the Gemini app when they are using their business or education account. | Learn more about organizational logos in the Gemini app. 


    Introducing Business Continuity editions: Support business continuity and resilience for enterprise customers
    When your primary systems are compromised, you need a dependable partner to keep your organization operational. Our new Business Continuity editions are designed to serve as a robust backup solution that works in tandem with your primary, non-Google Workspace collaboration platform, providing a secure and familiar environment that can be activated when you need it most. | Learn more about the new Business Continuity editions. 


    Flashcards in Gemini are now available to users of all ages 
    Google Workspace for Education users of all ages can now use Flashcards in Gemini. Users can ask Gemini to instantly create flashcards and study guides based on your quiz results or other class materials, providing a simple and effective way to review key concepts and reinforce your learning. | Learn more about creating Flashcards with Gemini. 



  • Flashcards in Gemini are now available to users of all ages

    What’s changing

    Google Workspace for Education users of all ages can now use Flashcards in Gemini. Users can ask Gemini to instantly create flashcards and study guides based on your quiz results or other class materials, providing a simple and effective way to review key concepts and reinforce your learning.



    Why you’d use it

    Flashcards can be a helpful resource for students as they study and learn with Gemini. For example, students under 18 can now:

    • Get ready for your next test with powerful new study tools
    • Get personalized study guidance  - complete a quiz within Gemini and create flashcards based off of the results to hone in on subject areas that need more attention. 

    The Gemini app is covered under the Google Workspace for Education Terms of Service for all Workspace for Education users and has enterprise-grade data protection, meaning your data is not human reviewed or otherwise used to train AI models.

    Who’s impacted

    • Admins and end users

    Getting started 

    Rollout pace

    Availability

    Available for Google Workspace:
    • Education Fundamentals, Standard, and Plus
    • Customers with the Google AI Pro for Education add-on*
    *On September 2, the Gemini Education and Gemini Education Premium add-ons were consolidated into a single add-on called Google AI Pro for Education. 

    Resources


  • Introducing Business Continuity editions: Support business continuity and resilience for enterprise customers

    What’s changing 

    When your primary systems are compromised, you need a dependable partner to keep your organization operational. Our new Business Continuity editions are designed to serve as a robust backup solution that works in tandem with your primary, non-Google Workspace collaboration platform, providing a secure and familiar environment that can be activated when you need it most. 

    We are introducing two distinct offerings to meet your specific needs: 

    1. Business Continuity 
    This edition is a true disaster recovery solution designed for a "cold" standby scenario. It provides a secure, isolated environment to ensure your leadership and critical teams can communicate and collaborate during a crisis. 

    • Core Functionality:Allows for syncing your active directory, ensuring your user directory is available when needed. 
    • Usage:Intended for limited use, with access to Google Workspace and generative AI tools like Gemini and NotebookLM for up to 21 days per year. 

    2. Business Continuity Plus 
    This is our full-featured solution for organizations that require a "hot" standby environment with more data readily available to drive immediate adoption and productivity. It is designed to keep your core functions operating with minimal disruption. 

    • Core Functionality:In addition to allowing for syncing directory, this edition allows for data syncing across any product, including but not limited to email, calendar, drive, chat and more. We recommend using a partner-based solution for implementation. 
    • Usage:Provides extended access to Google Workspace and generative AI tools for up to 60 days per year. 

    Learn more about these new offerings in our main blog post: Break free from Microsoft 365’s lock-in, vulnerabilities, and outages with Google Workspace and partners

    Getting started 

    • Admins: These solutions are intended for organizations who do not use Google Workspace for their primary collaboration platform. Contact your Google rep or partner to discuss suitability and purchase options. 
    • End users: No end user impact. 

    Availability 

    • Available everywhere Google Workspace is sold. These solutions are intended for organizations who do not use Google Workspace for their primary collaboration platform. 

    Resources 

  • Your organization's logo will now appear in the Gemini app

    What’s changing

    Similar to other Google Workspace service pages, your organization’s logo will now appear next to a user’s profile picture in the Gemini app when they are using their business or education account. Logos can help users orient themselves when using a work or school account and help differentiate their experience in the Gemini app compared to use with a personal account. 




    The logo will only appear if an admin has added one to the Google Workspace account. If a logo has not been added, WORK or EDU will instead appear next to users’ profile pictures depending on the domain’s account type. 



    Who’s impacted
    • End users

    Additional details

    • All organizational units and domains in a Google Workspace account use the same logo.
    • The logo is only visible to users within your organization.
    • The logo will only be visible to users on web, and will not be visible while using the Gemini mobile app or gemini.google.com on a mobile device. 

    Getting started

    • Admins: If you have not yet uploaded your organization’s logo in Admin console, visit the Help Center to learn more about adding your logo to your Google Workspace domain. 
    • End users: There is no end user setting for this feature.

    Rollout pace

    Availability

    • Available to all Google Workspace customers 

    Resources


  • Gemini in Google Sheets now tackles multi-step tasks with expanded editing capabilities

    What’s changing 

    Earlier this year, we introduced powerful new editing options within Gemini in Sheets like creating pivot tables, applying filters, and adding conditional formatting. Building on that momentum, we’re excited to announce that Gemini can now execute multiple actions at once from a single prompt - no need to simplify your instructions or disrupt your workflow by typing multiple different prompts. Plus, Gemini also newly supports an expanded library of editing tasks. 

    With Gemini’s understanding of compound requests, you can now describe a complex, multi-step goal in plain language, and Gemini will handle the rest. From structuring and cleaning raw data to performing bulk structural edits, you’ll save valuable time in your workday. 

    1. Automate complex formatting and data cleaning tasks: Gemini can now execute on prompts that require chaining multiple actions together. 

    Multiple, simultaneous formatting requests:For example, you can now ask Gemini to completely reformat a plain project tracker in one go. Ask it to add dropdowns for "Status" and "Priority," insert a new formula column to calculate "Days Until Due Date," add a "Completed" checkbox column, and freeze the header row for easy viewing. Gemini will understand this multi-step request and perform all the actions at once. 



    Combined analytical and structural changes:For instance, ask Gemini to clean up a sales report by deleting rows for inactive reps, highlighting top performers who are above 120% of their quota in green, and then adding a new "Notes" column for follow-up actions. 



    Complex structure updates: For instance, you can ask Gemini to delete all "Archived" rows, then insert a new "Team" column with a dropdown list of team names, and finally add a new "Updated Due Date" column to prepare the sheet for the next planning cycle. 



    2. Make edits more easily with additional supported actions: We've expanded the library of actions Gemini supports, which now includes: 

    • Formatting:Add conditional formatting, set a number format, format as a table, or freeze a dimension. 
    • Data Entry & Manipulation:Add a checkbox, add a dropdown (or convert a cell to a dropdown), fill a range with a formula, or find and replace. 
    • Structure & Organization:Insert or delete a dimension (row/column), sort data, or add a pivot table. 
    • Filtering: Create or clear filters. 

    For example, you can now use natural language for complex data cleaning tasks, like asking Gemini to "Replace 'Software' and 'Web Hosting' with 'IT Services' everywhere on the sheet." 



    These updates make Gemini a more powerful and intuitive partner in Sheets, taking on complex, time-consuming tasks so you can focus on the insights and decisions that matter. 

    Getting started 


    Rollout pace 


    Availability 

    Available for Google Workspace: 
    • Business Standard and Plus 
    • Enterprise Standard and Plus 
    • Google AI Pro for Education 

    Also available to: 
    • Google AI Pro and Ultra 

    Anyone who previously purchased these add-ons will also receive this feature: 
    • Gemini Business* Gemini Enterprise* 
    *As of January 15, 2025, we’re no longer offering the legacy Gemini Business and Gemini Enterprise add-ons for sale. Please refer to this announcement for more details. 

    Resources 

  • Extract, categorize, and summarize data in AppSheet with the power of Gemini

    What’s happening 

    AppSheet Enterprise Plus users can now add the new AI Task powered by Gemini, directly into their existing AppSheet automations. The AI Task can perform the following functions: Extract, Extract Rows, Categorize, and Summarize. This means it can enable AppSheet to: 

    • Automatically extract key information from uploaded photos 
    • Parse complex PDFs such as invoices 
    • Categorize, route, and summarize incoming requests based on their content. 

    Users can also quickly test individual steps within their workflow using the integrated AI Task Step Testing feature. 

    Gemini extracting book info from its cover.
    Gemini extracting book info from its cover. 

    AI Made Easy & Powerful for Business Users:Gemini in AppSheet significantly simplifies how you incorporate advanced AI functions, such as data extraction and categorization, into your apps. It's designed to be user-friendly and effective: 

    • Get started quickly: These AI capabilities work out-of-the-box 
    • Customize with context: Easily add additional context or instructions to tailor the results to your specific needs. 

    Here are just a few examples of what you can do: 

    • Extract purchase details from a PDF contract, categorize order details by fulfillment team, and assign follow up action items 
    • Extract equipment information from a photo 
    • Analyze the description in employee expense submissions and automatically categorize them by type ("Travel", "Meals", "Software", "Training") 
    • Summarize customer requests, inspection logs, and more 

    AI with Governance:Admins have visibility into and control over the use of Gemini in AppSheet among their Enterprise users. Admins can: 

    • See in the AppSheet admin console 
      • How many credits their organization is entitled to, 
      • How many have been consumed, 
      • Which users and which applications are leveraging Gemini in AppSheet 
    • Define governance policies to control or disable the use of AI Tasks – learn more about controlling which app creators can use AI in automations. 

    Additional details 

    We’ve also made a few additional improvements between preview and general availability: 

    • Extract and Categorize now support more types of columns 
      • Columns of REF types so you can leverage information in linked tables 
      • Date and Time columns 
      • Price columns 
    • You can now extract information not just from images and PDF files, but also from unstructured text data hosted in your data sources. In other words, you can select Text and LongText columns as inputs to the Extract AI task. 
    • You can now trigger any AI task on a schedule. 

    Getting started 


    Rollout pace 

    • This feature is available now. 

    Availability 

    • Available for AppSheet Enterprise Plus 

    Resources 

  • Video Overviews in NotebookLM are now available to users of all ages

    What’s changing 

    Google Workspace for Education users of all ages can now use Video Overviews in NotebookLM. Users can now turn documents, slides, charts and more into engaging explainer videos that are narrated by an AI voice. Video Overviews are expertly-crafted visual walkthroughs of the content you provide, pulling in images, diagrams, quotes, and numbers from your source material. Similar to Audio Overviews, you’ll also have the option to customize your Video Overview by specifying topics to focus on, indicating your learning goals, describing the target audience, and much more. 




    Why you’d use it 

    Video overview can be a helpful resource for students as they study and learn with NotebookLM. For example, students under 18 can now create more engaging learning materials with powerful new visuals through Video Overviews. 

    NotebookLM is covered under the Google Workspace for Education Terms of Service for all Workspace for Education users and has enterprise-grade data protection, meaning your data is not human reviewed or otherwise used to train AI models. 

    Who’s impacted 

    • Admins and end users 

    Getting started 

    • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
    • End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about Video Overviews and NotebookLM. 

    Rollout pace 

    • Rapid and Scheduled release domains: Currently available. 

    Availability 

    • Available to Workspace customers with access to NotebookLM. Visit the Help Center to learn more about NotebookLM features & access by Workspace edition. 

    Resources 



  • Summarize shared files with Gemini in Google Chat, now available on mobile

    What’s happening 

    Earlier this year, we introduced the capability for Google Chat users to easily see summaries of shared Google Docs, Slides, or Sheets files, along with other file types (like PDF, Office, and CSV), directly within your desktop Chat conversations. Today, we’re excited to expand this feature to Google Chat mobile. 

    Simply tap the “Summarize” button on the file preview card in your conversation. Gemini will summarize the file so you can get a quick overview without having to leave Chat. 


    Getting started 


    Rollout pace 


    Availability 

    Available for Google Workspace: 

    • Business Standard, and Plus 
    • Enterprise Standard, and Plus 
    • Google AI Pro for Education 
    • Frontline Plus 

    Also available to: 

    • Gemini Business* 
    • Gemini Enterprise* 
    *As of January 15, 2025, we’re no longer offering the Gemini Business and Gemini Enterprise add-ons for sale. Please refer to this announcement for more details. 

    Resources 




  • Use Help me schedule to easily set up a meeting time over email

    What’s changing 

    Finding time to meet — especially with external clients and customers — is hard, often requiring many back-and-forth emails. The new Gemini-powered Help me schedule feature in Gmail makes it easier for you to coordinate time with others. 

    Gmail with Gemini will detect when you’re trying to coordinate a time within an email and will surface a Help me schedule button in the toolbar. After you click on the Help me schedule button, Gemini will automatically suggest ideal slots based on your Google Calendar and the email's context. For example, if someone asks for a 30 minute meeting next week, Gemini will recommend time slots that fit your availability. 

    You can customize the times that Gemini suggests by removing or adding additional options, and then insert them directly into your Gmail message. Once the recipient receives the email and selects a time that works for them, a Calendar invite will automatically be added to both individual’s calendars. At launch, this feature will only support scheduling between two individuals, not groups. 



    Getting started 


    Rollout pace 

    • Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 13. 2025 
    • Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days days for feature visibility) starting approximately October 28, 2025 

    Availability 

    Available for Google Workspace: 

    • Business Standard, and Plus 
    • Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus 
    • Google AI Pro for Education 
    • Frontline Plus 

    Also available to: 

    • Google AI Pro and Ultra 
    • Gemini Business, Enterprise* 
    *As of January 15, 2025, we’re no longer offering the Gemini Business and Gemini Enterprise add-ons for sale. Please refer to this announcement for more details. 

    Resources 



  • Google Keep reminders now saved to Tasks

    What’s changing 

    As announced last year, Keep reminders will be automatically saved to Tasks. This means that now users can view their Keep reminders as tasks in Calendar, in the Tasks app, and even ask the Gemini app about them (via the Tasks extension). As part of this launch, any existing date/time based Keep reminders will automatically be saved to Google Tasks. 

    This new capability will make Google Tasks the single solution for managing your to-dos across Workspace. So whether you’re saving something from Keep, Gmail, Calendar, Chat, Docs, or Gemini, Google Tasks will make sure it’s up to date and accessible across the Workspace products you use. 

    Getting started 


    Rollout pace 


    Availability 

    • Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts 

    Resources