Google Workspace Updates: Google Chat

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - May 2, 2025

Friday, May 2, 2025

4 New updatesUnless 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.Create custom emojis using the Google Chat API The Google Chat Custom Emoji API is now generally available for Google Workspace developers. You can now call the Chat API to manage custom emoji when custom emoji are enabled for your organization:

Create custom emoji (RPC, REST)
Delete custom emoji (RPC, REST)
Get custom emoji (RPC, REST)
List custom emoji (RPC, REST)

Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to all Google Workspace customers. | Visit the Developer documentation to learn about creating a custom emoji and more.
Use tables with the Google Sheets API Following the improvements made to tables in Google Sheets in March and April, we’re excited to introduce API support for tables. Now, users will be able to take basic actions to create and modify tables via the Sheets API. | 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. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about using tables in Google Sheets and developer documentation to learn more about tables.
Deep Research is now available on the Gemini mobile app In February, we made Deep Research available to Google Workspace users. Now, you can use Deep Research in the Gemini mobile app, too. Deep Research brings hours of research to your fingertips in mere minutes by exploring complex topics on your behalf and presenting its findings in a comprehensive, easy-to-read report. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about performing in-depth research and how to get started with the Gemini mobile app. | Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to all Google Workspace users with access to the Gemini app.
File upload to Gems in the Gemini app is now supported in more languages You can now add files to your Gem instructions in the Gemini app in all supported languages. Uploading files from your device or Google Drive to your Gem instructions gives your Gem more context and helps tailor its responses to meet your specific needs. | Admins: File upload from Google Drive requires you to turn on Workspace apps in Gemini. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning Google Workspace apps on or off for your organization. | End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Gems. File upload from Google Drive requires you to connect Google Workspace apps. | Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to all Google Workspace users accessing the Gemini app as a core service.

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.

Enhance Your Organization’s Security with Out-of-Domain File Warnings in Google Workspace

This week, we’re launching Out-of-Domain file-level warnings, now publicly available to all Google Workspace users. | Learn more about Out-of-Domain File Warnings in Google Workspace.

Use NotebookLM to generate Audio Overviews more than 50 languages

Audio Overviews are lively “deep dive” discussions between two AI hosts who summarize key topics in your sources. These turn documents, slides, charts and more into engaging discussions with one click and are especially useful for learning on-the-go. This week, we’re excited to expand Audio Overviews to over 50 languages in Beta. | Learn more about Audio Overviews in new languages.

Expanding Google Vids to Business Starter, Enterprise Starter and Nonprofit customers

We’re excited to expand Google Vids to Business Starter, Enterprise Starter, and Nonprofit customers, giving them full access to Vids, and access to Vids AI features for a limited time. | Learn more about the Vids expansion.

Express yourself and quickly respond to emails with emojis reactions in Gmail

We’re excited to introduce the ability for users to react to emails in Gmail with emojis. This new feature allows users to quickly respond, acknowledge receipt of an email, and express themselves more authentically. | Learn more about emoji reactions in Gmail.

Google Voice gets support for three way calling and a refreshed in-call user interface

We’re pleased to introduce two significant updates for Google Voice: support for three way calling and an overall enhanced, redesigned in-call user interface. | Learn more about three way calling.

Start a conversation with Gemini in the side panel of Google Drive about specific files

We recently added clickable “nudges” at the top of the Drive homepage and folders to help you get started with Gemini in Drive even faster, and this week we’re introducing updates that make starting a conversation with Gemini about a specific set of files easier. | Learn more about Gemini conversations in Drive about specific files.

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 Release Domains:

Introducing even more high-quality Google Slides templates to elevate your presentations

Scheduled Release Domains:

Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains:

Beginning September 30, 2024: third-party apps that use only a password to access Google Accounts and Google Sync will no longer be supported
Mobile scans are now crisper and clearer with auto enhancements in the Google Drive scanner
Support for continuous framing on select Logitech Series One room kits
Help me write in Gmail now available in Japanese and Korean (mobile)
Save time making changes or updates to AI voiceovers in Google Vids
Google Classroom is expanding to 7 additional languages
New features available in NotebookLM and NotebookLM Plus (language selector)
Updates for configuring your preferred language for “Take notes for me”, recorded captions, and meeting transcripts (Mobile availability only)
Create custom chart groupings in Connected Sheets
Data classifications labels for Gmail are now generally available
Introducing easier editing for objects and audio tracks in Google Vids
Introducing draggable dividers on large screen Android devices
Use NotebookLM and NotebookLM Plus to generate Audio Overviews more than 50 language

For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - April 25, 2025

Friday, April 25, 2025

5 New updatesUnless 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.

New look for the Gmail mobile app on iOS devices

Starting this week, you’ll notice a refreshed look and feel for the Gmail mobile app on iOS devices that is in line with Google Material Design 3. This matches the experience on web and Android devices. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. | Available to Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about the Gmail app.

Introducing easier editing for objects and audio tracks in Google Vids

Following the recently introduced looping animations feature in Google Vids, we’re excited to announce an additional update that improves the editing experience in Vids. Users can now control the height of the timeline, which helps a user easily view more objects when working on timing for individual scenes. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. | Available to Business Standard and Plus; Enterprise Standard and Plus; Essentials, Enterprise Essentials and Enterprise Essentials Plus; Education Plus; customers with the Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on, and anyone who previously purchased a Gemini Business or Gemini Enterprise add-on. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about controlling audio timing & transitions with audio tracks.

Create birthdays in Google Calendar using iOS devices

Last year, we introduced the ability to create and modify birthday events in Google Calendar on Android devices. This week, we’re excited to announce these capabilities are now available on iOS devices as well. | 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. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about managing birthdays on your calendar.

Generate and use images with Gemini in the side panel of Gmail on Android and iOS devices

Building upon the ability to generate images using Gemini in the side panel of Workspace apps on web, we’re excited to announce you can now generate images in Gmail on your mobile device. Once you select the image, you can then save it, copy it, or insert it into a compose draft. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains on Android and iOS devices. | Available to Business Starter, Standard and Plus; Enterprise Starter, Standard and Plus; Google One AI Premium; customers with the Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on, and anyone who previously purchased a Gemini Business or Gemini Enterprise add-on. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about Gemini in Gmail.

Introducing draggable dividers on large screen Android devices

When using the Gmail or Google Chat app on your large screen Android device, such as a tablet or foldable, you can now drag the divider that divides the list view and conversation view in the existing two pane layout. Draggable dividers enable you to pick between a one pane or two pane experience and allow you to control the width of each pane when in two pane mode. | Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts.

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.

Adding new capabilities to student groups in Google Classroom

We’ve introduced improvements to student groups that enable teachers to email groups, sort by groups when grading on the Student work page and edit student groups when creating an assignment. | Learn more about student groups in Classroom.

Introducing even more high-quality Google Slides templates to elevate your presentations

We’ve introduced a second wave of templates that cater to a wide range of use cases such as business proposals, product pitches, marketing plans, quarterly reviews, team intros or celebrations, and more. | Learn more about templates in Slides.

Data classifications labels for Gmail are now generally available

Data classification labels are generally available, giving admins yet another way to enhance their security posture. | Learn more about Data classifications labels.

Introducing Frontline Plus: Enhanced Security and AI features for Frontline Workers

We’re expanding Google Workspace Frontline to include a new edition: Frontline Plus. | Learn more about Frontline Plus.

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:

Available in open beta: Set up Single-Sign On with custom OpenID Connect profiles
Pre-configure the Google Workspace apps admin setting for the Gemini app ahead of general availability
Help me write in Gmail now available in Japanese and Korean (web only)
Introducing the ability to grade and assign grading labels in bulk in Google Classroom
Introducing Frontline Plus: Enhanced Security and AI features for Frontline Workers
Adding new capabilities to student groups in Google Classroom

Rollout updates

We have changed the rollout timelines for this feature. Please refer to the original blog post for complete details.

Updates for configuring your preferred language for “Take notes for me”, recorded captions, and meeting transcripts

For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).

Preview summaries in the Google Chat home view now available in three additional languages

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

What’s changingLast year, we announced that Gemini in Google Chat can now help you catch up on unread conversations in the Chat home view with summaries. Recently, we extended this ability to direct messages and read conversations.
Upon navigating to a conversation in home, click the “Summarize” button to see a quick, bulleted synopsis of the message content. This enables you to quickly review recent activity across all active conversations to determine where best to focus your time and attention.
Today, we’re excited to announce that summaries in the home view are now available in three additional languages:

Spanish
Portuguese
German

Who’s impacted

End users

Why it matters Since introducing a more streamlined user experience in Chat to help you find what you need much faster, we’re adding more ways to help you prioritize the most important conversations. This new summaries in home feature does just that by helping you catch up more quickly.

Getting started

To see summaries on web, hover over a 1:1 direct message, group conversation, space, or thread from home in Chat and click “Summarize.”
To see summaries on mobile, long press on 1:1 direct message, group conversation, space, or thread from home in Chat.
Visit the Help Center to learn more about summaries in home.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on April 9, 2025

Availability

Available for Google Workspace:

Business Standard and Plus
Enterprise Standard and Plus
Customers with the Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on

Anyone who previously purchased these add-ons will also receive this feature:

Gemini Business*
Gemini Enterprise*
AI Meetings and Messages*

*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 Gemini in the side panel of Google Chat in additional languages

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

What’s changing Over the last few months, we’ve released the use of Gemini in the side panel of Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Drive, Google Slides and Gmail in additional languages and today we’re excited to expand the availability of Gemini in the side panel of Chat to the following languages:

Spanish
Portuguese
Italian
German
Japanese
French
Korean

Gemini in Chat helps users collaborate more effectively in their spaces, group messages and direct messages by providing conversation summaries, identifying action items, and searching the web. For additional information on Gemini in Chat, check out our original announcement of Gemini in the side panel of Chat.

Additional detailsUsers may see the “Alpha” badge as we bring more features into Gemini in the side panel of Google Workspace.

Getting started

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on March 18, 2025

Availability
Available for Google Workspace:

Business Standard and Plus
Enterprise Standard and Plus
Customers with the Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on

Anyone who previously purchased these add-ons will also receive this feature:

Gemini Business*
Gemini Enterprise*
AI Meetings and Messages*

*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

See summaries of shared Google Docs, Slides, or Sheets files directly in Google Chat

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

What’s changingSimilar to how Google Chat’s summaries in the home view provide users with a bulleted synopsis of message content, we’re excited to introduce a new way to preview files shared in Chat.
Starting today, users can easily summarize Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets files shared within a Chat conversation. Simply click the new “Summarize this file” button that appears within the respective file preview card in the conversation, and Gemini will summarize the file so you can get a quick overview without having to leave Chat.

Gemini summaries for linked Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides

Who’s impacted End users

Why you’d use it By providing quick, on-demand summaries of files shared in Chat, Gemini helps you save time and get the gist of shared files instantly, eliminating the need to open each document.

Getting started

Admins: To access summaries in home, users need to have smart features and personalization turned on. Admins can turn on default personalization setting for their users in the Admin console.
End users: You can turn this feature ON/OFF by turning Smart features & controls in Google products ON/OFF.

On web, to see summaries of files shared in Chat, click the “Summarize this file” button. Visit the Help Center to learn more about summarizing a file in Chat.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on March 18, 2025, with expected completion by early April 2025

AvailabilityAvailable for Google Workspace:

Business Standard and Plus
Enterprise Standard and Plus
Customers with the Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on

Anyone who previously purchased these add-ons will also receive this feature:

Gemini Business*
Gemini Enterprise*
AI Meetings and Messages*

*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 Workspace Admin Help: Turn on or off Gmail, Chat, and Meet smart features and personalization (Region specific)
Google Help: Collaborate with Gemini in Google Chat
Google Help: Get started with Gemini for Google Workspace

Upcoming changes to how retention policies are applied to 1:1 direct messages in Google Chat

Monday, March 17, 2025

What’s happening Many Google Workspace organizations rely on Google Chat to facilitate communication and collaboration, including with users in the same ___domain, users in other Workspace Domains, and users with personal Google accounts. Currently, each organization in an external 1:1 direct message conversation can set their own retention policy, which impacts what messages end users see in the Chat user interface and what admins see in Google Vault.

To provide a more consistent product experience across conversation types, we are changing how retention policies are applied to 1:1 direct messages with external participants.

Following this change, 1:1 direct messages with external participants will respect the retention policy of the user who created the conversation. If a user in your organization did not create the conversation, they may see more or fewer messages in the Chat user interface after this change since the creator’s policy will be respected. You can see who created the conversation by scrolling to the top of the conversation, or hovering over the external badge.

This change does not impact an admin’s ability to apply a retention policy or ability to access 1:1 direct messages in Google Vault or Data Export for users with a Google Vault policy applied.

If you do not have Vault, or do not have a Vault policy applied, changes in access to conversations will apply to the Chat user interface and Data Export.

Additionally, today, in the case that two users within the same organization have conflicting retention policies, we respect those policies separately for each user in the Chat user interface, and in Google Vault. Once the migration happens, we will respect the longer of the two retention policies for both the Chat user interface and Google Vault. If one user has a custom retention rule while the other has only a default retention rule, the custom rule will take precedence for both users.

If an auto-deletion policy applies to one user in the conversation, that policy will delete messages for both users in the Chat user interface. If both users have an auto deletion policy, the shorter of the two policies will be respected for both users. Even if messages are deleted from the Chat user interface, they will continue to be retained in Google Vault in accordance with the configured retention policy.

Starting May 1, 2025:

All new external 1:1 direct messages will respect the retention policy of the creator.

For users with a Vault policy applied, the creator’s policy will only impact messages in the Chat product user interface.

Starting June 2, 2025:

Existing 1:1 direct messages will migrate to respect the retention policy of the creator.

For users with a Vault policy applied, the creator’s policy will only impact messages in the Chat product user interface.

By August 1, 2025:

We anticipate the migration will be complete.

Until February 1, 2026:

We will preserve impacted 1:1 direct messages in Google Vault or Data Export for 6 months past the end of the migration to allow organizations to download a copy of the data.

Why it matters

It’s important to note that if your organization has a Google Vault policy applied to your users, you will not lose access to any conversations—even if they no longer appear in the Chat product user interface. If your organization does not have Vault or does not have a Vault policy applied, some conversations that were previously available may no longer be available in Data Export or Vault.

Getting started

Admins:

For more information, including answers to common questions about this change, check out our admin guide to message retention changes.
We recommend that you confirm your external chatting settings and ensure you have Vault policies properly configured (if applicable) to preserve data for the desired amount of time. Visit the Help Center to learn more about retaining messages in Google Chat with Vault and using Vault to search Google Chat.
If you’d like to obtain a copy of all conversations not created by your organization, you can perform a Vault or Data Export after August 1, 2025. To reduce the size of the export, you can use the Vault search operator “is:externalmanaged” after August 1, 2025.

End users: Visit the Help Center to learn about message history for conversations with work or school accounts.

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Guide to Chat 1:1 DM retention changes

Google Workspace Admin Help: Integrate Chat with a third-party archiving solution

Google Workspace Admin Help: Export all your organization's data

Google Workspace Admin Help: Control external Chat and spaces chat options

Google Help: Retain messages in Google Chat with Vault

Google Help: Export your data from Google Chat

Google Help: Search for Google Chat messages

Google Workspace Admin Help: Use Vault to search Google Chat

Google Workspace Admin Help: Retain messages in Google Chat with Vault

Google Help: Learn about message history for conversations with work or school accounts

More AI-powered features in Google Meet and Google Chat are coming to Google Workspace Business and Enterprise editions

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

What’s changing Earlier this year, we announced that we’re including the best of Google AI in Workspace Business and Enterprise plans without the need to purchase a separate Gemini add-on. Beginning today, additional AI-powered features are available for Business and Enterprise editions:

For Google Meet:

Generated background images: With Gemini in Meet, you can generate unique and bespoke meeting backgrounds. Meeting backgrounds can help obscure your surroundings during a meeting or they can enhance the meeting itself. Users will also benefit from our latest model upgrade for background generation, as well as additional style options, like a professional office, library, or home office to help refine their custom backgrounds.
Studio look: Gemini in Meet uses machine learning to detect and enhance (if necessary) the quality of your portrait by reducing noise and increasing sharpness, bringing you into focus so you can look your best in meetings.
Studio lighting: Using machine learning, Gemini in Meet will simulate studio-quality lighting and adjust light position and brightness in your video feed, so you're perfectly lit for your meeting. Note: Studio lighting is only available on devices that meet certain browser and processor requirements. Visit the Help Center to learn more about device requirements for studio lighting.
Studio sound: Gemini in Meet will automatically recreate and balance missing or distorted frequencies helping to make your voice come through crisp and clear. This can be especially useful when dialing in via phone or using bluetooth headsets for example.

For Google Chat:

Translate for me: Chat will automatically detect and translate over 120 languages to a user’s preferred language while keeping the original message available for review. Instead of navigating outside of Chat to translate a message, this reduces friction and improves collaboration with colleagues, partners and customers in other parts of the world.

For Google Drawings:

Background image removal: Gemini’s image background removal functionality (also available in Slides and Vids) is now available in Google Drawings.

Getting started

Rollout pace

Custom background images, studio lighting, and studio sound in Google Meet:

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on March 11, 2025

Studio look in Google Meet:

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on March 18, 2025

Translate for me in Google Chat and background image removal in Google Drawings:

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now.

Availability

Available for Google Workspace:

Business Standard and Plus
Enterprise Standard and Plus

These features are already available to Gemini for Workspace add-on customers. Note that as of January 15, 2025, Gemini Business, Gemini Enterprise, AI Meetings & Messaging, and AI Security add-ons are no longer available for purchase. Please refer to this announcement for more details.

Resources

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - February 28, 2025

Friday, February 28, 2025

4 New updatesUnless 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.

Summaries in Google Chat home now available for direct messages and read conversations Last year, we introduced the ability for Gemini in Google Chat to help you catch up on unread conversations in the Chat home view with summaries. In addition to being available for group conversations, spaces, or threads from home, we’re excited to announce summaries in home are now available for:

Direct messages
Read conversations. Prior to today, you could only review summaries for unread conversations. Now, you can review summaries regardless of read state.

Upon navigating to a conversation in home, click the “Summarize” button to see a bulleted synopsis of the message content. This enables you to review recent activity across all active conversations to determine where best to focus your time and attention. | Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard and Enterprise Plus. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about summaries in home.

Adding real-time Markdown styling and code formatting support in Google Chat Users can change the appearance of their Google Chat messages using the format menu or markdown, and today we’re excited to introduce support for real-time markdown styling and code formatting. With this update, markdown will be converted in the compose bar to formatted text as a user types, rather than being converted only once the message is sent. In addition, we’re adding support for code and code block in the compose bar. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. | Available to Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about using markdown formatting in Google Chat.

Markdown formatting as you type in the compose bar

Extending file upload to Gemini app usersWe’re excited to announce that users of the Gemini app can now upload a variety of files from Google Drive or locally from their device into the Gemini app:

Document files: DOC, DOCX, PDF, RTF, DOT, DOTX, HWP, HWPX
Documents created in Google Docs
Plain text files: TXT
Presentation files: PPTX
Presentations created with Google Slides

Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to all Google Workspace users 18+ accessing the Gemini app. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about uploading & analyzing files in Gemini Apps.

Google Vids introduces new looping animations feature We’re introducing a feature that enables users to add looping animations to text, stickers, and other shapes in their videos. Looping animations play continuously between enter and exit animations, allowing users to add extra emphasis or style to callouts, supers, and other elements in their videos, which can help increase viewer engagement. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. | Available to Business Standard and Plus, Enterprise Standard and Plus, Essentials, Enterprise Essentials and Enterprise Essentials Plus and Education Plus. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about Google Vids.

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.

Enhancing video navigation and accessibility with Google Drive video transcripts

Last year, we announced that users can automatically generate captions for any video uploaded to Google Drive, improving the accessibility of videos and saving users the effort of manually creating captions. To build upon this feature and make information discovery, referencing, and productivity with video content much more efficient, we’re excited to introduce video transcripts. | Learn more about video transcripts.

Google Voice now supports call delegation

Admins can assign delegates to handle other users' calls. When assigned, delegates can: 1) Answer calls on the delegator’s behalf, 2) Place calls on the delegator’s behalf, including transferring the call to the delegator once connected , 3) Transfer calls selectively to the delegator and 4) Listen to voicemail messages and view voicemail transcripts. | Learn more about call delegation.

Transferring your personal Google Voice number to a Google Workspace business account just got easier

We're pleased to introduce a significantly improved experience for transferring a personal Google Voice number to a Google Workspace account. | Learn more about transferring your personal number to a Workspace business account.

New Google Drive Inventory Reporting enhancements provide even richer insights into file permissions

We've enhanced Drive Inventory Reporting to include more detailed permission information for files and folders in My Drive. | Learn more about Drive Inventory Reporting.

Expanding SIP Link for Google Voice to new countries

We've launched Voice to new countries by expanding SIP Link availability. | Learn more about SIP Link.

Integrating HubSpot with Google Chat

Many utilize HubSpot, an AI-powered customer platform, to perform marketing, sales, customer service, content management, operations, and commerce tasks. This week, we’re excited to introduce an integration with HubSpot that enables users to see notifications and updates from HubSpot directly in Chat. | Learn more about the HubSpot integration.

Google Vids is expanding its AI voiceovers with new options

Users can now choose from a wider range of AI voices for their videos with the introduction of new options. | Learn more about new AI voiceovers in Vids.

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 Release Domains:

Scheduled Release Domains:

Pin conversations on your Google Group

Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains:

For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).

Integrating HubSpot with Google Chat

Thursday, February 27, 2025

What’s changingMany utilize HubSpot, an AI-powered customer platform, to perform marketing, sales, customer service, content management, operations, and commerce tasks. Today, we’re excited to introduce an integration with HubSpot that enables users to see notifications and updates from HubSpot directly in Chat.
With this integration, users can:

Receive HubSpot notifications in Chat for things like new leads, deal status updates, or changes in contact records.
Improve customer response times by connecting their HubSpot inbox to spaces in Chat.
More efficiently collaborate on support tickets, expedite ticket resolution, and boost customer satisfaction by connecting their help desk workspace to Chat spaces.
Configure and send custom notifications to specific users and Chat spaces through HubSpot workflows, which ensures the right people are informed about any significant event.
Summarize HubSpot records using Breeze Copilot directly from the notifications in Chat.

Who’s impacted

Admins and end users

Why you’d use it This update enhances communication, productivity and efficiency for HubSpot customers that use Chat as their primary collaboration tool.

Getting started

Admins:

Visit the ‘Before you get started’ section of the HubSpot Knowledge base to learn more about connecting HubSpot and Google Chat.
Admins will need to allowlist the HubSpot app if your Marketplace user install setting is set to “Allow users to install and run allowlisted apps from the Marketplace.” Visit the Help Center to learn more about managing the Marketplace app allowlist for your organization.
To enable the HubSpot app for all users in a ___domain, admins can ___domain-install the HubSpot app from the Google Workspace Marketplace.
End users will need a HubSpot account to use this app, and can also search for the app using the plus button menu next to the Chat compose box.

End users: Visit the HubSpot Help Center to connect HubSpot and Google Chat, add the app to any Chat space, set up notifications, and sync Help Desk tickets. Visit the HubSpot for Google Marketplace listing 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

New Chat Usage Analytics Updates for Admins and Developers

Friday, February 21, 2025

What’s changing In December 2024, we introduced new, detailed usage reports for Google Chat. These reports help admins better understand how their teams are using Chat, allowing them to analyze engagement, drive adoption, configure safety features, and more. These reports aggregate data at the group and organization level, to provide relevant insights for Workspace admins while protecting individual privacy.
Starting today, customerUsageReports.get and userUsageReports.get for Google Chat are available via the Admin SDK Reports API for customers to use in their own customized dashboards and reporting tools. This gives admins more ways to analyze Chat usage data.

Please refer to the table below to learn about the metrics available to you:

Category	Variations
# of messages sent by users of the organization	Total number of messages
	Messages sent by conversation type (direct message, group chat, space)
	Messages sent by type (regular, voice, video, huddle)
	Messages sent with or without attachment
	Messages sent to conversations that contain or do not contain external users.
# of spaces owned by organization	Number of active spaces
# of spaces owned by organization	Number of spaces created
# of active users in your organization by level of activity	Number of engaged users (read at least one conversation or sent messages or reactions)
# of active users in your organization by level of activity	Number of communicator users (sent at least one message or reaction)
# of actions by specific users*	Number of messages and reactions sent Number of attachments uploaded Number of spaces created Number of conversations read

Most metrics are available for periods of 1, 7, and 28 days.

*Available for 28 days only

Additional details

We’ve also added four new fields and one additional event available in Chat Audit Logs and surfaced in the Security Investigation Tool. In addition to providing even more context on Chat usage, admins can leverage these additional data points in their own custom reporting.

The fields are:

Conversation ownership indicates whether the conversation, where a specific Chat event occurs, is owned by the organization or by an external entity. These possible values include:

Internally owned: conversation is owned by the admin’s organization
Externally owned: conversation is owned by an external entity

Conversation type indicates the type of conversation where the event occurs:

User-to-user direct message
User-to-app direct message
Group chat
Space

Message type indicates type of the message in Message sent and Message edited events:

Regular message
Voice message
Video message
Huddle

Attachment status indicates whether the message was sent with an attachment (image or file):

Has attachment
No attachment

Additionally, we’ve added a new event, “Conversation Read”. Every time a user opens a conversation and reads one or more unread messages, an event will be logged.

Getting started

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now.

Availability

New Chat usage metrics in Report API are available for all Google Workspace customers.
The security investigation tool is available for Google Workspace

Enterprise Standard and Plus
Education Standard and Plus
Enterprise Essentials Plus
Frontline Standard
And Cloud Identity Premium customers

Resources

Useful Links

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In the Google Cloud Community, connect with Googlers and other Google Workspace admins like yourself. Participate in product discussions, check out the Community Articles, and learn tips and tricks that will make your work and life easier. Be the first to know what's happening with Google Workspace.

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Learn about more Google Workspace launches

On the “What’s new in Google Workspace?” Help Center page, learn about new products and features launching in Google Workspace, including smaller changes that haven’t been announced on the Google Workspace Updates blog.

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Updates

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - May 2, 2025

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - April 25, 2025

Preview summaries in the Google Chat home view now available in three additional languages

Use Gemini in the side panel of Google Chat in additional languages

See summaries of shared Google Docs, Slides, or Sheets files directly in Google Chat

Upcoming changes to how retention policies are applied to 1:1 direct messages in Google Chat

More AI-powered features in Google Meet and Google Chat are coming to Google Workspace Business and Enterprise editions

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - February 28, 2025

Integrating HubSpot with Google Chat

New Chat Usage Analytics Updates for Admins and Developers

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