Google Workspace Updates: October 2024

Context Aware Access insights and recommendations are now generally available

Thursday, October 31, 2024

What’s changingWe’re making it easier to apply

Who’s impactedAdmins
Why it’s importantUsing Context-Aware Access, admins can set up different access levels based on a user’s identity and the context of the request (location, device security status, IP address). This can help provide granular access controls without the need for a VPN, and give users access to Google Workspace resources based on organizational policies. Insights and recommendations help admins improve the cybersecurity posture of their organization by proactively identifying areas that need attention, significantly reducing the need for admins to identify these risks themselves. For example, if we detect devices with outdated operating system versions accessing corporate Workspace data, we can surface this as an Insight & pair it with a recommendation to block such devices from accessing Workspace data with a few clicks.

Getting started

Admins: Visit the Help Center to learn more about protecting your business with Google Workspace Admin Help: Protect your business with Context-Aware Access

New density setting in Google Chat

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

What’s changing To give users more control over how they see information in Google Chat, we’re introducing a new setting that allows you to control the visual density of screen elements. Choose between “Comfortable” or “Compact” on
Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users:

To modify density settings, go to chat.google.com > Settings > Density > Compact. Users can revert this to the default at any time by going to chat.google.com > Settings > Density > Comfortable.
Those who use Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on December 2, 2024

Availability

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

Resources

Google Help: Use Compact mode in Google Chat

Google Classroom now supports exporting missing and excused grades to select Student Information Systems (SIS)

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

What’s changingLast year, we introduced the ability for teachers to mark an assignment for a particular student as “classroom.google.com > select the class > “Grades” > “SIS export.” Visit the Help Center to learn more about Google Help: Connect Classroom to your Student Information System (SIS)

Google Help: Get started with Student Information System (SIS) roster import

Refine emails faster with updates to the “Polish” shortcut in Gmail

Monday, October 28, 2024

What’s changing

Admins: This feature will be ON by default and there is no admin control for this feature. Visit the Help Center to learn more about Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now.

Availability Available for Google Workspace customers with:

Gemini Business and Enterprise add-on
Gemini Education and Education Premium add-on
Google One AI Premium

Resources

Google Help: Draft emails with Gemini in Gmail

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - October 25, 2024

Friday, October 25, 2024

New updates There are no new updates to share this week. Please see below for a recap of published announcements.

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.

Preview summaries of unread conversations in the Google Chat home view with the help of Gemini

Gemini in Google Chat can now help you catch up on unread conversations in the Chat home view with summaries. | Learn more about the video player in Drive.

Introducing a new look and feel for Google Calendar on the web

This week, you’ll notice a refreshed user interface in Google Calendar that is in line with Google Material Design 3 and includes: 1) Controls (like buttons, dialogs, and sidebars) that are more modern and accessible, 2) Interface typography that uses Google’s custom-designed and highly-legible typefaces, and 3) Iconography that is legible and crisp, with a fresh feel. | Learn more about the Rapid Release domains, Scheduled Release domains, or both. Please refer to the original blog posts for additional details.

Rapid Release Domains:

Use Gemini in Google Sheets to generate structured tables

Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains:

The Gemini app is now a core service with enterprise-grade data protection for more Google Workspace editions

Friday, October 25, 2024

What’s changingAs we recently More information on how we’re protecting your Google Workspace data in the era of generative AI can be found here.

Note: For Education customers, Google Workspace extensions in Gemini, which are currently available in open beta for users 18 and older. Once enabled by an admin, extensions allow Gemini to cross reference various Google Workspace apps, like New core services coming to Google Workspace for the default service setting.

For new Workspace for Education customers: Access to the Gemini app will be OFF by default for Primary and Secondary (K12) customers, and ON by default for Higher Education customers.

Visit the Help Center to learn more about Google Workspace Admin Help: Turn the Gemini app on or off for users

Workspace Blog: Google Workspace extends Gemini benefits to millions of customers

Audit security settings using the Policy API, now available in open beta

Thursday, October 24, 2024

What’s changingSimplifying the management of Workspace settings continues to be a priority for us. To that end, we’re introducing new tools to help streamline the process for admins. Launching to open beta today, we’re pleased to introduce the Google Workspace secure configuration baselines. Customers who wish to evaluate their Workspace policies against these baselines can start testing using the Policy API. In future releases, we plan to expand support for additional policies described in CISA’s Workspace baselines.

Getting started

Admins: You must be a super admin to use the Policy API. Use our Developer Documentation to learn more about the Policy API Documentation

Introducing a new look and feel for Google Calendar on the web

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

What’s changingStarting today, you’ll notice a refreshed user interface in Google Calendar that is in line with Google Material Design 3 and includes:

Controls (like buttons, dialogs, and sidebars) that are more modern and accessible
Interface typography that uses Google’s custom-designed and highly-legible typefaces
Iconography that is legible and crisp, with a fresh feel

We’re also introducing the ability to toggle between light mode, dark mode or device default theme options. This will provide you with a more comfortable, customizable viewing experience and can also reduce battery usage.

Calendar on web in dark mode

Additional detailsThese updates are applicable across the entire calendar web experience, including the Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 23, 2024

Google Help: Change your Calendar setting

A smoother, more modern video player in Google Drive

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

What’s changing Starting today, you'll notice a new look and feel, and enhanced functionality for the video player within Google Drive that makes it easier and more enjoyable to watch your videos. More specifically, this update includes:

Rollout pace

Google Help: Store & play video in Google Drive

Improved comments experience in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides on Android tablets

Monday, October 21, 2024

What’s changing

Comment experience in Docs

Comment experience in Slides

Getting started

Availability

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

Resources

Google Help: Use comments, action items, & emoji reactions

Expanding Google Workspace extensions available in open beta for the Gemini app

Monday, October 21, 2024

What’s changingEarlier this year, we launched Learn more about Context-Aware Access.Google Workspace extensions is not available to Google Workspace users accessing Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 21, 2024
AvailabilityAvailable for Google Workspace customers with these add-ons:

Gemini Business
Gemini Enterprise
Gemini Education
Gemini Education Premium

Resources

Google Help: Use extensions in Gemini with a work or school Google Account

Preview summaries of unread conversations in the Google Chat home view with the help of Gemini

Monday, October 21, 2024

What’s changing We’re excited to announce Gemini in Google Chat can now help you catch up on unread conversations in the Chat 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.
Smart features & controls in Google products ON/OFF.

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - October 18, 2024

Friday, October 18, 2024

1 New updateUnless 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 Scheduled Release domains planned for October 24, 2024. | Available to all Google Workspace customers. | Admins can

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.

Import data from Meta Workplace to Google Chat using CloudFuze
Earlier this year, we introduced a new migration solution from Google Workspace partner CloudFuze that enables customers to import data from Slack into Google Chat. This week, we announced an additional solution from CloudFuze that enables companies using Workplace for Meta to migrate their data to Google Chat. | Learn more about additional languages.

Completed rollouts
The features below completed their rollouts to Comments and action items are now available for client-side encrypted Google Sheets and Slides
Introducing new summary cards for purchase information in the Gmail mobile app (Android)
Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains:
Import data from Meta Workplace to Google Chat using CloudFuze
What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).

Available in alpha: use Gemini in the side panel of Workspace apps in seven additional languages

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

What’s changingYou can now use Gemini in the side panel of Google Docs, Google Sheets, Gmail, and Google Drive in seven additional languages:

German

Italian

Japanese

Korean

Portuguese

Spanish

French

The additional languages are available in alpha for Workspace customers with a Gemini Business, Gemini Enterprise, Gemini Education, and Gemini Education Premium add-on. Admins can use our Help Center to learn more about turning access to Gemini for Google Workspace Alpha on or off. End users: If your admin has enabled access to alpha features, you can now use the Gemini side panel in Docs, and Google Workspace Admin Help: Turn access to Gemini for Google Workspace Alpha on or offGoogle Help: Collaborate with Gemini in Google DocsGoogle Help: Collaborate with Gemini in Gmail

Google Drive inventory reporting is now generally available

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

What’s changing Earlier this year, we launched Google Drive inventory reporting in beta — beginning today, this feature is generally available. Compared to APIs, exporting inventory reports to BigQuery empowers admins to understand their data more deeply, providing insights into how their data is classified, accessed, and used. Understanding these metrics can help admins to identify security risks, ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, and more. For more information, please reference our

Getting started

Admins: Visit the Help Center to learn more about Google Workspace Updates Blog: Google Drive inventory reporting is now available in open beta

Now generally available: Migrate users’ emails from Google Workspace, Gmail and other IMAP enabled mail servers

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

What’s changing In March 2024, we launched an open beta for the ability to migrate your users’ email data from Google Workspace, Gmail, or IMAP enabled mail servers to another Google Workspace account. This includes the ability to run delta migrations, to smartly bring over newly generated or modified emails from the source without duplicating previously migrated content.
Beginning today, this data migration experience is now generally available, helping admins migrate email data in a more secure, reliable, and efficient manner.
Super Admins: Visit The Help Center to learn more about the migrate email from a Gmail account, and directly in the Admin console at admin.google.com/ac/dms

End users: There is no end user action required.

Rollout pace

Import data from Meta Workplace to Google Chat using CloudFuze

Monday, October 14, 2024

What’s changing Import data from Meta Workplace to Google Chat using CloudFuze

Google Workspace Admin Help: Import message data to Google Chat from another service

Developer Documentation: Import data to Google Chat Google

Workspace Updates Blog: Import data from other messaging platforms using the Google Chat API is now generally available

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - October 11, 2024

Friday, October 11, 2024

1 New updateUnless 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 Release and Scheduled Release domains starting on October 17, 2024. | Available to all Google Workspace customers. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about tabs in Docs.

New and improved widgets for Google Chat app cards
This week, we introduced new and improved widgets for Chat app cards. | Learn more about Chat transcriptions.

Automate meeting recording, transcripts and notes for your Google Meet meetings
Admins now have the option to configure meeting recordings, meeting transcripts, and “take notes for me” as on by default for newly created meetings. Meeting hosts and co-hosts can edit these settings in the Calendar invite, as well as turn these artifacts off during the meeting. | Learn more about migrating files from OneDrive to Google Drive.

Improve Google Meet livestreaming experience with more insight on eCDN performance
We’re enhancements that will give admins greater insight to better optimize their eCDN configuration. | Learn more about Use Gemini in Google Sheets to generate structured tables
Additional improvements to tables in Google Sheets
Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains:
Improved spelling suggestions for Germanic languages in Google Docs
For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).

Updates

Context Aware Access insights and recommendations are now generally available

New density setting in Google Chat

Google Classroom now supports exporting missing and excused grades to select Student Information Systems (SIS)

Refine emails faster with updates to the “Polish” shortcut in Gmail

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - October 25, 2024

The Gemini app is now a core service with enterprise-grade data protection for more Google Workspace editions

Audit security settings using the Policy API, now available in open beta

Introducing a new look and feel for Google Calendar on the web

A smoother, more modern video player in Google Drive

Improved comments experience in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides on Android tablets

Expanding Google Workspace extensions available in open beta for the Gemini app

Preview summaries of unread conversations in the Google Chat home view with the help of Gemini

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - October 18, 2024

Available in alpha: use Gemini in the side panel of Workspace apps in seven additional languages

Google Drive inventory reporting is now generally available

Now generally available: Migrate users’ emails from Google Workspace, Gmail and other IMAP enabled mail servers

Import data from Meta Workplace to Google Chat using CloudFuze

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - October 11, 2024

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