Google Workspace Changes

Google Sheets now fully supports the import of 3D bar charts, including those imported from Microsoft Excel. Previously, 3D bar charts were converted to 2D bar charts upon import; this update ensures a more seamless experience by preserving the 3D format.

Users can now generate full, multi-slide presentations using Gemini in Google Slides. This feature allows users to ground presentations in existing Google Drive content, match the style of a reference deck, and refine the presentation outline before the slides are created. The resulting slides are fully editable, and Gemini provides suggestions for relevant files, emails, and chats to enrich the content.

The Gmail app for iOS and Android now allows delegates to read, manage, and compose emails on behalf of a delegator directly from their mobile devices. This update enables delegates to switch between their own and delegated inboxes, view unread message counts, use the 'All inboxes' view to see intermingled emails, and send messages that include 'sent by' information, removing the previous requirement to use the web interface.

Google has expanded the 'Ask Gemini in Drive' feature to Android and iOS apps, providing a dedicated workspace for high-context, multi-turn conversations to explore content across Drive, other Workspace apps, and the web. The update includes dedicated conversations for specific files and folders, persistent conversation history, and maintains existing security and data protection controls.

Google is updating the 'Limit video bandwidth' setting in the Admin console to better manage data usage and call quality. The setting, which previously only limited uplink bandwidth, now also limits downlink bandwidth. Additionally, Google is increasing uplink bandwidth usage specifically for two-person calls to improve overall video quality in those scenarios.

The Gemini app now adheres to organization data regionalization requirements, allowing administrators to configure controls for EU and US storage and processing. These settings can be applied at the organizational unit (OU) level, helping customers meet internal, legal, regulatory, and data sovereignty requirements by controlling the geographical location of their data at rest.

Educators and students can now seamlessly attach Gemini Canvas artifacts, such as websites, quizzes, interactive games, and infographics, directly to Google Classroom assignments and posts. By using the 'Share to Classroom' button within Gemini Canvas, users can enrich their coursework and communication by embedding interactive materials directly into their workflows, removing the need to export or link external files.

Google Workspace is providing admins with more granular control over mobile device management by allowing privileges to be delegated for specific organizational units (OUs). This feature, which was previously in beta, is now generally available and includes enhancements to the device display to help admins manage their devices more efficiently.

Google Workspace administrators can now utilize incremental exports to back up organizational data for Gmail, Drive, and Chat into their own Google Cloud Storage (GCS) buckets. This feature allows for periodic full backups (quarterly, semi-annually, or annually) and frequent incremental backups, reducing storage costs and completion times while mitigating data loss risks. The feature is available for Enterprise Plus customers with Assured Controls and Assured Controls Plus.

Read Along in Google Classroom, an AI-powered literacy tool, is now available at no cost to all Google Workspace for Education users. The tool helps students improve speaking, listening, and decoding skills through real-time pronunciation feedback, word-breakdown support, and an extensive library of books in eight languages. Educators can create interactive reading activities, utilize Gemini to generate differentiated stories, and monitor student progress via an insights dashboard. Advanced analytics and BigQuery data extraction are available for Education Plus and Teaching & Learning add-on users.

Google Groups is implementing stricter 'internal' and 'external' classifications, featuring clearer visual indicators for external members and changes to how emails are displayed. Admins gain more granular control over who can add external users. To prevent synchronization issues, group settings will now automatically update to allow external members when they are added via the Cloud Identity API, Admin SDK Directory API, or third-party identity providers.

Teachers can now use Gemini's Canvas tool through three new starter prompts to create presentations, interactive activities, or convert existing files into Google Slides, tailored to specific concepts and grade levels.

Powered by the Nano Banana 2 image generation model, Google Classroom now includes starter prompts that help teachers create visual aids to illustrate complex topics, including infographics, comic strips, and conceptual visualizations.

The Gemini tab in Google Classroom is now accessible via Android and iOS apps, allowing teachers and higher education students to use AI features on the go. Teachers can generate quizzes, brainstorm project ideas, craft hooks, and tackle misconceptions, while students have access to starter prompts and personal class notebooks.