Google Workspace Changes

In Google Vids, typing an open bracket (‘[’) brings up a menu of steering tags to customize pacing, emotional delivery, and sound effects for AI voiceovers and avatars. Users can also click 'Apply audio tags' to let Vids automatically populate the script with appropriate tags based on content. Admins have no control over this feature; end users can learn more via the Help Center. The feature rolled out to both Rapid and Scheduled Release domains starting July 15, 2026, with full visibility within 1–3 days.

NotebookLM is being renamed to Gemini Notebook to reflect its evolution as a premier research tool that will integrate more deeply across the Google ecosystem. The rename includes an updated logo and will roll out automatically; admins need take no action, and existing links will redirect. End users will see the new name and logo across interfaces over the next several weeks, with mobile users possibly needing to update the app. The rollout begins July 16, 2026 for both Rapid and Scheduled Release domains, impacting all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual subscribers, and personal Google account users with access to NotebookLM.

Google Docs is expanding Gemini's language capabilities to 11 additional languages—Mandarin, Dutch, Malay, Hebrew, Polish, Turkish, Czech, Indonesian, Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian—joining the previously supported set. Alongside this language expansion, the Gemini experience in Docs has been reimagined with a centralized interface for generating, writing, and refining documents. New features include Help me create for drafting from prompts, Help me write for inline edits, Match writing style to keep tone consistent, and Match doc format to mirror source formatting. These enhancements are powered by Workspace Intelligence and are rolling out to Rapid Release domains starting July 15, 2026 (visible within 15 days) and to Scheduled Release domains starting August 1, 2026 (visible within 15 days).

Previously, Google Chat only allowed 1:1 conversations or spaces with external users. This update enables group direct messages that include multiple external collaborators without additional configuration. External users receive an email invitation and must accept to join; group conversations are marked with a visible badge. Admins control access via the External spaces & group direct messages setting. Rollout begins July 15, 2026 for Rapid Release domains (completed by July 17) and July 24, 2026 for Scheduled Release domains (up to 15 days).

The update introduces a redesigned feedback menu that provides In‑Call, Out‑of‑Call, and Livestream‑specific problem reporting options, making it easier for room participants to submit actionable feedback. In the Admin console, two new columns—Last feedback submitted and Feedback in the last 28 days—are added, along with a new “With feedback in last 7 days” filter, giving admins enhanced visibility and sorting capabilities. Feedback sharing must be enabled in GMH Settings. The feature rolls out gradually over up to 15 days starting July 14, 2026 for both Rapid and Scheduled Release domains.

Users can now edit and revise their email drafts in Gmail via the prompt bar using custom refine instructions in Help me write, moving beyond the previous preset options like Polish, Formalize, and Shorten. They can provide precise follow‑up prompts in their own words and undo or redo any edits. The feature is rolling out now for both Rapid and Scheduled Release domains, with completion expected by July 20, 2026, and is available across Business, Enterprise, Consumer, Education and other editions.

Google Credential Provider for Windows (GCPW) has been updated to allow administrators to enforce 2‑Step Verification using FIDO2‑compliant hardware security keys at the Windows login screen. Users can also use passkeys from nearby Bluetooth‑connected mobile devices as a second factor. The update is rolling out gradually to Rapid and Scheduled Release domains, starting July 13, 2026, and is available to all Google Workspace customers.

The new inbound SCIM support enables Google Workspace to act as a SCIM Service Provider, allowing identity providers, HR systems, or custom apps to automatically provision, update, and deactivate users and groups in real time. This eliminates manual account management, ensures day-one productivity for new hires, provides instant deprovisioning for departing employees to enhance security, and simplifies admin tasks with one-click token generation and controls to lock synced groups from external sources.

Google Vids, which already turns Slides content into videos with AI‑generated scripts, voiceovers, background music, and animations in English, expands language support to seven additional languages. The feature is available across Business, Enterprise, Education, Consumer, and select other editions, with no admin or end‑user settings required. Rollout began in Rapid Release domains on June 30, 2026 (gradual over up to 15 days) and will start in Scheduled Release domains on July 20, 2026 (full rollout over 1–3 days).

Google has expanded the availability of 'Fill with Gemini' and the AI function in Google Sheets to 11 new languages, including Mandarin, Dutch, Malay, Hebrew, Polish, Turkish, Czech, Indonesian, Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian. This AI-powered feature simplifies data preparation by allowing users to generate text, summarize information, categorize data, and analyze sentiment without needing complex formulas.

Occupancy counting is now available for Android-based Neat room hardware, bringing the same capabilities found on ChromeOS devices to help organizations measure meeting room usage. Admins can review occupancy data in the Google Admin console and optionally download it as a spreadsheet; the feature processes data locally on the device, does not collect PII, and may keep the camera LED off during counting depending on hardware. Rollout for both Rapid and Scheduled Release domains began on July 6, 2026 with an extended rollout potentially longer than 15 days.

Google Calendar now prevents users from changing the visibility of a single event within a recurring series; any visibility change affects all events in the series. Additionally, existing events in a recurring series are updated to match the strictest visibility setting among the series (e.g., if one event is private, all become private).

Google Calendar adds a new sharing permission level named 'Make changes (see private events as free/busy)'. Delegates with this permission can create, delete, and edit non-private events, but private events appear only as 'busy' blocks and cannot be edited or rescheduled. Private events are also hidden from search results for delegates, providing leaders a way to assign calendar management support without exposing private details.

Google Meet hardware users can now join video conferences on any SIP-compatible platform using a Pexip interop gateway. This functionality, available for both Android and ChromeOS-based hardware, includes DTMF (Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency) capabilities to allow users to navigate interactive voice response (IVR) systems and enter numeric meeting passcodes. Administrators have distinct settings to manage SIP dial-out functionality separately from other Pexip-based integrations.