Google Workspace Changes

Gemini in Google Docs enables users to generate rich visuals such as infographics and diagrams from document context, refine existing graphics with natural language prompts (e.g., change aspect ratio or style), and create or edit multiple visuals at once. The feature is accessible via the bottom bar or Gemini side panel, is web‑only, and rolls out gradually over up to 15 days starting July 28, 2026 for both Rapid and Scheduled Release domains.

Starting in the coming weeks, Google Meet will roll out visual screenshots that automatically capture slides, diagrams, and charts during meetings and embed them into the meeting notes document created by the 'Take notes for me' feature. Administrators can pre‑configure whether screenshots are allowed always or only when a meeting recording is enabled, and presenters receive on‑screen notifications when capture begins. End users can manage or disable the capture from the Meet notes panel, and all captured screenshots are protected by Google Workspace enterprise‑grade data protections. Admin console settings are available now for both Rapid and Scheduled Release domains, while the end‑user feature will begin a gradual rollout (up to 15 days for visibility) in Q3 2026.

When viewing a guest list in Google Calendar on the web, users will see a new icon beside leaders that have a calendar delegate assisting with scheduling. Hovering over the icon reveals the delegate’s information and allows users to start a chat directly. The icon appears in event details view, full-screen creation, and side-by-side scheduling view, helping users quickly identify and contact the appropriate scheduling support.

After a meeting, Google Meet uploads notes, transcripts, and recordings to a new 'Google Meet' folder in the host's My Drive, organizing them into meeting-specific subfolders (recurring meetings share a folder). Attendees with access see shortcuts to these files in their own 'Google Meet' folder. Previously, these files were only uploaded to the host's Drive and were not organized. Existing 'Meet Recordings' folders will be moved and renamed to 'Legacy Meet Recordings' during the transition. The feature rolls out to Rapid Release domains starting July 22, 2026 (full visibility within 1–3 days) and to Scheduled Release domains starting July 30, 2026 (full visibility within 1–3 days), and is available to all Google Workspace customers.

Google Workspace is updating the name of the Gemini Alpha program to 'Gemini Beta' to better reflect the scale and quality of features in this launch stage. This is solely a branding change; admin controls, data privacy, pricing, and Terms of Service remain unchanged. The update rolls out gradually over up to 15 days starting July 22, 2026 for both Rapid and Scheduled Release domains.

The new Google Meet homepage on the web provides a single view of upcoming meeting descriptions and calendar attachments, as well as quick access to past meeting notes, recordings, and transcripts. It also adds week and month navigators to browse schedules. The feature rolls out to Rapid Release domains starting July 21, 2026 (visible within 15 days) and to Scheduled Release domains starting August 17, 2026 (also visible within 15 days), with no admin controls required.

The updated Google Classroom homepage becomes a dynamic, centralized hub that surfaces role‑specific content: teachers receive a dashboard with actionable insights, student work tracking, and a feature spotlight; students see an ‘Enrolled’ view highlighting upcoming due work; administrators gain access to performance analytics, admin shortcuts, and relevant tools. All modules are collapsible, users can switch between role views, and the redesign rolls out globally starting July 27, 2026 for both Rapid and Scheduled Release domains, available to all Google Workspace editions, Workspace Individual subscribers, and personal Google accounts.

Google Sheets now offers enhanced support for combo charts, providing a more seamless experience when creating multi-series visualizations. Users can create new “Combo” chart types, including Clustered Column - Line, Clustered Column - Line on Secondary Axis, and Custom Combo, enabling complex dataset visualization with different scales and metrics without manual re-plotting. Additionally, Sheets combo chart support includes improved Microsoft Excel import compatibility, ensuring that secondary axis configurations and combo chart types are preserved during file import.

Users can generate higher quality AI video clips with improved text rendering, physics, and realism using Gemini Omni within Google Vids. Additionally, they can edit any existing video by typing natural language instructions—such as adjusting color grading, restyling visuals in anime style, or removing unwanted background elements—directly in Vids. The feature rolls out gradually to Rapid Release domains starting July 16, 2026 and to Scheduled Release domains starting August 5, 2026, with availability across various Business, Enterprise, Education, and Consumer editions.

Google Vids introduces Gemini Omni integration, allowing users to create a personal avatar through a secure verification process in their Google Account and use it as a character in AI-generated video clips. Admins can manage or disable the feature via the Admin console. The feature rolls out to Rapid Release domains starting July 16, 2026 (visible within up to 15 days) and to Scheduled Release domains starting August 5, 2026 (visible within up to 15 days). Availability includes Business, Enterprise, Education Plus, Consumer Google AI Pro/Ultra, and select add-ons.

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 Meet end users will gain a new setting to turn on AI note-taking exclusively for meetings that have three or more guests. The feature will become available no sooner than September 21, 2026, with a gradual rollout over up to 15 days for visibility, completing around October 6, 2026. Admins’ default settings will apply until users override after the rollout.

Google Meet admins can now choose a third option for AI note-taking: enable automatic note-taking only for meetings with three or more people, in addition to enabling/disabling for all meetings. This setting rolls out now for Rapid and Scheduled Release domains, completing by August 3, 2026, with default ON for Business Standard/Plus and OFF for Enterprise/Frontline/Education add-ons.