Google Workspace Changes

Skills begin rolling out in Workspace on October 5, 2026 for Rapid Release domains (completing October 12) and October 19, 2026 for Scheduled Release domains (completing by mid‑November). Skills work inline in chat threads, can be stacked, and are based on the SKILL.md standard. They will eventually replace Gems, with admins encouraged to prepare users using the provided migration guides.

Starting October 13, 2026, skills will roll out to Gemini app users on both Rapid and Scheduled Release domains, with completion expected by mid‑November. Skills let you layer multiple custom instructions in a single prompt, are built on the open SKILL.md standard, and will replace Gems as the primary way to tailor Gemini for specific tasks. Users can continue using existing Gems until they are auto‑migrated to draft skills, with manual recreation also an option.

The underlying text-to-speech engine powering AI voiceovers and avatar narration in Google Vids has been upgraded to the Gemini 3.8 Flash Lite TTS model, delivering superior naturalness and inflection with improved sentence flow, lifelike pacing, and context-aware emphasis, plus faster generation latency for real-time script iteration. The update is available now for both Rapid and Scheduled Release domains across Business, Enterprise, Education, Consumer, and other editions.

Users can configure a primary, secondary, and new tertiary time zone, each with custom labels, and view them side‑by‑side in the main calendar grid (Day, Week, Custom multi‑day views) and in the Find a Time view when scheduling events. The feature reduces scheduling friction for global teams and eliminates manual time conversions. Admins have no controls; end users can learn more in the Help Center. Rollout begins September 25, 2026 for Rapid Release domains (gradual over up to 15 days) and October 12, 2026 for Scheduled Release domains (full rollout within 1–3 days).

Eligible Google Workspace customers can now import PowerPoint (.pptx) files as client-side encrypted (CSE) Slides, enabling secure interoperability with Microsoft Office. The files are encrypted on the client before import and converted to high-fidelity encrypted Slides, accessible via the CSE Office Interop beta program. Admins can sign up for the beta, and once accepted, the feature is turned on for users in their domains, with rollout beginning immediately on both Rapid and Scheduled release tracks.

Starting September 23, 2026, Google Vids users can access Gemini Omni 1.1 Flash directly within the app. This update brings higher-quality video extension with better character and audio consistency, the ability to generate AI video scenes in full 1080p HD or upscale existing AI clips, and precise duration control to set exact clip lengths. The feature rolls out to both Rapid and Scheduled Release domains, with full visibility expected within 1–3 days. It is available across Business, Enterprise, Education, Consumer, and other Google Workspace editions, with expanded limits for AI Expanded Access add-on holders.

Google Workspace admins can now import past emails from any IMAP-based email provider (e.g., Hostinger, Zoho, Yahoo!, iCloud) in just a few clicks while setting up Google Workspace. The feature reduces migration effort, consolidates emails into a secure location, runs in the background after domain verification and email activation, and is available for both Rapid and Scheduled Release domains starting immediately.

Occupancy counting is now available for Android-based Logitech Gen 2 room hardware, beginning with the Rally Board 65, bringing the same capabilities previously offered on ChromeOS devices to Android hardware. Administrators can enable the feature at the domain, OU, or group level in the Google Admin console, view occupancy data, and optionally export it as a spreadsheet. The feature processes data locally on the device, does not collect personally identifiable information, and may keep the camera LED off during counting depending on hardware. Rollout for both Rapid and Scheduled Release domains begins September 28, 2026, with an extended rollout potentially exceeding 15 days; support for earlier Gen 1 devices will arrive later via a CollabOS update.

Starting September 23, 2026, users can reference their Gemini Notebook research directly in Google Docs by typing '@' in the side panel or bottom bar. Gemini will ground its output in the selected Notebook sources and add inline citations, facilitating fact‑checking while drafting. The feature is available by default for admins with Gemini for Workspace in Drive enabled and for end users with Workspace smart features turned on. It rolls out immediately to both Rapid and Scheduled Release domains for Business Standard/Plus, Enterprise Standard/Plus, Education Plus, Google AI Pro/Ultra consumers, and specified Education and AI add‑ons.

Admins can assign administrator roles to users, groups, or service accounts for a defined period of time; once the expiration time is reached, the access granted by the role is automatically revoked. This helps minimize security risks by reducing standing privileges and ambient access, and streamlines administrative overhead by removing the need to manually track and revoke temporary privileges for short-term projects, coverage during employee absences, or external audits. Super admins can choose from predefined durations (such as 30 days) or set a custom expiration date and time. Temporary roles cannot be assigned to the primary admin for the organization. The feature is available now for all Google Workspace customers via both Rapid and Scheduled release tracks.

Google Sheets now lets users manually reorder and custom sort pivot tables directly on the grid. Users can drag and drop individual row or column headers, select multiple items for simultaneous reordering, and have nested child items move with their parents to maintain hierarchy. Custom sort arrangements persist across browser sessions, data refreshes, filtering, and layout changes. The update also enhances Microsoft Excel file compatibility: imported Excel workbooks retain their custom pivot table sort order, and exported sheets preserve that order for seamless round‑trip use.

The update introduces a third admin option that enables automatic note‑taking for meetings with three or more people, with default ON for Business Standard and Plus and OFF for Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Frontline Plus, and Google AI Pro for Education. End users gain a matching setting to enable note‑taking only for meetings they host with 3+ guests. Both settings take effect September 29, 2026, with an extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days) for Rapid and Scheduled Release domains.

Quick notes provides a concise, single‑page overview of meeting takeaways, highlighting the most important action items, outcomes, and talking points for fast consumption. It becomes the default tab in the Take notes for me Doc and the default summary in related emails, while a Full notes tab retains the detailed record for those who need deeper insight. No admin or end‑user settings are required; the feature rolls out immediately to Rapid and Scheduled Release domains for Business Standard/Plus, Enterprise Standard/Plus, Frontline Plus, Education Add‑ons (Google AI Pro for Education), and Consumer (Google AI Pro and Ultra).

Study notebooks in Gemini provide a dedicated, interactive learning space that turns Gemini into an adaptive platform. Users can create a notebook from the left sidebar, specify their study topic, upload class materials, request progress‑check quizzes to identify knowledge gaps, follow bite‑sized lessons with inline practice quizzes, and track mastery via a dynamic dashboard that categorizes topics into strengths and focus areas. The feature is available to Google Workspace and Workspace Individual customers outside the EEA (with EEA rollout coming soon) when the Gemini app and Gemini Notebook are enabled by admins, who can control access via groups or OUs. Rollout began on September 17, 2026 for Rapid Release domains, reaching full visibility within up to 15 days.