Google Workspace Changes

Introduction of Data Tables in NotebookLM to organize and analyze information from sources in a structured format.

NotebookLM is introducing Data Tables, a new feature designed to help users organize and analyze information from their sources in a structured format. This feature synthesizes raw information from various sources into clean, structured tables, which can then be exported to Google Sheets. Examples of its use include creating study tables for exams, organizing meeting transcripts into action items, building competitor comparison tables, streamlining curriculum mapping, and synthesizing clinical trial outcomes.

Expanded Workspace audit logging datasets and in-depth filtering are now available via Admin SDK (Reports API).

To support more granular incident investigations, Google is expanding the Workspace audit logging datasets available on the Admin SDK (Reports API) to include additional datasets such as Admin data action logs, Contacts logs, Assignments logs, Directory Sync logs, Profile logs, Graduation logs, LDAP logs, Meet hardware logs, Takeout logs, Tasks logs, Cloud search logs, Access evaluation logs, and Data migration logs. Additionally, the Reports API now supports in-depth filtering on resource details, allowing users to filter by labels and resources from their audit logs for fetching more granular information. These granular audit logs are crucial for organizations to investigate cybersecurity incidents and understand their data usage, with these changes significantly expanding the depth of analysis possible.

Image generation in the Gemini app is now available for Google Workspace users of all ages.

Google is expanding image generation capabilities, powered by Nano Banana, within the Gemini app to include Google Workspace users across all age groups. This update aims to provide a powerful creative tool for younger users, enabling them to visualize ideas and enhance their projects. Examples include students using Gemini to generate images for biology presentations or historical projects. This expansion ensures a more consistent creative experience for all Workspace users.

Image generation in the Gemini app is now available to Google Workspace for Education users of all ages.

Google is expanding image generation capabilities in the Gemini app to Google Workspace for Education users of all ages, allowing younger students to visualize ideas for their projects. To ensure safety, Gemini includes specific guardrails and content filters for users under 18 to prevent the generation of inappropriate or unsafe content. While users under 18 can refine images using follow-up prompts, they are restricted from editing images directly or using uploaded images for generation. Administrators can control access to this feature by managing the Gemini app service settings in the Admin console.

Google Workspace enhances the audit log API with additional datasets and granular filtering.

Google is expanding the Workspace audit logging datasets available on the Admin SDK (Reports API) to include several new logs, including Admin data action, Contacts, Assignments, Directory Sync, Profile, Graduation, LDAP, Meet hardware, Takeout, Tasks, Cloud search, Access evaluation, and Data migration logs. Additionally, the Reports API now supports in-depth filtering on resource details, allowing administrators to filter by labels and resources for more granular log fetching to aid in cybersecurity investigations.

Introducing Gemini 3 Flash, our latest model with frontier intelligence built for speed, now available in the Gemini app.

Gemini 3 Flash, built on Gemini 3, is designed for rapid answers and efficient handling of daily tasks. It offers next-generation intelligence at high speeds, ideal for tasks like search, summarization, document analysis, and data extraction. This model also provides advanced multimodal understanding, allowing users to ask questions across various formats including images, audio, video, and text.

Google Vids avatars now powered by Veo 3.1 for more realistic and faster creation.

Google Vids avatars are now powered by Veo 3.1, Google’s state-of-the-art video generation model. This upgrade provides heightened expression, smoother lip-syncing, and steadier framing, resulting in a professional look. Avatars are also faster to create at no additional cost, improving viewer watch time and engagement. Use cases include training videos, internal announcements, and custom support walkthroughs.

Introducing the new Feeds app for Google Chat to bring real-time external updates from Atom or RSS feeds directly into group conversations and spaces.

The new Feeds app for Google Chat allows teams to integrate real-time external updates, such as news, blog posts, and industry research from any Atom or RSS feed, directly into their Google Chat group conversations and spaces. This eliminates the need for context switching as new posts from subscribed feeds are automatically sent to a designated Chat space, keeping all team members informed within their ongoing project discussions. Key features include automatic content delivery, the ability to add and manage multiple subscriptions per-space, with management restricted to the user who created the subscription.

Accelerate validation of Google Meet eCDN configuration at scale with Silent Test Mode.

Google Meet introduces Silent Test Mode, a new feature allowing administrators to perform large-scale eCDN (Enterprise Content Delivery Network) tests. This mode enables validation of eCDN configurations across an entire network with real user profiles and devices in a full simulation, minimizing the risk of impacting the viewer experience. During the test, live stream clients collect real-world data and statistics on eCDN performance while users stream media directly from Google's servers, ensuring no disruption. Admins can also schedule workload scripts to run in the background for iterative testing without requiring live streams.

Google Chat is moving to a new web address, chat.google.com, for a faster and more reliable experience.

Google Chat is transitioning to a new web address, chat.google.com, from its previous location at mail.google.com/chat. This change aims to provide a faster and more reliable web experience without altering the user interface. Existing bookmarks and links will continue to function. Admins and developers should ensure extensions are compatible with the new address, and update URL blocklists or website-specific policies to include chat.google.com. Users may need to update Chrome extensions for Chat to ensure proper functionality. Blocking chat.google.com will break the ability to use Chat within Gmail and Google Meet.

Gmail data classification labels now allow admins to add custom header or footer messages to emails for data loss prevention (DLP).

Google has expanded Gmail's data classification functionality, enabling administrators to create Data Loss Prevention (DLP) rules that automatically add customizable header or footer messages to email messages. Footer messages are particularly significant as they are visible to external recipients, ensuring they are aware of the message's sensitivity and any specific handling requirements. These DLP rules are applied to outbound emails based on configured scope and conditions. Headers and footers are visible across all device types, both within and outside the domain. While classification labels are only visible to internal domain recipients, the new header/footer messages provide a broader communication mechanism for data sensitivity.

Extending multi-party approvals (MPA) to Google Vault for sensitive actions like creating exports.

Google is extending multi-party approvals (MPA) to Google Vault to enhance security for sensitive actions. This feature requires a separate, authorized administrator to review and approve certain actions, such as creating exports, before they are executed. This helps prevent unauthorized or accidental changes, significantly reducing the risk of data exfiltration or unapproved data deletions.

Google Meet introduces automated compliance recording and transcripts for regulated users to meet strict regulatory archiving requirements.

Google Meet Compliance Recording is a new feature for administrators to automatically record meetings and capture transcripts for specific users or groups requiring regulatory monitoring. This helps financial firms comply with communication retention and supervision rules mandated by regulatory bodies like SEC, FINRA, and CFTC. The recordings and transcripts are stored in WORM compliant Google Cloud Storage, ensuring immutable records and allowing regulated entities to use collaboration features that were previously disabled due to compliance rules.

Google Voice introduces call queuing for ring groups.

Google Voice is introducing call queuing for ring groups. This feature allows administrators to customize aspects like music and announcements while callers are on hold, maximum callers in the queue, maximum wait time, and a wrap-up time for agents. This update aims to reduce unanswered calls, boost sales, and improve customer experience by providing a structured way to handle high call volumes.

Google Meet introduces new live streaming access controls, enabling external guests and targeted internal viewing.

Google Meet is introducing additional access controls for live streams, allowing hosts to decide who can view them. This update enables live streams to reach a wider audience for events like town halls and webinars, supporting mixed internal/external audiences and granular control for restricted internal broadcasts. Hosts can now invite external users to join live streams with their Google Account and can also limit in-domain access to specific users or groups. These new controls are accessible via an opt-in "Adaptive" meeting type setting.