Google Workspace Changes

Expanded NotebookLM limits and capabilities for Education Plus and Teaching & Learning add-on customers.

Google is increasing usage limits for NotebookLM users with Google Workspace for Education Plus or a Teaching and Learning add-on license at no additional cost. These upgrades include support for more sources per notebook, increased daily chat query limits, the ability to create more flashcard sets and quizzes, and expanded multimedia generation for Video Overviews, Audio Overviews, infographics, and slide decks. Eligible users will be identified by a 'Plus badge' next to their profile picture.

Additional Lightware peripheral switchers certified for BYOD in Google Meet ChromeOS touch controller rooms.

Google has certified additional Lightware peripheral switchers—including the Taurus UCX 4x2 HC60, 4x3 HC60, 4x2 HC60D, and 4x3 HC60 BD—to support Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) functionality in Google Meet ChromeOS touch controller rooms. This integration allows users to connect laptops via a single USB-C cable to utilize room displays, speakers, microphones, and cameras. Key benefits include seamless transition to BYOD mode, meeting continuity that prevents interruptions to active calls, and enhanced admin visibility within the Google admin console to monitor BYOD activity and reduce erroneous peripheral alerts.

Prepare for the NEET UG with practice tests in Gemini

Gemini has expanded its practice test offerings to include the NEET UG exam. Building on the previously launched SAT and JEE Main practice tests, this new feature provides rigorously vetted content from leading education companies to help learners prepare for test day. Users can access this feature by simply telling Gemini, 'I want to take a NEET mock exam.' The feature is currently available in English only.

Gemini expands its practice tests to support the NEET UG exam.

Google has expanded the practice tests available in the Gemini app to include support for the NEET UG. These tests are grounded in rigorously vetted content from leading education companies such as Physics Wallah and Careers360 to ensure a high-quality preparation experience that closely resembles the actual test. The feature is currently available in English for all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts.

Users can now edit AI-generated scripts when converting Google Slides to Google Vids before the import is finalized.

When importing Google Slides into Google Vids with Gemini enabled, users can now review and edit AI-generated scripts for each slide before completing the import, generating voiceovers, and applying animations. This update allows users to refine their narrative early, save time by reducing back-and-forth editing in the main editor, and ensure voiceovers accurately match the intended message.

Users can now edit AI-generated scripts when converting Google Slides to Google Vids before completing the import, generating voiceovers, and applying animations.

This update allows users to edit AI-generated scripts for each slide when converting Google Slides into Google Vids, a capability previously only available after the import process. This new feature enables users to refine their narrative early, saving time and effort by making script adjustments before video draft creation. It also ensures that the generated voiceover perfectly matches the intended message, providing a more streamlined workflow for creating high-quality video content from existing presentations.

Gmail end-to-end encryption is now available on Android and iOS mobile devices for client-side encryption users, allowing native composition and reading of E2EE messages.

Gmail end-to-end encryption (E2EE) has been expanded to Android and iOS devices, enabling Gmail client-side encryption (CSE) users to securely compose and read encrypted messages directly within the Gmail app. This update allows confidential handling of sensitive organizational data on mobile devices, ensuring compliance and data sovereignty. Recipients, whether using Gmail or other email services, can seamlessly and securely interact with these E2EE messages, with non-Gmail users able to read and reply in their native browser.

Expanding access to longer musical tracks (up to three minutes) using Lyria 3 Pro in the Gemini app.

Google is expanding access to Lyria 3 Pro in the Gemini app, allowing more users to create musical tracks up to three minutes long. Lyria 3 Pro provides enhanced creative control, enabling users to prompt for specific musical elements such as intros, verses, choruses, and bridges. This update is now available to a wider range of Google Workspace customers, including Business Starter, Enterprise Starter, Education Fundamentals, Standard, and Plus, Frontline editions, Nonprofits, and Google AI Plus users.

Speech translation is now rolling out to Google Meet Android and iOS apps.

Google Meet is expanding its speech translation feature to mobile devices on Android and iOS, allowing audio to be translated in near-real-time to help global teams communicate more naturally. The feature currently supports bidirectional translation between English and Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and Italian, with a limit of one language pair per meeting. While users in conference rooms can hear translations, their own speech will not be translated.

Speech translation is now rolling out to Google Meet Android and iOS apps, enabling real-time language translation during meetings.

Speech translation is now available on Google Meet mobile apps (Android and iOS). This feature translates audio to other languages in near-real-time, facilitating communication among global teams by removing language barriers. It supports bidirectional translation between English and Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and Italian, though only one language pair can be active per meeting. Users in conference rooms can hear translations, but their speech will not be translated.

Google Sheets is updating logic and parameter support for specific functions to improve error visibility and data control.

Google Sheets is introducing enhancements to a targeted set of functions to improve error surfacing, parameter support, and calculation logic. Informational and statistical functions like HYPERLINK and T.TEST will now more accurately flag underlying errors; statistical distribution functions such as HYPGEOM.DIST now support additional parameters for better external file compatibility; and financial and array functions like CUMIPMT have been refined for more precise and predictable results.

Non-Google users can now book Google Workspace resources directly from their preferred calendar service.

An open beta is being introduced allowing non-Google users, including those on Microsoft Outlook, to book Google Workspace resources such as rooms or equipment directly from their preferred calendar system. Admins can grant specific non-Google users or entire domains booking permissions via the Admin Console. Once configured, non-Google users can reserve resources by simply adding the resource's email address to their calendar event guest list.

Automatic migration of legacy restricted access items to limited access settings in Google Drive.

Google Drive is automatically migrating items with legacy restricted access to the limited access folder setting. This update ensures consistent management of restricted access and does not change who can see or access the files. Users can audit their own files with limited access using the search operator 'owner:me is:limitedaccess', and migrated items will indicate that limited access was applied by Google Drive.

Non-Google users can now book Google Workspace resources from their preferred calendar services.

Google Workspace is introducing an open beta that allows non-Google users, such as those using Microsoft Outlook, to book shared resources like rooms, projectors, or company cars directly from their own calendar service. Admins can grant booking permissions to specific non-Google users or entire domains via the Admin Console. Once configured, non-Google users can reserve a resource by adding its email address to a calendar event guest list. Additionally, for organizations using Microsoft Outlook, admins can configure Calendar Interop to allow Outlook users to find resources by name and view availability before sending an invite.

Users in the US and Canada with Business editions can now purchase the AI Expanded Access add-on directly.

Google Workspace is introducing a new capability that allows end users in the United States and Canada with Business Standard or Business Plus editions to purchase the AI Expanded Access add-on directly using their own payment method. This update aims to reduce bottlenecks by allowing motivated users to obtain higher access to advanced AI tools—such as Gemini, NotebookLM, Veo 3, and Google Vids—without requiring IT administrator procurement. Administrators maintain full control and can disable the feature or cancel subscriptions through the Admin console.