Google Workspace Changes

Admins can now bulk export client-side encrypted (CSE) Slides via Vault or Takeout and convert them to PowerPoint files.

Google Workspace admins can now bulk export client-side encrypted (CSE) Slides using Google Vault or Data Export (takeout) and subsequently convert these exports into PowerPoint files. This feature, currently available in beta for eligible organizations, allows organizations to retain complete ownership, access, and control of sensitive data in a highly portable format.

Google Classroom now allows educators to tag coursework and rubrics with learning goals, standards, and skills to monitor student progress.

Educators in Google Classroom can now tag assignments, quizzes, questions, and materials with specific learning standards and skills, either by searching established sets or using AI-powered suggestions. This feature provides data-driven analytics to help teachers identify instructional gaps and allows students and guardians to see how coursework aligns with learning milestones. The standards are sourced through partnerships with 1EdTech and Common Good Learning Tools via the Satchel Rosetta Exchange.

Workspace users can now share Gemini chats, canvases, and generated media securely via Google Drive.

Google is introducing the ability for Workspace users on the web to share snapshots of their Gemini chats, canvases, and generated media. This feature utilizes the existing Google Drive sharing interface and is governed by the organization's Drive sharing policies, enabling teams to collaborate on AI workflows and scale AI competency across the organization.

Device Bound Session Credentials (DBSC) is now generally available in Chrome for Windows to prevent session cookie theft.

Device Bound Session Credentials (DBSC) is now generally available and enabled by default for Google Workspace users in the Chrome browser on Windows. DBSC enhances security by binding session cookies to the specific device used for authentication, making it significantly harder for malicious actors to use stolen cookies for account takeovers, even if malware is present on the device. Admins can monitor these events via audit logs in the security investigation tool and can further bolster protections using context-aware access (CAA).

Google Chat now supports external interoperability with Microsoft Teams via NextPlane OpenHub.

Google Chat has launched external interoperability with Microsoft Teams through NextPlane OpenHub, enabling seamless cross-platform collaboration across organizational boundaries. This integration supports presence, 1:1 and group chats, Channels and Spaces, file sharing, and meeting/call initiation. Designed for enterprise governance, OpenHub is deployed as a dedicated single-tenant service in a customer-owned GCP project and is managed through the existing Google Admin console and Microsoft Teams admin center, requiring separate NextPlane licensing.

More granular admin controls for Workspace Studio steps and starters.

Google is introducing more granular admin controls for Workspace Studio steps and starters, allowing administrators to define which specific steps and starters users in their organization can use to create flows. These controls can be applied by Workspace service or individually at the domain, organizational unit, or group level, facilitating a more controlled and gradual rollout of Studio functionality within an organization.

Anomaly detection is now available in Connected Sheets for BigQuery data sets.

Google Sheets has introduced anomaly detection in Connected Sheets, allowing users to identify critical irregularities and outliers in time-series BigQuery data sets without requiring SQL knowledge or manual model training. Powered by BigQuery ML and TimesFM, the feature offers zero-shot analysis with a user-friendly configuration side panel, built-in formatting for anomaly indicators and bounds, customizable thresholds, and automated refresh capabilities.

Ask Gemini prompt box moved to the bottom left-hand corner of the Google Meet web interface.

Google is improving the accessibility of the Ask Gemini feature in Google Meet on the web by moving the prompt box from the top right corner (where it was previously accessed via hover) to the bottom left-hand corner of the interface. This change is intended to make the feature easier to discover and use during calls, without changing the underlying functionality of the tool.

Google Workspace is updating app icons for a modern visual design.

Google is introducing a fresh visual identity for Google Workspace app icons across Gmail, Calendar, Chat, Meet, Drive, Docs, Slides, Sheets, Vids, Keep, Forms, Voice, Sites, and Tasks. These updates aim to provide a more distinct identity and consistency across the product suite without altering core functionality or administrative controls.

Gemini LTI users can now add PowerSchool Schoology course content as sources in NotebookLM.

When creating a notebook in PowerSchool Schoology, Gemini LTI users can now add content directly from their course as sources. This integration allows educators and students to seamlessly bridge their course materials with AI-powered research and analysis, and generate Studio artifacts like Audio and Video Overviews, infographics, and slide decks based on their Schoology resources, eliminating the need for manual file uploads.

Polly is now available for Google Chat, enabling interactive polls within conversations.

Polly allows teams to create interactive polls directly within Google Chat conversations by mentioning @Polly. This integration helps teams drive consensus, manage meeting logistics, and gather team preferences in real-time without leaving the chat stream, reducing friction and speeding up decision-making. Admins can install the app for their organization, or end users can find it via the Google Workspace Marketplace.

Google Workspace expands Out-of-Domain file-level warnings to mobile apps, Chat Spaces, Google Groups, external service accounts, and email notifications.

Google has introduced several improvements to Out-of-Domain file-level warnings to help prevent accidental data exfiltration and phishing attacks. The 'External' badge is now available in Android and iOS apps for Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Additionally, the badge now triggers for documents shared via Chat Spaces and Google Groups with external users, documents accessed by external Google Cloud service accounts, and within both comment and file sharing email notifications.

Android-based all-in-one room devices from Neat and Logitech are now certified for Google Meet.

The Neat Board series (32, 50, and Pro) and the Logitech Rally Board 65 are now certified for Google Meet as the first Android-based all-in-one devices. These devices feature touch displays for video meetings and interactive whiteboarding via Figma, Lucid, and Miro add-ons, and are available for order through authorized partners.

Expanded options for header images in Google Forms.

Google Forms creators now have more flexibility when choosing header images. In addition to using pre-selected themes, uploading an image, or selecting from Google Photos, users can now choose images from Google Drive, Google Images, or provide a direct URL to make their forms more compelling.

Gemini in Google Chat now supports additional languages for refining message drafts.

Google is expanding the capabilities of Gemini in Google Chat by adding support for French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish when refining message drafts. This update allows a broader range of global users to improve the clarity, grammar, and professional tone of their communications, which is particularly beneficial for teams in multilingual environments.