Google Workspace Changes

Gemini Alpha program renamed to Gemini Beta; branding change only with no functional impact.

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.

Data regions support is now available for the Gemini app.

The Gemini app now adheres to organization data regionalization requirements, allowing administrators to configure controls for EU and US storage and processing. These settings can be applied at the organizational unit (OU) level, helping customers meet internal, legal, regulatory, and data sovereignty requirements by controlling the geographical location of their data at rest.

Introduction of the Google Classroom app in Gemini for educators and students.

Gemini now integrates with Google Classroom, allowing educators to use class context to draft communications, create differentiated assignments, and gain insights into student progress. Students aged 18 and older can also use the Classroom app in Gemini to organize assignments, create study plans, and track announcements. The integration can be accessed automatically by Gemini or explicitly by typing '@Classroom'.

New administrator controls for temporary chats and conversation deletion in the Gemini app.

Google is introducing two new administrator controls for the Gemini app (gemini.google.com) that allow end users to manage their own chat activity. Admins can now configure whether users can use temporary chats, which are not saved to history, and whether they can delete individual chats or their entire conversation history. These settings are enabled by default and can be managed at the domain, OU, or group level, while Google Vault retention rules will still be honored if configured.

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.

Gemini LTI™ is now available for Moodle.

Gemini LTI™ brings Google AI tools, including the Gemini app and NotebookLM, directly into Moodle. This integration enables students and teachers to access in-the-moment assistance, course-specific guidance, and audio overviews of materials to enhance the teaching and learning experience.

Gemini can now generate formatted files like Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, PDFs, and Microsoft Office files directly from prompts.

Gemini now allows users to transform conversational prompts directly into thoughtfully formatted files, including Google Workspace files (Docs, Sheets, Slides), PDFs, Microsoft Word (.docx), Microsoft Excel (.xlsx), CSV, LaTeX, Plain Text, Rich Text Format, and Markdown. This feature reduces the need for copying and pasting by enabling the creation of functional, downloadable documents directly within the Gemini app.

Introducing Workspace Intelligence to ground Gemini in real-time Workspace data with admin controls.

Google has introduced Workspace Intelligence, an underlying AI system that provides Gemini with a real-time understanding of a user's work across Gmail, Chat, Calendar, and Drive (including Docs, Sheets, and Slides). This grounding eliminates the need for users to manually provide context for every query. Administrators can manage which data sources Workspace Intelligence can access via new settings in the Admin console, though users can still manually add specific files to prompts even if a general data source is disabled.

Gemini app now available as a native desktop experience on macOS

The Gemini app is now available for macOS as a native desktop experience, designed to integrate directly into the user's workflow. It can be accessed quickly with a keyboard shortcut (Option + Space), enabling users to get immediate assistance without losing focus. The new native experience also allows users to share their screen with Gemini to gain context-aware help, such as summarizing complex charts, and is available for Gemini users on macOS versions 15 and up globally. This feature is ON by default for organizations with Gemini enabled, with controls managed via Generative AI settings in the Workspace Admin console.

Google launches a native Gemini app for macOS.

Google has introduced a native Gemini app for macOS (version 15 and up), providing a desktop experience that allows users to access AI assistance via a global keyboard shortcut (Option + Space). The app includes a feature to share active windows with Gemini for instant context, enabling users to summarize charts or get help with specific on-screen content without switching applications.

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.

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.

Gemini app now allows creation of longer musical tracks up to three minutes with Lyria 3 Pro, offering enhanced customization and creative control.

Building on the previously introduced 30-second music tracks with Lyria 3, the Gemini app now integrates Lyria 3 Pro, an advanced version enabling users to generate musical tracks up to three minutes in length. This update provides greater customization and creative control, allowing users to prompt for specific musical elements like intros, verses, choruses, and bridges. This feature is ideal for experimenting with different styles or for adding custom tracks to various projects, presentations, or assets.

Introduction of Lyria 3 Pro in the Gemini app for creating musical tracks up to three minutes long.

Google is introducing Lyria 3 Pro, an advanced version of its music generation tool in the Gemini app. This update allows users to create musical tracks up to three minutes long, providing greater creative control and a better understanding of musical composition, enabling prompts for specific elements like intros, verses, choruses, and bridges. It is available globally in multiple languages for users over 18.