Google Workspace Changes

Google Meet introduces a safeguarded guest admit flow with dual request queues for hosts.

Google Meet is implementing a new safeguarded guest admit flow to help hosts manage join requests (knocking) more efficiently. Requests will now be split into two separate queues, including a second queue for connections that may require closer scrutiny, where the default action is to deny entry. Hosts and co-hosts maintain full control over whether to approve or deny any request regardless of the suggested default.

Introduction of a new safeguarded guest admit flow in Google Meet to assist hosts in managing join requests.

Google Meet is introducing a new safeguarded guest admit flow designed to help meeting hosts efficiently manage requests from users who wish to join meetings. This enhancement provides hosts with two separate queues for join requests, with a new second queue specifically for connections that may require closer review. The default action for requests in this new queue is to deny entry, giving hosts more control and reducing the time and attention needed to handle numerous requests. Hosts and co-hosts retain full control to override suggested actions.

New admin control for continuous meeting chat in Google Meet.

Google Meet has introduced a new admin control within the Workspace Admin console under Meet Safety Settings. This allows administrators to manage the 'continuous meeting chat' feature by setting the default state (Default on or Default off) for organizational units, configuration groups, or individual users, and deciding whether meeting hosts are permitted to modify this setting for their specific meetings.

New admin control for continuous meeting chat in Google Meet

Google Workspace is introducing a new admin control for continuous meeting chat within Google Meet. This feature allows administrators to configure the default state of continuous meeting chat (on or off) for organizational units, configuration groups, or individual users. Additionally, admins can control whether meeting hosts have the ability to modify this setting for their individual meetings. This provides organizations with enhanced control over chat behavior, assisting with managing feature training, addressing compliance concerns, and ensuring message retention in Google Chat.

Admins can now assign or unassign Google Calendars to Google Meet hardware devices in bulk via CSV upload.

Google is introducing a new capability for administrators to manage calendar assignments for Meet hardware devices in bulk. By utilizing a CSV file with the 'assignedCalendarResourceEmail' column, admins can assign or unassign calendars across multiple devices simultaneously, reducing administrative effort for large organizations. Note that while personal calendars can be assigned to multiple devices, room calendar resources are limited to one device at a time, requiring a two-step CSV process to move them between devices.

Tying Google Meet calls to their initial Calendar event to prevent artifact ambiguity

Google Meet is now tying each video call to the initial Calendar event where it was created to ensure predictability regarding who receives meeting artifacts such as Gemini notes, recordings, and Google Chat messages. If a meeting code is reused in a new Calendar event, artifacts will only be shared with the guests of the original event, and users will see a warning dialog when manually pasting an old meeting code.

Improved join permission logging for Google Meet Audit events.

Google Meet Audit event logging for endpoints will now include the permission type used to grant access to join a meeting. For users who asked to join, the audit event will specify which participant admitted them. For meeting room hardware devices joining client-side encrypted meetings, the audit event will identify the user who granted access through delegated authentication.

Improved join permission logging for Google Meet Audit events

Google Meet audit events will now include the specific permission type used to grant access for joining a meeting. For some endpoint types, additional details will be logged, such as which participant admitted a user who asked to join, or which user granted access to meeting room hardware devices joining client-side encrypted meetings through delegated authentication.

New 'Take notes for me' controls in the green room for all customers.

Google is introducing new controls for 'Take notes for me' that allow all customers, regardless of their participation in the Gemini Alpha program, to turn off the AI note-taking feature directly from the green room before joining a call.

New 'Take notes for me' automatic configuration for Gemini Alpha customers.

Google is introducing a new setting for customers in the Gemini Alpha program that automatically enables 'Take notes for me' for meetings with three or more participants. This setting is on by default, but admins can disable it via the Google Meet Admin Console under Gemini settings, and end users can opt out through their Meet user settings.

New Admin console configuration for "Take notes for me" in Google Meet for Gemini Alpha customers.

Google Meet is introducing new settings in the Admin console, initially for organizations participating in the Gemini Alpha program for Workspace, to pre-configure AI note-taking. This 'Take notes for me' setting will automatically enable AI note-taking for meetings with three or more participants and will be on by default for Alpha program organizations, with the functionality for end-users starting no sooner than March 11th, 2026. Admins will gain control to manage this setting in their console, with visibility starting from February 18th, 2026. Additionally, all Google Meet users, regardless of Alpha program participation, will soon have the ability to turn off "Take notes for me" directly from the green room before joining a call.

New 'Video calling' setting to enable or disable video calling on Google Meet hardware devices.

Google is introducing a 'Video calling' setting for Google Meet hardware, allowing administrators to turn video calling on or off at both the device level and the customer level for newly-enrolled devices. This feature supports secure setup processes, enabling installers to enroll devices with video calling disabled and allowing admins to enable it once the device is in a secure environment. Additionally, Calendar has been moved into its own distinct setting.

Google Meet now allows participants to move shared content into a separate standalone window.

Google Meet is introducing an 'Open in new window' option that allows meeting participants to undock screen shared content, such as presentations, spreadsheets, or documents. This enables users to move the shared content to a secondary screen or resize it independently, making it easier to view both the content and the meeting participants simultaneously for better collaboration.

Google Meet users can now move shared content into a separate window for improved multitasking and viewing.

Google Meet is introducing a new feature that allows users to move shared content, such as presentations or documents, into a separate window during a video call. This enhancement is designed to improve the meeting experience by enabling better multitasking, allowing participants to view shared content and other meeting elements simultaneously. This provides greater flexibility for users to arrange their screen layout according to their preferences and stay connected and collaborate more easily.

Real-time speech translation with higher access in Google Meet.

Google Meet is introducing real-time speech translation that bridges language gaps while maintaining the tone and voice of the speaker. Higher access to this feature is available through the AI Expanded and AI Ultra add-ons.