Respond to conversations without leaving the home view in Google Chat

What’s changing

Following the recent announcement of summaries in home and other features that help you find what you need much faster using home, we’re introducing the split pane in the home view. 
Using the split pane, you can now respond directly to a space, group or direct message without ever navigating away from the home view in Chat. 
replying in google chat home

Getting started 

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: 
    • To reply in the split pane view, simply click on a message and the split pane will open with the conversation. You can click on the expand icon in the conversation header if you wish to view that particular conversation in full screen. You can also toggle the split pane mode in the home header if you wish to completely enable/disable opening conversations in the split pane. 
    • Visit the Help Center to learn more about replying to Chat messages in home with the split pane view. 

Rollout pace 

Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers and Workspace Individual Subscribers 

Resources 

Reference your Google Calendar using Gemini in the side panel of Gmail

What’s changing 

Since its introduction earlier this year, Gemini in the side panel of Gmail has helped many users generate, find and respond to information in their inbox. In addition, Gemini in Gmail has the ability to connect with other Workspace apps like Docs, Sheets, Slides and Drive, helping users complete tasks without ever leaving Gmail. 
Today, we’re excited to add Google Calendar to the list of apps that Gemini in Gmail connects with. Users can now ask Gemini in Gmail to perform calendar related actions or answer questions about their calendars such as: 
  • When is my [first event] next week? 
  • Create a [30 min] calendar event for my weekly [yoga class] every [Monday and Wednesday] at [9 AM]. 
  • Create a [1h] event for [lunch] [tomorrow] at [noon]. 
Using Gemini in the side panel of Gmail to ask Calendar to set up a personal yoga event

Who’s impacted 

End users 

Why you’d use it 

Via Gmail, Gemini can now help you: 
  • Create calendar events. 
  • Learn additional details about the existing events in your Calendar. 

Additional details

At this time, Gemini in Gmail cannot: 

  • Add or remove guests from events or create events by extracting information from an email. 
  • Pull up attachments or RSVPs related to a meeting. 
  • Find the best time to meet with other people or find time slots when you’re available to meet. 
  • Create tasks, an out of office, focus times or set working locations. 
  • Add or manage meeting rooms. 
When these features do become available, we will provide an update via the Workspace Updates Blog. 

Getting started 

  • Admins: To access Gemini in the side panel of Workspace apps, users need to have smart features and personalization turned on. Admins can turn on default personalization setting for their users in the Admin console. 
  • End users:
    • On web, you can access Gemini in the Gmail side panel by clicking on “Ask Gemini” icon in the top right corner of Gmail. 
    • This feature is only available in English at this time. 
    • While not required, just like gemini.google.com, you can invoke Calendar by adding “@Calendar” at the beginning of your prompt in the side panel of Gmail to explicitly call on Calendar. 
    • Visit the Help Center to learn more about collaborating with Gemini in Gmail. 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

Available for Google Workspace customers with these add-ons: 
  • Gemini Business 
  • Gemini Enterprise 
  • Gemini Education 
  • Gemini Education Premium 
  • Google One AI Premium 

Resources 

Upload Google Docs and other file types to Gem instructions

What’s changing 

Beginning today, you can upload reference documents, including Google Docs and Google Sheets via Google Drive, when creating Gems. By adding reference documents to your Gems instructions you can further tailor Gems to meet your specific needs. 
These file types include: 
  • Document and text files, such as TXT, DOC, DOCX, PDF, RTF, DOT, DOTX, HWP, HWPX and Google Docs 
  • Data Files, such as XLS, XLSX, CSV, TSV and Google Sheets

Who’s impacted

Admins and end users

Why you’d use it

Gems help you leverage the power of Gemini more efficiently and in a way that’s customized to your needs  by minimizing repetitive prompting. You can create Gems to complete specific goals, tasks, and workflows. This update further enhances this functionality by allowing you to create Gems that anchor to specific files, referencing these files as a source for more relevant responses. For example, you can upload:
  • Corporate style guides that instantly creates or refines brand-aligned copy for websites, email subject lines, or social media posts.
  • Project files to create a project specific assistant 
  • Internal documents which can be referenced at any time, such as how to best provide customer service based on a handbook or other best practices
  • HR documents to easily reference and find answers to common questions
  • Product specs and instruction manuals for quick troubleshooting
  • Customer feedback to easily identify trends and areas of improvement
  • Education standards to plan lessons and create content that align with your school’s needs
  • Grant research and notes to help accelerate the research process and drive innovation 

Additional details

  • Uploading files when creating a Gem will be available starting in English.
  • Gems will automatically recognize the latest updates to any Google Docs or Sheets added to the instructions. Other uploaded file content will need to be re-uploaded if any changes are made to the underlying file. 

Getting started

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – November 8, 2024

4 New updates

Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are available to all Google Workspace customers, and are fully launched or in the process of rolling out. Rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete if launching to both Rapid and Scheduled Release at the same time. If not, each stage of rollout should take no more than 15 business days to complete.

Import data into group chats using the Google Chat API 
In September, we introduced a feature through the Google Workspace Developer Preview Program that enables developers to create group chats in import mode using the spaces.create method when migrating to Google Chat from other messaging platforms. This week, we’re excited to announce that this is now generally available for Google Workspace developers. | Roll out to Rapid Release domains and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to all Google Workspace customers. | Learn more about import mode. 
Search for and reuse pre-defined queries from BigQuery in Connected Sheets
Currently, users can define saved queries in BigQuery Studio and notebooks, but they cannot reuse those queries in Connected Sheets without copy/pasting them. This week, we’re excited to announce that users can now search for and reuse pre-defined queries directly from BigQuery to load Connected Sheets data. To do so, go to Connection Settings > Edit connection > Saved queries and query editor and search for your query by project. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains at an extended rollout pace (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility), with expectation completion by December 6, 2024. | Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about writing & editing a query and getting started with BigQuery data in Google Sheets
Search for and reuse pre-defined queries from BigQuery in Connected Sheets

Launching to beta: Import sensitive Microsoft Word documents as client-side encrypted Google Docs. 
Beginning this week, eligible customers can import and convert sensitive Microsoft Word files into Google Docs with client-side encryption. When collaborating with external and internal stakeholders, you may find yourself working across both Google Docs and Microsoft Word. This update keeps your work moving by layering interoperability on top of the confidentiality benefits of client-side encryption: customers are in direct control of their encryption keys and the identity service that they choose to authenticate for those keys. Eligible Google Workspace admins can use this form to request access to the beta. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, and Education Standard customers. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about client-side encryption. More specific instructions will be shared once you’re accepted into the beta. 
Select Google Chat settings can now be applied at the group level 
Admins can now apply the following Google Chat settings at the group level: 

While these settings can also be configured at the Organizational Unit (OU) level, this update provides more granular control for admins. This is critical for our customers, who frequently request more flexibility in how they apply settings, giving them more flexibility on how to configure settings based on the various needs of their users. | Roll out to Rapid Release domains and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to all Google Workspace customers.

Previous announcements

The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.

View in-meeting chat messages in Google Meet live streams 
Starting this week, when you’re viewing a Google Meet live stream, you will be able to see chat messages that are sent by participants who have joined via the meeting link. | Learn more about in-meeting chat messages in Meet live streams. 
Now generally available: use Gemini in the side panel of Workspace apps in seven additional languages 
Beginning this week, select users can use Gemini in the side panel of Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Drive, and Gmail, in seven additional languages: French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish. | Learn more about additional Gemini languages. 
Announcing general availability of Google Vids: Our new AI-powered video creation app for work to help tell stories across your organization 
Earlier this year, we announced Google Vids, the newest productivity app in our suite of Google Workspace products. Vids is an AI-powered video creation app for work designed to help teams in customer service, learning and development, project ops and marketing tell more engaging stories at work through video. This week, we’re excited to announce the general availability of Google Vids for select Workspace editions. | Learn more about Vids
Google Vids is now available for Google Workspace for Education, providing easy video creation for teaching and learning 
Earlier this year, we announced Google Vids would soon empower educators and students to easily create and collaborate with video. This week, we’re excited to announce the general availability of Google Vids for Education Plus and Gemini for Workspace customers. | Learn more about Vids for EDU.
Introducing a refreshed library of high-quality Google Slides templates that elevate your presentations
We’re introducing a new collection of modern, professionally designed templates in Google Slides to help users build presentations much faster. These new templates cater to a wide range of use cases that provide users with the perfect starting point for their presentations. | Learn more about Slides templates.
Expanding access to the Gemini app for teen students in education
Google Workspace for Education admins can now turn on the Gemini app with added data protection as an additional service for their teen users (ages 13+ or the applicable age in your country) in the following languages and countries. | Learn more about the Gemini app for teen students in education.

Completed rollouts

The features below completed their rollouts to Rapid Release domains, Scheduled Release domains, or both. Please refer to the original blog posts for additional details.

Rapid Release Domains: 
Scheduled Release Domains: 
Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains: 

Paused rollouts

We have paused the rollout for this feature while we evaluate performance and quality. We will provide an update with new rollout information as soon as possible.

For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).  

Expanding access to the Gemini app for teen students in education

What’s changing

Google Workspace for Education admins can now turn on the Gemini app with added data protection as an additional service for their teen users (ages 13+ or the applicable age in your country) in the following languages and countries. With added data protection, chats are not reviewed by human reviewers or otherwise used to improve AI models. The Gemini app will be a core service in the coming weeks for Education Standard and Plus users, including teens, 
We created this Gemini experience for teens after consulting with child development and learning science experts – including conducting learning focused red teaming, an industry standard testing process to find vulnerabilities in generative AI – and testing with youth advisory panels to ensure we’re bringing this technology to students responsibly.
Gemini can help teen students learn responsibly and confidently in an AI-first future.

Who’s impacted

Admins and end users

Why it’s important

Google is committed to making AI helpful for everyone, in the classroom and beyond. We want to both prepare teens with the skills and tools they need to thrive in the future where GenAI exists and help them learn how this technology can be used to unlock creativity and facilitate learning. Expanding access to the Gemini app to younger students provides guided support to help them learn more confidently with in-the-moment assistance, practice materials, and real-time feedback. 

Additional details

Upon accessing the Gemini app for the first time, teens will be guided through an AI Literacy video, endorsed by ConnectSafely and Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI)–with tips on how to use generative AI responsibly. And according to Common Sense Media, the Gemini teen experience is considered “low risk” and is designated as “designed for kids”.
“Google’s Gemini, which is currently the only major platform to create a specific experience for teens, includes additional CSAM (child sexual abuse material) safeguards, content policies, and in-product experiences that help teens understand the limitations of generative AI.” – Common Sense Media

Getting started

Rollout pace

  • Available now.

Availability

  • Available for Google Workspace Education Fundamentals, Standard, Plus and the Teaching & Learning Upgrade

Resources