Starting today, you’ll notice a refreshed user interface in Google Calendar that is in line with Google Material Design 3 and includes: 

Controls (like buttons, dialogs, and sidebars) that are more modern and accessibleInterface typography that uses Google’s custom-designed and highly-legible typefaces Iconography that is legible and crisp, with a fresh feel We’re also introducing the ability to toggle between light mode, dark mode or device default theme options. This will provide you with a more comfortable, customizable viewing experience and can also reduce battery usage. 

These updates are applicable across the entire calendar web experience, including the task list view. When using the tasks.google.com URL, you will be redirected to the refreshed user interface and have the ability to choose between light or dark mode. 

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. End users: To turn on dark mode in Calendar, go to the settings icon in the top right corner > Appearance > select Light, Dark or Device default. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Dark theme in Calendar. Given this launch is a visual refresh to Google Calendar, it may impact the experience of installed Chrome extensions that are active when using Google Calendar. As a result, these extensions might not work as expected. We recommend contacting the developers of those extensions to report any potential issues. 

Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 23, 2024 Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 2, 2024 

Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts 

Starting today, you’ll notice a new look and feel, and enhanced functionality for the video player within Google Drive that makes it easier and more enjoyable to watch your videos. More specifically, this update includes: 

A modernized look with cleaner lines, intuitive controls, and a less cluttered viewing experience, all in line with Google Material Design 3.Improved controls for fast forward and rewind buttons that give you more control over playback. In addition, it is now easier to adjust playback speed and manage captions. Consistency across Workspace through similar video experiences in Google Drive and Google Vids, the upcoming video editor. 

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about storing & playing video in Google Drive. 

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 22, 2024 Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on November 18, 2024 

Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts 

Resources 

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]. 

Who’s impacted 

End users 

Via Gmail, Gemini can now help you: 

• Create calendar events. 
• Learn additional details about the existing events in your Calendar. 

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. 

• 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. 

• Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on November 13, 2024, with expected completion by December 6, 2024

Available for Google Workspace customers with these add-ons: 

• Gemini Business 
• Gemini Enterprise 
• Gemini Education 
• Gemini Education Premium 
• Google One AI Premium 

• Google Help: Collaborate with Gemini in Gmail

Earlier this year, we introduced a new comments experience in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides on web. Today, we’re announcing a similar update to Android tablets for viewing, navigating, and replying to comments, especially on-the-go. In addition to improved design and filtering functionality to match the web experience, you’ll now be able to easily: 

Keep a pulse on the latest updates: now you’ll see the first comment and the two most recent replies from a comment thread, with the option to show all comments within a discussion.Review comments with full context: enjoy familiar, in-context commenting, similar to the web experience, while taking advantage of larger screen real estate on tablets. Navigate and filter comments: navigation tabs and filters within the comments panel help you easily find relevant comments, without having to switch to a separate view.

Getting started 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

Resources 

We’re excited to announce Gemini in Google Chat can now help you catch up on unread conversations in the Chat home view with summaries. 

Upon navigating to an unread conversation in home, click the “Summarize” button to see a quick, bulleted synopsis of the message content. This enables you to quickly review recent activity across all active conversations to determine where best to focus your time and attention. 

End users 

Since introducing a more streamlined user experience in Chat to help you find what you need much faster, we’re adding more ways to help you prioritize the most important conversations. This new summaries in home feature does just that by helping you catch up more quickly. 

Summaries in the home view are available for any group conversation, space, or thread in home that contain unread messages. 

Admins: To access summaries in home, 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: You can turn this feature ON/OFF by turning Smart features & controls in Google products ON/OFF. To see summaries on web, hover over an unread group conversation, space, or thread from home in Chat and click “Summarize.” To see summaries on mobile, long press on an unread group conversation, space, or thread from home in Chat. Visit the Help Center to learn more about summaries in home.

Web,  Android & iOS:

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 21, 2024 

Available for Google Workspace customers with these add-ons:

Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, Education Premium AI Meetings & Messaging