Use intelligent suggestions for table conversion in Google Sheets

What’s changing

Following the introduction of tables in Google Sheets and the recently announced improvements to tables, we’re excited to support a new automated way for users to transform their data into a well-formatted table, with rich data types.
If you have a meaningful range of data, Sheets will show a “Convert to table” suggestion when you click into your data range. By hovering over that indicator, you can preview the suggestion and then convert your range to a table in one click. 

Who’s impacted

End users 

Why you’d use it 

This update encourages the use of tables, a feature that enables users to transform the way they organize their data, simplify data creation, and reduce the repetitive tasks needed to format, input, and update data in Sheets. 

Getting started 

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. End users: This feature will be on by default and can be disabled by going to Tools > Suggestion controls > (deselect) Enable table suggestions. While the suggestion to convert to table will likely appear automatically, you can also convert data to a table manually by selecting a data range and going to Format > Convert to table. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using tables in Google Sheets. 

Rollout pace 

Rapid Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on August 13, 2024 Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 4, 2024 

Availability 

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

Resources 

Chat safer with new settings for students in Google Chat

What’s changing 

We’re introducing a new setting that enables education admins to restrict which users can create and manage members in Google Chat conversations. 
This can be useful for admins who want to prevent groups of students from initiating or adding users to a conversation. 

Who’s impacted 

Admins and end users 

Why it’s important

This is a highly-requested feature that restricts the creation of unsupervised activity among K-12 students and helps provide a safer and easier way for teachers to communicate with students. 

Getting started 

Admins: To restrict users from accessing features in Chat, go to the Admin console > Apps > Google Workspace > Google Chat > click the Chat and Space restrictions setting > Inside the Google Chat box, search for the group of users you’d like to apply Chat restrictions to > check the box for Restrict creating direct messages, group messages, and spaces > hit Save. Note: groups can be restricted at the group level only.We recommend admins enable the “automatically accept chat invitations” setting for their OU. This will ensure teachers can easily initiate messages to students that instantly deliver without the need to accept an invitation. We also recommend turning OFF Chat with external users.Visit the Help Center to learn more about setting up Chat restrictions for Education accounts.End users: There is no end user setting for this feature.

Rollout pace 

Admin setting: 
Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on August 13, 2024
Chat UI: 
Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on August 13, 2024 

Availability 

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

Resources 

View and structure Google Form data as a table in Google Sheets

What’s changing

We’re introducing a new feature that enables users to more easily view and structure their Google Form data in Sheets. 

Starting today, when a user initiates the creation of a new sheet using their Forms data, Sheets will automatically open the data as a table, bringing format and structure to your data. If a user opens a pre-existing sheet connected to a Form, there will be no change and the user will need to convert the data to a table by going to Format > Convert to table. 

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. End users: For pre-existing spreadsheets connected to Form data, you can convert the data to a table manually by selecting the data range and going to Format > Convert to table. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using tables in Google Sheets. 

Rollout pace 

Rapid Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on August 15, 2024 Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 5, 2024 

Availability

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

Resources 

Save time managing your Meet Hardware fleet with new device filters

What’s changing 

As we continue to make improvements for managing Meet Hardware fleets, we’re pleased to announce eighteen additional filters in the Admin console, which include:
Alert silence expiration timeBoot modeCameraChrome versionContent camera (i.e., whiteboard cameras)Controller (i.e., MIMO, Logitech Tap, Juno Remote, etc.)Device IDDisplayEnrollment dateHas userCamera home position modeMicrophoneNoise cancellation (denoising state)NotesOperating system versionPrimary framing strategySpeakerSoftware audio processing mode
The new filters can be added as chips to filter the device table:
From Menu > Devices > Google Meet hardware > Devices, select “Add a filter”. Any filters you select will be added to the URL so you can save the link or share it with others.

New data columns have been added that enable you to view additional device info at a glance, which include:
Boot modeCameraCamera home positionChrome versionContent cameraControllerDevice IDDisplayEnd of Meet supportEnrollment dateMicrophoneNoise cancellationNotesOperating system versionPrimary framing strategyVolumeSpeaker
From Menu > Devices > Google Meet hardware > Devices, select the gear icon to add columns. Any columns you select will be added to the URL so you can save the link or share it with others.

Increasing the number of searchable fields makes it easier and faster to find specific groups of devices, which is particularly helpful when managing a large fleet of devices. Quickly finding groups of devices allows you to save time and resources managing and troubleshooting your devices. 

Getting started

Admins: Visit the Help Center to learn more about using filters to show devices that meet specific criteria.End users: There is no end user impact or action required.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on August 15, 2024

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware devices

Resources

SOC compliance for Gemini

What’s changing 

In the era of generative AI, building helpful, secure products that give users choice and control over their data remains Google’s core principle. When commercial customers adopt Gemini for Google Workspace they get the same robust data protection and security standards that come with all Google Workspace services, with specific protections for businesses, education, and public-sector customers.

We’re pleased to announce for Gemini for Workspace licensed users that:
Gemini for Google Workspace—including Gemini in the side panel of Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides—is now SOC 1, SOC 2, and SOC 3 compliant.Chatting with Gemini at gemini.google.com is now SOC 2 and SOC 3 compliant. We plan to achieve SOC 1 compliance later this year.
With SOC 1, 2 and 3 compliance awarded by a stringent third party (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)) customers can be confident that Workspace meets the industry standard for handling financial data, data security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy. 

Getting started

Admins: Visit the Help Center to learn more about how Google Workspace satisfies certification and compliance standards. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning Gemini (gemini.google.com) on or off for your users, and about Gemini for Google Workspace in general.

Rollout pace

Available now.

Availability

Available for Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education and Education Premium add-ons

Resources