The U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) has formally changed the name for "Lake Ontario" to "Lake America" in the United States. Since we update Google Maps …

Now available: A refreshed user interface for Google Meet hardware touch controllers on Neat and Poly devices

On August 26, 2026, we are officially launching our updated user interface for Neat touch controllers and  the Poly TC8. Overall, the design allows users to concentrate on their meetings rather than searching for controls, resulting in a more efficient and aesthetically pleasing experience. | Learn more.

Generate interactive simulations and models in the Gemini app

Gemini can transform your questions and complex topics into custom, interactive visualizations — directly within your Gemini app chat.  | Learn more.

Restrict who can view the member lists in Google Chat spaces

Space owners and managers can now control who can view the full list of members in a Google Chat space, providing enhanced privacy and administrative control for sensitive, large-scale, or external collaboration spaces. | Learn more.

Introducing data import for Microsoft Teams: An easier, faster, and higher-fidelity migration to Google Workspace

For enterprise organizations, migrating communication history and collaboration channels to a new platform can feel daunting and risk interrupting daily business operations. To make this transition smoother, we are excited to announce that migrating chat data from Microsoft Teams to Google Workspace for large scale workloads is now generally available in data import. | Learn more.

Introducing data import for Microsoft OneDrive: An easier, faster, and higher-fidelity migration to Google Workspace

For enterprise organizations, migrating files along with their permissions to a new platform can feel daunting and risk interrupting daily business operations. To help simplify this transition, we are excited to announce general availability of Google Workspace data import (advanced mode) to support large-scale file migrations from Microsoft OneDrive. | Learn more.

Preserve and reuse grouped pivot table fields in Google Sheets

Google Sheets now supports grouped field persistence for pivot tables. When you create custom groupings or work with grouped date, time, or numeric fields, these fields are now retained directly in the pivot table editor sidebar as reusable source fields. | Learn more.

Control “Take notes for me” directly from Google Meet hardware touch controllers

On August 31, 2026, we’ll start rolling out the ability to start, stop, and manage the “Take notes for me” feature directly from the Google Meet Hardware touch controller for eligible meetings. This ensures in-room participants have direct control over Gemini note-taking without being in Companion mode. | Learn more.

Google Classroom now supports Context-Aware Access controls

We’re excited to introduce the ability to specify Context-Aware Access policies to control access to Google Classroom. This update allows Google Workspace administrators to set granular security parameters for Classroom access directly from the Admin console. | Learn more.

Improving Google Calendar’s interoperability with third-party video conferencing solutions

We are introducing improvements to Google Calendar that make it easier to join third-party video meetings, including Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Cisco Webex, when collaborating across different calendar and email clients. | Learn more.

Suppress email responses to calendar invitations and updates

We’re introducing a new per-event setting in Google Calendar that allows meeting organizers or their delegates to decide whether or not to receive RSVP emails and automatic responses, such as out-of-office messages and vacation responders. | Learn more.

Preview client-side encrypted PDF and image files directly in Google Drive, now available in beta

Previously, users needed to download encrypted non-native files to their local devices to view the contents. With this capability, authorized users can immediately preview encrypted content in their web browser without leaving Drive. | Learn more.

Gemini-based data classification in Google Drive is now available in open beta

This feature leverages Gemini models to apply data classification labels to files in Google Drive. Previously, AI classification required admins to identify and manually label training files for the AI model to learn the types of data associated with each data classification level. | Learn more.

The announcements above were published on the Workspace Updates blog over the last week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.

Gemini-powered AI classification in Google Drive is now available in open beta.

By automating file identification and labeling across Drive, AI classification helps organizations enforce granular data loss prevention (DLP) policies at scale, establish retention rules, and utilize label metadata during audit investigations. This also becomes a critical aspect in elevating an organization’s security posture in the agentic era, preventing agentic workflows from accessing and acting autonomously on sensitive data. 

This feature leverages Gemini models to apply data classification labels to files in Google Drive. Previously, AI classification required admins to identify and manually label training files for the AI model to learn the types of data associated with each data classification level. With this new capability, Gemini models offer admins an alternative method for data classification that is faster and more efficient, eliminating the need for manual model training and replacing it with administrator-defined instructions.

In the Admin console, Gemini models interpret instructions, evaluate files, and apply appropriate data classification labels.

Administrators maintain full control of the Gemini-based data classification process. They select the label, provide Gemini with instructions, and scope the audience for the files being evaluated. For Gemini-labeled files, editors and owners of those files with the appropriate label permissions will have the opportunity to either review and accept, or modify the automatically-applied label. Audit logs capture when files are labeled, including any user acceptance or modification of a Gemini-applied label.

In the Admin console, once enabled, Workspace Admins can see metrics on the labels applied to files by Gemini.

Data classification is a critical activity for organizations that are conscious about data protection, compliance, and reporting. However, data classification can also be challenging to put into practice, particularly when it comes to accurately classifying files at scale. By using the new Gemini-based capabilities in AI classification for Drive, admins are able to achieve a higher degree of data classification accuracy at scale.

Rollout pace

• Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout to Open Beta — targeting completion by September 30th.

Getting started

• Admins: For customers on a supported product license, the option for configuring Gemini-based AI classification instructions will appear in the Workspace Admin Console under the Data Classification option in the Security section (Security > Access and data control > Data classification). Use our Help Center to learn more.
• End users: There is no end user setting for this feature.

Availability

• Enterprise: Enterprise Plus
• Education: Google AI Pro for Education
• Other Editions: Frontline Plus

Resources

• Google Drive Help: Label Google Drive files automatically using AI classification | Security & data protection

Client-side encryption (CSE) provides organizations control over access to their confidential data, with customer controlled encryption keys and data that is indecipherable to third-parties, including Google. Google Drive now supports direct file previewing for CSE files. Previously, users needed to download encrypted non-native files to their local devices to view the contents. With this capability, authorized users can immediately preview encrypted content in their web browser without leaving Drive.

This feature streamlines productivity and bolsters security by eliminating unnecessary downloads. At launch, preview is supported only on Drive, and for:

• Encrypted PDF documents
• Encrypted Image file formats

Admins with eligible Workspace licenses can sign up for the beta program, which provides access to the feature.

Preview of an encrypted PDF, accessible in Drive

Getting started

• Admins: Admins with eligible Workspace licenses can sign up for the beta program. We’ll provide more information on how to get started if you’re accepted.
• End users: This feature is ON for users in domains that have registered for the beta program.

Availability

• Enterprise: Enterprise Plus
• Education: Education Standard and Plus
• Other Editions: Frontline Plus, Assured Controls, Assured Controls Plus

Resources

• Google Workspace Admin Help: About client-side encryption
• Beta Application: Registration form

We’re introducing a new per-event setting in Google Calendar that allows meeting organizers or their delegates to decide whether or not to receive RSVP emails and automatic responses, such as out-of-office messages and vacation responders.

By default, this new setting, called “Get an email when guests respond,” is checked - ensuring organizers receive email responses for RSVPs. If the box is unchecked:

• Organizers will not receive RSVP emails from attendees using Google Calendar, but their RSVP status will still show up on the Calendar event.
• Organizers will not receive RSVP emails from attendees using third-party calendar tools (e.g. Outlook) and their RSVP status will not show up on the Calendar event.
• Organizers will not receive any email auto-replies (like out-of-office messages and vacation responders).

This feature is beneficial for organizers of large meetings, who don’t need to be informed about individual RSVP responses. Please note that for recurring events, this setting can only be applied to the full series.

Getting started

• Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
• End users: By default, meeting organizers will get email responses for RSVPs. To stop receiving email responses, a meeting organizer must uncheck the box. Visit the Help Center to learn more.

Rollout pace

• Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on August 28, 2026 
• Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on September 10, 2026 

Availability

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

Resources

• Google Help: Track responses to your event

We’re introducing new flexible, compute-specific usage limits to Gemini Notebook.

A new LTS-144  version 144.0.7559.261(Platform Version: 16503.94.0), is being rolled out for most ChromeOS devices. 

This version includes selected security fixes including:

516715010 High CVE-2026-76033 Inappropriate implementation in CORS

517916024 High CVE-2026-12462 Use after free in Media

517153191 High CVE-2026-12025 Insufficient validation of untrusted input

513757918 High CVE-2026-76018 Privilege elevation in Import

516482138 High CVE-2026-12016 Insufficient validation of untrusted input

545124048 High CVE-2026-76023 Improper resource control in Linux Toolkit Theming

516413817 Medium CVE-2026-11701 Insufficient validation of untrusted input in Guest View

513830374 High CVE-2026-11664 Use after free in Payments

543798025 High CVE-2026-76022 Buffer overflow in Network

543082390 High CVE-2026-76045 Use after free in WebGL

536676756 High CVE-2026-19558 Use after free in Extensions

520543781 High CVE-2026-13027 Use after free in FileSystem

517448723 High CVE-2026-17693 Inappropriate implementation in FileSystem

532929679 High CVE-2026-15777 Use after free in UI

520167277 High CVE-2026-19144 Use after free in HTML

514009323 High CVE-2026-11666 Insufficient validation of untrusted input in Input

504644843 High CVE-2026-10949 Heap buffer overflow in Video

513564337 High CVE-2026-11658 Insufficient validation of untrusted input in Extensions

513156160 High CVE-2026-11652 Use after free in Extensions

540100588 High CVE-2026-19559 Use after free in HTML

502681591 High CVE-2026-10938 Insufficient validation of untrusted input in Input

496375695 Medium CVE-2026-9124 Insufficient validation of untrusted input in Input

503873388 High CVE-2026-9951 Use after free in UI

499065126 High CVE-2026-7991 Use after free in UI

517050585 High CVE-2026-11681 Use after free in Ozone

521878431 High CVE-2026-19145 Use after free in Translate

523699355 High CVE-2026-13034 Inappropriate implementation in Passwords

536512612 High CVE-2026-19165 Use after free in Extensions

Release notes for LTS-144 can be found here 

Want to know more about Long-term Support? Click here

Andy Wu

Google Chrome OS

Astroparticle physics sits at the exciting intersection of astrophysics and particle physics and stu...

In 2024, we introduced our site reputation policy to stop a practice where third-party content is published on a trusted website just to exploit that site's good reputation to rank higher in Search. This practice hurts search quality, and creates a bad experience for users.

Today we’re announcing three unversioned changes to the Display & Video 360 API and Structured Data Files that will take effect in October 2026 and may impact your existing integrations.

These changes will take place on the following dates and have been fully detailed on our Announced Deprecations page:

Starting October 1, 2026:

• You will no longer be able to exclude specific digital content labels using targeting, impacting available TARGETING_TYPE_DIGITAL_CONTENT_LABEL_EXCLUSION targeting options in the Display & Video 360 API and valid values for the Digital Content Labels - Exclude column in Line Item Structured Data Files.
• You will no longer be able to exclude the majority of sensitive categories using targeting, impacting available TARGETING_TYPE_SENSITIVE_CATEGORY_EXCLUSION targeting options in the Display & Video 360 API and valid values for the Brand Safety Sensitivity Setting and Brand Safety Custom Settings columns in Line Item Structured Data Files.

Starting October 12, 2026:

• You will be required to provide a business name and logo when you create or update YouTube responsive ads if default values are not already assigned to the parent advertiser, impacting the upload of Ad Structured Data Files.

If you believe these changes will impact your integration, follow the recommended actions in the change description.

If you have any questions or want to discuss this post, please reach out to us on our “Google Advertising and Measurement Community” Discord server.

- Trevor Mulchay, Display & Video 360 API Team