Category Archives: Apps Feed Blog

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Introducing more granular controls for multi-party approvals for sensitive admin actions

What’s changing 

Last year, we introduced multi-party approval (MPA), a security feature that requires an admin to approve certain sensitive actions initiated by another admin. Today, we’re enhancing this feature by giving admins more granular controls, specifically: 
  • Admins can now select which specific settings require multi-party approval. 
  • Admins can choose separate multi-party approval settings for actions that are supported via API and the admin console, such as single-sign on with a third-party identity provider. 
  • Super admins can now delegate specific admins to approve MPA actions using the new multi-party approval role for admins.
You can configure multi-party approval on a per action basis by going to Security > Authentication > Multi-party approved settings in the Admin console


Account > Admin Roles 

Who’s impacted 

Admins 

Why it’s important 

Multi-party approval adds an extra layer of security for sensitive actions taken in the admin console by ensuring sensitive actions are not implemented in a silo and, more importantly, helps prevent unauthorized or accidental changes from being made. 

We understand each customer has their own unique definition of security and what constitutes a high-risk action. By introducing more granular controls, we’re giving our customers the authority to decide what features should be subject to multi-party approvals and who has the authority to review these actions, in a way that works best for them, rather than the experience being “all or nothing”. 

Additional details 

To further strengthen security around sensitive actions, admins now require both 'reviewer' and 'requester' privileges for a given action to conduct its MPA review. This ensures that the approving admin possesses the direct authority to perform the action themselves, reinforcing the integrity of the approval process and preventing approvals from individuals with inadequate underlying permissions.

Getting started 

  • Admins: This feature is available for eligible Workspace customers with two or more super admin accounts. Multi-party approval is OFF by default and can be turned on in the Admin console by going to Security > Multi-party approval settings. Visit the Help Center to learn more about multi-party approval for sensitive actions and pre-built admin roles.
  • End users: There is no end user impact or action required.

Rollout pace 

Availability

  • Available to Google Workspace 
    • Enterprise Standard and Plus 
    • Education Standard and Plus 
  • Also available to Cloud Identity Premium customers 

Resources 

Introducing Google AI Ultra for Business: Providing Access to Advanced AI Features and Next-Gen tools

What’s changing

We’re pleased to introduce Google AI Ultra for Business, a new Workspace add-on that provides the highest access to AI features and models and access to next-generation AI tools, including: 
  • The Gemini app with our most capable AI models, including higher usage limits to Gemini 2.5 Pro, Veo 3 (our latest video generation model), and Deep Research. Subscribers will also soon get access to Deep Think, an enhanced reasoning mode for highly-complex math and coding. 
  • NotebookLM with higher usage limits and best model capabilities (coming later this year), as well as higher limits for Audio Overviews, notebooks, queries, and sources per notebook, along with custom notebook styles and response lengths. 
  • Access to Gemini in Workspace: Users on Business or Enterprise Standard and Plus plans already have access to Gemini in Workspace apps, like Gmail, Docs, Sheets and more. Users on other qualifying Workspace plans can get access to most of these features by adding Google AI Ultra for Business. 
  • Access to Flow, our AI filmmaking tool, built with and for creatives. Create cinematic scenes and stories, with access to Veo 3 and premium features, including the ability to reference images to create multiple clips in a story with consistency. 
  • Access to Whisk, a new AI image and video generation tool that helps creatives quickly explore and visualize new ideas using both text and image prompts. With Whisk Animate you can turn images into 8-second videos using Veo 2. 
  • Access to Project Mariner (currently US only): A research prototype to explore the future of streamlined human-agent interaction using natural language prompts. Assign AI agents to complete time-consuming tasks like research and data entry concurrently, so you can get more done while the agents work in the background.

Additional details 

  • Workspace users accessing Gemini in Workspace, Gemini app and NotebookLM with a Google AI Ultra for Business license access these services as a core service with enterprise-grade data protections subject to the Google Workspace Terms of Service or your offline Workspace agreement. As a reminder, their content is not human reviewed or used for Generative AI model training outside their domain without permission. Learn more at the Generative AI in Google Workspace Privacy Hub. 
  • Several of these tools, including Whisk, Flow, and Project Mariner are not covered by the Workspace Terms of Service and have their own privacy policies. We encourage you to read these terms for more details. 
  • Visit the Help Center for a list of countries where the Google AI Ultra for Business add-on is available for purchase and where the included services are supported. Note: Some features may only be available in select regions. 
  • The Google AI Ultra for Business add-on grants the user 12,500 credits per month for use in Flow, Whisk, and any other products where credits exist. Learn how to manage your AI Credits.

Getting started 


 Availability 

The Google AI Ultra for Business add-on is available for self-serve purchase* beginning on June 26, 2025 with the following Google Workspace editions: 
  • Business Starter, Standard, and Plus 
  • Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus 
Note: Currently, Google AI Ultra for Business is not available everywhere Google Workspace is sold and some services or features may only be available in select regions. Visit the Help Center for more detail. 

We're working to bring Google AI Ultra for Business to our G Suite Legacy Free Edition and Education customers, and we look forward to sharing more about this in the coming weeks. 

*Self-serve purchase available through the Google Workspace Admin Console. Direct and resold purchasing channels will be available at a later date.

Resources 

Gemini Add-ons will no longer appear under subscriptions in the Admin console for Workspace Business and Enterprise customers

What’s changing

In January 2025, we announced our plan to bring premium AI features directly to our Business and Enterprise offerings, helping our customers and their users boost productivity, creativity, and innovation, transforming how they work. We also stopped charging for Gemini add-ons that you may have purchased previously for your Business and Enterprise offerings after January 31, 2025.

This week, as part of a shift in our offerings, we will begin removing references to the Gemini Enterprise, Gemini Business, AI Meetings & Messages, and AI Security add-ons from the Subscriptions page within the Admin console (Menu > Billing > Subscriptions). This change will apply to customers whose Workspace edition now includes all functionality previously available with these add-ons. 

For example, if you had a Workspace Business Standard or Enterprise Standard subscription and a Gemini Business add-on, the add-on is no longer needed since the applicable AI features are now included in your Workspace subscription.

Important note: There will be no disruptions in service or changes in feature availability with this change. This change will have no effect on your bill.

Getting started

  • Admins: No action is needed – we will make these updates to the Subscriptions page automatically. 
  • End users: There is no end user impact or action required.

Rollout pace

  • This update will begin taking effect starting June 25, 2025 and may take several weeks to rollout for affected customers.

Availability

  • This update impacts Google Workspace customers who previously purchased Gemini add-ons

Resources

Updates to the GitHub app for Google Chat

What’s changing 

Last year, we made updates to the Google Chat integration with GitHub, a cloud-based platform that enables users to store, share and collaborate with others to write code. Today, we’re excited to announce additional updates and functionality that improve upon the overall experience using the GitHub app for Google Chat. 

Starting today, users will have the ability to: 
  • Choose from additional controls for repository notification subscriptions, allowing users to set notifications according to their needs. For example, users can subscribe only to notifications when a deployment fails, or set notifications for Pull Requests assigned only to a particular individual. 
  • Create scheduled reminders, providing a new way for teams to stay on top of open pull requests. 
  • Set personal reminders to help keep track of pull requests that require review. 
Users can set up scheduled reminders to stay on top of open pull requests
Users can set up scheduled reminders to stay on top of open pull requests

Granular notification filters enable users to subscribe to notifications based on their preferences.
Granular notification filters enable users to subscribe to notifications based on their preferences.

Getting started 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

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

Resources 

See summaries of even more file types directly in Google Chat

What’s changing 

Earlier this year, we introduced the ability for users to easily summarize Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets files shared within a Google Chat conversation. Today, we’re excited to expand this feature to PDF, Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), CSV, txt, and zip files shared as Drive links in Chat.

Simply click the new “Summarize this file” button that appears within the respective file preview card in the conversation, and Gemini will summarize the file so you can get a quick overview without having to leave Chat. 

See summaries of even more file types directly in Google Chat

Who’s impacted 

End users 

Why you’d use it 

By providing quick, on-demand summaries of files shared in Chat, Gemini helps you save time and get the gist of shared files instantly, eliminating the need to open each document. 

Additional details 

This feature is only available on web at this time. 

Getting started 

Rollout pace 


Availability 

Available for Google Workspace: 
  • Business Standard and Plus 
  • Enterprise Standard and Plus 
  • Frontline Plus 
  • Customers with the Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on 
Anyone who previously purchased these add-ons will also receive this feature: 
  • Gemini Business* 
  • Gemini Enterprise* 
  • AI Meetings and Messages* 
*As of January 15, 2025, we’re no longer offering the Gemini Business, Gemini Enterprise, and AI Meetings and Messages add-ons for sale. Please refer to this announcement for more details. 

Resources 

Generate data with Gemini in Google Sheets

What’s changing

Currently, you can utilize Gemini in Google Sheets to generate charts and valuable insights, and today we’re excited to bring AI directly into the cells of your spreadsheet with the power of AI function. 

From a cell, you can now input a specific prompt describing what you would like to do and an optional data range, and Gemini can do the following: 
  • Use relevant information from your spreadsheet to generate text that is tailored to your specific data. 
  • Summarize information by analyzing the content of your spreadsheet and highlighting the most important parts, so you can quickly understand your data. 
  • Categorize your data into meaningful groups, so you can easily detect patterns, such as user sentiment. ai functions in sheets

Here are some examples of how you’d use this feature: 
  • Text generation: 
    • =AI(“Write a formal ad copy for the product. Cater copy to the objective and target audience”, A2:C2) 
    • =AI("Create an email to the reviewer addressing specific items in their reviews.", A2:G2) 
  • Summarization: 
    • =AI("For the customer, write a one sentence summary of their feedback.", A2:D2) 
    • =AI("You are the owner of a pet sitting business. Write a 2 sentence summary for the customer about their pet’s last stay. Be a little funny.", F2) 
  • Categorization: 
    • =AI("Categorize the customer inquiry as a compliment, exchange request, or return request.",C2) 
    • =AI("Perform sentiment analysis on the emails sent by the customers to the barbershop.", C2)
If you want to refer to two ranges that aren’t contiguous, you can use concatenation in the prompt. Here are a few examples: 
  • =AI("Write a review of the hot sauce "&A2&" using only the ingredients "&D2&" and the popularity "&E2&".", A2:D2) 
  • =AI("Find the major themes in the customer feedback of "&B2&" using the rating "&C2&" and comments: "&D2&".") 

Who’s impacted 

End users 

Why you’d use it 

Now you can create hundreds of rows of data quickly to do things like categorize user feedback requests or write personalized emails, all without being an expert in data or spreadsheets. Regardless of your data needs, with instant access to Gemini from any cell in your Sheet, the Al function helps you get work done faster. 

Additional details 

  • We currently support text-based responses for text generation, summarization, categorization, and sentiment analysis queries. While the input information is optional, we recommend using it for optimal results. 
  • After generating, if an explicitly referenced cell or the prompt is updated, the cell shows an out-of-sync state, and keeps the previous output for reference. 
  • To refresh a cell, you can select one or multiple cells and press “refresh and insert.” 
  • You can select multiple cells with AI functions and generate outputs; however, only the first 200 selected cells with AI functions will be generated. You can wait for the generation to complete and select more cells to generate outputs. 

Getting started 

Rollout pace 

  • Rapid Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on June 25, 2025 
  • Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on July 29, 2025 

Availability 

Available for Google Workspace: 
  • Business Standard and Plus 
  • Enterprise Standard and Plus 
  • Customers with the Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on 
  • Google AI Pro and Ultra 
Anyone who previously purchased these add-ons will also receive this feature: 
  • Gemini Business* 
  • Gemini Enterprise* 
*As of January 15, 2025, we’re no longer offering the Gemini Business and Gemini Enterprise add-ons for sale. Please refer to this announcement for more details. 

Resources

Changes to "Who can manage" and "Who can view" members in Google Groups starting September 15, 2025

What's changing

There are upcoming changes to permissions in Google Groups which will be implemented starting September 15, 2025.

Currently, Google Groups has three roles: owner, manager, and member. Associated permissions for these roles, like Who can manage members and Who can view members can be configured in a group's settings. Additional group members can be assigned these permissions using custom roles. For example a group could have “who can manage members” set to “group owners” but then configure a custom role, add members to it, and add the custom role to “who can manage members.” 

To reduce complexity and increase consistency across Workspace products, the following will no longer be supported in Groups:
  • Custom roles for Who can manage members and Who can view members
  • The ability to allow the Entire organization to manage members

The timeline for this change is as follows:
Starting September 15, 2025, users will no longer be able to:
  • Add new custom roles for Who can manage members and Who can view members
  • Set Who can manage members to Entire organization

Starting January 5, 2026:
  • If a group has custom roles configured for Who can manage members and Who can view members, those custom roles will no longer apply
  • If a group has Who can manage members set to Entire organization, that setting will be updated to all members

Admins or end users can reassign users in custom roles in impacted groups to the default role that best matches their activity within the group. For example, if a group has Who can manage members set to owners and also has a custom role with three members in it, consider these options: 

  • Recommended: Expand the setting for Who can manage members to owners and managers and add those three users as managers 
  • Change the role of those three members to owners
  • Expand the capability to manage members to all group members

We also recommend setting Who can view members to Entire Organization to make collaboration seamless across Workspace, though if the group requires additional privacy, choose Group members. 

Getting started

Google Classroom now supports exporting grades and importing data with STLink SIS

What’s changing

Google Classroom teachers can now export and import select information via the new integration with Bubblecon STLink, a South Korean third-party student information system (SIS) that provides an innovative edtech platform. The integration between 'STlink service' and Google Classroom leverages the OneRoster standard by 1EdTech.

Once an admin establishes a connection between STLink and Classroom, teachers will be able to export grades from Classroom to STLink. Teachers can also import useful information, such as student rosters, co-teachers, grading periods, and grading categories from STLink into Classroom. 

Getting started 

  • Admins: To enable the feature, go to http://classroom.google.com/admin > next to “Select your SIS,” click the Down arrow > select “STLink” > “Connect to Google.” Under “SIS Setup, click “Connect” > enter the OAuth credentials. Visit the Help Center to learn more about connecting your Classroom to your SIS. 
  • End users: 
    • If your admin has connected to your SIS: 
      • Export grades by going to classroom.google.com > select the class > “Grades” > “SIS export.” 
      • Import grading categories by going to classroom.google.com > select the class > Settings > “Grading Categories” > “Import from SIS.” 
      • Import grading periods by going to classroom.google.com > select the class > Settings > “Grading Periods” > “Import from SIS.” 
      • Import student rosters by going to the People tab > “Invite Students” > “Import from SIS”. 
      • Invite co-teachers by going to the People tab > “Invite Teachers” > “Import from SIS”. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Classroom with your SIS. 

Rollout pace

Availability 

Available for Google Workspace: 
  • Education Plus and the Teaching & Learning Upgrade 

Resources 

Adding granular control options for who can respond to existing Google Forms

What’s changing

Last year, we ​​introduced a feature that gives Google Forms creators more granular control over who can respond to their newly created forms via sharing settings. Specifically, form creators can limit response access to specific users, groups, or target audiences—similar to how file owners can restrict the sharing of Google Docs, Sheets, Slides or Sites in Drive. 

In addition to being available on newly created forms, we’re excited to announce that starting today this option is now available on existing forms. As a result, form creators can upgrade existing or old forms to have more granular controls over who can respond to them. 
Adding granular control options for who can respond to existing Google Forms

Who’s impacted 

End users

Why you’d use it 

This feature is useful in any scenario where you’d like to control who can respond to a form. For example, business leaders can better collect feedback from specific organizational units and prevent the form from being responded to by other teams or organization units. Similarly, teachers can use this to ensure a quiz is only accessible to select students who receive the link. 

Getting started 

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
  • End users: 
    • Form creators must publish their form to enable responders to view the form or submit a response. 
    • Form creators can see who has access to the form and share response access to specific users, groups, or target audiences. 
    • Visit the Help Center to learn more about upgrading your Google Form to have better access control. 

Rollout pace 


Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts 
    • Note: The target audiences feature mentioned above is only available for the Google Drive and Docs and Google Chat services. Supported editions for this feature on Drive, Docs & Chat include: Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, Education Plus, Enterprise Essentials and Enterprise Essentials Plus. Supported editions for this feature on Drive & Docs only include: Business Standard, Nonprofits and G Suite Business. 

Resources 

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – June 20, 2025

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.

Admins can now deploy Context-Aware Access for the NotebookLM mobile app 
Earlier this year, we introduced the ability for admins to specify Context-Aware Access (CAA) policies when their users access NotebookLM. This week, we’ve expanded this to the NotebookLM app, which enables admins to set up access levels for the NotebookLM app based on a user’s identity and the context of the request (location, device security status, IP address). | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. | Context-Aware Access is available for Google Workspace Enterprise Standard and Plus; Education Standard and Plus; Enterprise Essentials Plus; Frontline Standard and Cloud Identity Premium customers. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about protecting your business with Context-Aware Access, about qualifying Google Workspace editions and how to turn this service on or off. 

Introducing a new video player experience in Google Drive on Android devices 
Last year, we announced a smoother, more modern video player on the Google Drive web experience. This updated look and feel is now available when watching Drive videos on your Android device. | Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about storing & playing video in Google Drive. 

Improving the file upload experience on Android and iOS devices 
To improve Google Drive's mobile upload experience, we've launched more fine grained controls and proactive status updates. Starting this week, you’ll notice updates to: 
  • The initial upload screen where you can adjust the file’s name and location. 
  • The progress bar that tells you how many items are uploading and how long it will take. 
  • The Upload Tab where you can see all pending or recently completed uploads. 
Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about uploading files & folders to Google Drive.
Improving the file upload experience on Android and iOS devices
Support for file and people smart chips now available with Google Sheets API
Last month, we introduced the ability to take basic actions to create and modify tables via the Google Sheets API. This week, we’re expanding the API functionality to include the ability to write and read file and people smart chips. | Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Developer Documentation to learn more about the Google Sheets API.

    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.
    Google Meet now offers customizable caption styling
    You can now customize the styling of captions in Google Meet, including the font size, font type, color, and background color. This allows for the captions to be customized in a way that works best for you. | Learn more about caption styles in Meet. 

    Adding new admin settings to control Google Form responses 
    Admins can now independently control two distinct settings: whether users in their domain can respond to forms created externally, and whether users in their domain can share forms with external recipients. | Learn more about admin controls for Google Forms.

    Create a Google Vid from Google Slides 
    At Google I/O, we introduced the ability to turn existing Google Slides content into engaging videos using Google Vids. Today, we’re starting to roll out the first iteration of this new experience for Vids customers. | Learn more about creating a Vid using Slides. 

    Data migration log events are available in the Admin console 
    Beginning this week, you can now access log events for the new data migration service in the audit and investigation tool and the security investigation tool. You can search across a variety of attributes including: Who started a migration, What data is being migrated and When the migration was set up or executed, and more. | Learn more about Data migration log events. 

    Generate charts and valuable insights using Gemini in Google Sheets in additional languages 
    Earlier this year, we introduced the ability for Gemini to provide insights and generate charts based on your data in Google Sheets. Today, we’re excited to expand this feature to the following languages: Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Italian, French and German. | Learn more about language expansion for Gemini in Sheets. 

    The Gemini app is now available to all education users
    We are expanding support for the Gemini app for Google Workspace for Education users of all ages. | Learn more about the Gemini app for education users.

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