Tag Archives: Google Chat

See summaries of shared Google Docs, Slides, or Sheets files directly in Google Chat

What’s changing

Similar to how Google Chat’s summaries in the home view provide users with a bulleted synopsis of message content, we’re excited to introduce a new way to preview files shared in Chat. 

Starting today, users can easily summarize Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets files shared within a Chat conversation. 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. 

Gemini summaries for linked Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides

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. 


Getting started 

Rollout pace 


Availability

Available for Google Workspace: 
  • Business Standard and Plus 
  • Enterprise Standard and 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 and Gemini Enterprise add-ons for sale. Please refer to this announcement for more details.

Resources 

Upcoming changes to how retention policies are applied to 1:1 direct messages in Google Chat

What’s happening 

Many Google Workspace organizations rely on Google Chat to facilitate communication and collaboration, including with users in the same domain, users in other Workspace Domains, and users with personal Google accounts. Currently, each organization in an external 1:1 direct message conversation can set their own retention policy, which impacts what messages end users see in the product user interface and what admins see in Google Vault.


To provide a more consistent product experience across conversation types, we are changing how retention policies are applied to 1:1 direct messages with external participants.


Following this change, 1:1 direct messages with external participants will respect the retention policy of the user who created the conversation. If a user in your organization did not create the conversation, they may see more or fewer messages in the Chat user interface after this change since the creator’s policy will be respected. You can see who created the conversation by scrolling to the top of the conversation, or hovering over the external badge. 


This change does not impact an admin’s ability to apply a retention policy or ability to access 1:1 direct messages in Google Vault or Data Export for users with a Google Vault policy applied. 


If you do not have Vault, or do not have a Vault policy applied, changes in access to conversations will apply to the product user interface and Data Export.


Additionally, today, in the case that two users within the same organization have conflicting retention or auto-deletion policies, we respect those policies separately for each user. Once the migration happens, we will respect the longer of the two retention policies and the shorter of the two auto-deletion policies for both users in the conversation. If one user has a custom retention rule while the other has only a default retention rule, the custom rule will take precedence over a default rule.


Starting May 1, 2025:
  • All new external 1:1 direct messages will respect the retention policy of the creator. 
    • For users with a Vault policy applied, the creator’s policy will only impact messages in the Chat product user interface. 

Starting June 2, 2025:
  • Existing 1:1 direct messages will migrate to respect the retention policy of the creator. 
    • For users with a Vault policy applied, the creator’s policy will only impact messages in the Chat product user interface. 

By August 1, 2025:
  • We anticipate the migration will be complete.

Until February 1, 2026:
  • We will preserve impacted 1:1 direct messages in Google Vault or Data Export for 6 months past the end of the migration to allow organizations to download a copy of the data.

Why it matters

It’s important to note that if your organization has a Google Vault policy applied to your users, you will not lose access to any conversations—even if they no longer appear in the Chat product user interface. If your organization does not have Vault or does not have a Vault policy applied, some conversations that were previously available may no longer be available in Data Export or Vault. 


Getting started

Resources

More AI-powered features in Google Meet and Google Chat are coming to Google Workspace Business and Enterprise editions

What’s changing 

Earlier this year, we announced that we’re including the best of Google AI in Workspace Business and Enterprise plans without the need to purchase a separate Gemini add-on. Beginning today, additional AI-powered features are available for Business and Enterprise editions: 


For Google Meet: 
  • Generated background images: With Gemini in Meet, you can generate unique and bespoke meeting backgrounds. Meeting backgrounds can help obscure your surroundings during a meeting or they can enhance the meeting itself. Users will also benefit from our latest model upgrade for background generation, as well as additional style options, like a professional office, library, or home office to help refine their custom backgrounds. 
  • Studio look: Gemini in Meet uses machine learning to detect and enhance (if necessary) the quality of your portrait by reducing noise and increasing sharpness, bringing you into focus so you can look your best in meetings. 
  • Studio lighting: Using machine learning, Gemini in Meet will simulate studio-quality lighting and adjust light position and brightness in your video feed, so you're perfectly lit for your meeting. Note: Studio lighting is only available on devices that meet certain browser and processor requirements. Visit the Help Center to learn more about device requirements for studio lighting. 
  • Studio sound: Gemini in Meet will automatically recreate and balance missing or distorted frequencies helping to make your voice come through crisp and clear. This can be especially useful when dialing in via phone or using bluetooth headsets for example. 

For Google Chat: 
  • Translate for me: Chat will automatically detect and translate over 120 languages to a user’s preferred language while keeping the original message available for review. Instead of navigating outside of Chat to translate a message, this reduces friction and improves collaboration with colleagues, partners and customers in other parts of the world. 

For Google Drawings: 
  • Background image removal: Gemini’s image background removal functionality (also available in Slides and Vids) is now available in Google Drawings.

Getting started

Rollout pace

Availability

Available for Google Workspace:
  • Business Standard and Plus
  • Enterprise Standard and Plus

These features are already available to Gemini for Workspace add-on customers. Note that as of January 15, 2025, Gemini Business, Gemini Enterprise, AI Meetings & Messaging, and AI Security add-ons are no longer available for purchase. Please refer to this announcement for more details.



More AI-powered features in Google Meet and Google Chat are coming to Google Workspace Business and Enterprise editions

What’s changing 

Earlier this year, we announced that we’re including the best of Google AI in Workspace Business and Enterprise plans without the need to purchase a separate Gemini add-on. Beginning today, additional AI-powered features are available for Business and Enterprise editions: 


For Google Meet: 
  • Generated background images: With Gemini in Meet, you can generate unique and bespoke meeting backgrounds. Meeting backgrounds can help obscure your surroundings during a meeting or they can enhance the meeting itself. Users will also benefit from our latest model upgrade for background generation, as well as additional style options, like a professional office, library, or home office to help refine their custom backgrounds. 
  • Studio look: Gemini in Meet uses machine learning to detect and enhance (if necessary) the quality of your portrait by reducing noise and increasing sharpness, bringing you into focus so you can look your best in meetings. 
  • Studio lighting: Using machine learning, Gemini in Meet will simulate studio-quality lighting and adjust light position and brightness in your video feed, so you're perfectly lit for your meeting. Note: Studio lighting is only available on devices that meet certain browser and processor requirements. Visit the Help Center to learn more about device requirements for studio lighting. 
  • Studio sound: Gemini in Meet will automatically recreate and balance missing or distorted frequencies helping to make your voice come through crisp and clear. This can be especially useful when dialing in via phone or using bluetooth headsets for example. 

For Google Chat: 
  • Translate for me: Chat will automatically detect and translate over 120 languages to a user’s preferred language while keeping the original message available for review. Instead of navigating outside of Chat to translate a message, this reduces friction and improves collaboration with colleagues, partners and customers in other parts of the world. 

For Google Drawings: 
  • Background image removal: Gemini’s image background removal functionality (also available in Slides and Vids) is now available in Google Drawings.

Getting started

Rollout pace

Availability

Available for Google Workspace:
  • Business Standard and Plus
  • Enterprise Standard and Plus

These features are already available to Gemini for Workspace add-on customers. Note that as of January 15, 2025, Gemini Business, Gemini Enterprise, AI Meetings & Messaging, and AI Security add-ons are no longer available for purchase. Please refer to this announcement for more details.



Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – February 28, 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.



Summaries in Google Chat home now available for direct messages and read conversations 
Last year, we introduced the ability for Gemini in Google Chat to help you catch up on unread conversations in the Chat home view with summaries. In addition to being available for group conversations, spaces, or threads from home, we’re excited to announce summaries in home are now available for: 
  • Direct messages 
  • Read conversations. Prior to today, you could only review summaries for unread conversations. Now, you can review summaries regardless of read state. 
Upon navigating to a conversation in home, click the “Summarize” button to see a bulleted synopsis of the message content. This enables you to review recent activity across all active conversations to determine where best to focus your time and attention. | Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard and Enterprise Plus. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about summaries in home.


Adding real-time Markdown styling and code formatting support in Google Chat 
Users can change the appearance of their Google Chat messages using the format menu or markdown, and today we’re excited to introduce support for real-time markdown styling and code formatting. With this update, markdown will be converted in the compose bar to formatted text as a user types, rather than being converted only once the message is sent. In addition, we’re adding support for code and code block in the compose bar. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. | Available to Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about using markdown formatting in Google Chat.

Markdown formatting as you type in the compose bar
Markdown formatting as you type in the compose bar




Extending file upload to Gemini app users
We’re excited to announce that users of the Gemini app can now upload a variety of files from Google Drive or locally from their device into the Gemini app: 
  • Document files: DOC, DOCX, PDF, RTF, DOT, DOTX, HWP, HWPX 
  • Documents created in Google Docs 
  • Plain text files: TXT 
  • Presentation files: PPTX 
  • Presentations created with Google Slides
Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to all Google Workspace users 18+ accessing the Gemini app. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about uploading & analyzing files in Gemini Apps. 



Google Vids introduces new looping animations feature 
We’re introducing a feature that enables users to add looping animations to text, stickers, and other shapes in their videos. Looping animations play continuously between enter and exit animations, allowing users to add extra emphasis or style to callouts, supers, and other elements in their videos, which can help increase viewer engagement. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. | Available to Business Standard and Plus, Enterprise Standard and Plus, Essentials, Enterprise Essentials and Enterprise Essentials Plus and Education Plus. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about Google Vids.

looping animations in Vids



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.


Enhancing video navigation and accessibility with Google Drive video transcripts 
Last year, we announced that users can automatically generate captions for any video uploaded to Google Drive, improving the accessibility of videos and saving users the effort of manually creating captions. To build upon this feature and make information discovery, referencing, and productivity with video content much more efficient, we’re excited to introduce video transcripts. | Learn more about video transcripts.

Google Voice now supports call delegation
Admins can assign delegates to handle other users' calls. When assigned, delegates can: 1) Answer calls on the delegator’s behalf, 2) Place calls on the delegator’s behalf, including transferring the call to the delegator once connected , 3) Transfer calls selectively to the delegator and 4) Listen to voicemail messages and view voicemail transcripts. | Learn more about call delegation.

Transferring your personal Google Voice number to a Google Workspace business account just got easier
We're pleased to introduce a significantly improved experience for transferring a personal Google Voice number to a Google Workspace account. | Learn more about transferring your personal number to a Workspace business account. 

New Google Drive Inventory Reporting enhancements provide even richer insights into file permissions
We've enhanced Drive Inventory Reporting to include more detailed permission information for files and folders in My Drive. | Learn more about Drive Inventory Reporting.

Expanding SIP Link for Google Voice to new countries
We've launched Voice to new countries by expanding SIP Link availability. | Learn more about SIP Link.

Integrating HubSpot with Google Chat
Many utilize HubSpot, an AI-powered customer platform, to perform marketing, sales, customer service, content management, operations, and commerce tasks. This week, we’re excited to introduce an integration with HubSpot that enables users to see notifications and updates from HubSpot directly in Chat. | Learn more about the HubSpot integration.

Google Vids is expanding its AI voiceovers with new options
Users can now choose from a wider range of AI voices for their videos with the introduction of new options. | Learn more about new AI voiceovers in Vids.


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).       

    Integrating HubSpot with Google Chat

    What’s changing

    Many utilize HubSpot, an AI-powered customer platform, to perform marketing, sales, customer service, content management, operations, and commerce tasks. Today, we’re excited to introduce an integration with HubSpot that enables users to see notifications and updates from Hubspot directly in Chat. 

    With this integration, users can: 
    • Receive HubSpot notifications in Chat for things like new leads, deal status updates, or changes in contact records. 
    • Improve customer response times by connecting their HubSpot inbox to spaces in Chat. 
    • More efficiently collaborate on support tickets, expedite ticket resolution, and boost customer satisfaction by connecting their help desk workspace to Chat spaces. 
    • Configure and send custom notifications to specific users and Chat spaces through HubSpot workflows, which ensures the right people are informed about any significant event. 
    • Summarize HubSpot records using Breeze Copilot directly from the notifications in Chat. 
    Integrating HubSpot with Google Chat



    Who’s impacted 

    Admins and end users 


    Why you’d use it 

    This update enhances communication, productivity and efficiency for HubSpot customers that use Chat as their primary collaboration tool. 


    Getting started 

    Rollout pace

    Availability 

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

    Resources 

    New Chat Usage Analytics Updates for Admins and Developers

    What’s changing 

    In December 2024, we introduced new, detailed usage reports for Google Chat. These reports help admins better understand how their teams are using Chat, allowing them to analyze engagement, drive adoption, configure safety features, and more. These reports aggregate data at the group and organization level, to provide relevant insights for Workspace admins while protecting individual privacy. 

    Starting today, customerUsageReports.get and userUsageReports.get for Google Chat are available via the Admin SDK Reports API for customers to use in their own customized dashboards and reporting tools. This gives admins more ways to analyze Chat usage data.


    Please refer to the table below to learn about the metrics available to you:

    Category

    Variations

    # of messages sent by users of the organization

    Total number of messages

    Messages sent by conversation type (direct message, group chat, space)

    Messages sent by type (regular, voice, video, huddle)

    Messages sent with or without attachment

    Messages sent to conversations that contain or do not contain external users.

    # of spaces owned by organization

    Number of active spaces

    Number of spaces created

    # of active users in your organization by level of activity

    Number of engaged users (read at least one conversation or sent messages or reactions)


    Number of communicator users (sent at least one message or reaction)

    # of actions by specific users*

    Number of messages and reactions sent


    Number of attachments uploaded


    Number of spaces created


    Number of conversations read

    Most metrics are available for periods of 1, 7, and 28 days.
    *Available for 28 days only

    Additional details

    We’ve also added four new fields and one additional event available in Chat Audit Logs and surfaced in the Security Investigation Tool. In addition to providing even more context on Chat usage, admins can leverage these additional data points in their own custom reporting.


    The fields are:
    Conversation ownership indicates whether the conversation, where a specific Chat event occurs, is owned by the organization or by an external entity. These possible values include:
    • Internally owned: conversation is owned by the admin’s organization
    • Externally owned: conversation is owned by an external entity

    Conversation type indicates the type of conversation where the event occurs:
    • User-to-user direct message
    • User-to-app direct message
    • Group chat
    • Space

    Message type indicates type of the message in Message sent and Message edited events:
    • Regular message
    • Voice message
    • Video message
    • Huddle

    Attachment status indicates whether the message was sent with an attachment (image or file):
    • Has attachment
    • No attachment

    Additionally, we’ve added a new event, “Conversation Read”. Every time a user opens a conversation and reads one or more unread messages, an event will be logged.

    Getting started



    Rollout pace


    Availability

    • New Chat usage metrics in Report API  are available for all Google Workspace customers.
    • The security investigation tool is available for Google Workspace
      • Enterprise Standard and Plus
      • Education Standard and Plus
      • Enterprise Essentials Plus
      • Frontline Standard
      • And Cloud Identity Premium customers

    Migrate data from Microsoft Teams channels to Google Chat spaces using CloudM

    What’s changing

    Building on last year’s announcement of the general availability for Chat APIs to import data from messaging platforms to Google Chat, we’re excited to introduce a new migration solution from a Workspace partner, CloudM. 


    Working with CloudM, you can move your Microsoft Teams channels into Chat spaces. This includes public and private channel messages, public channel attachments, reactions, and channel members mapped to the corresponding space. CloudM also migrates the data while maintaining historical timestamps to ensure users can continue conversations right where they left off.

    Migrate data from Microsoft Teams channels to Google Chat spaces using CloudM

    Who’s impacted 

    Admins 


    Why you’d use it 

    This CloudM solution imports your team collaboration data and knowledge repository from Microsoft Teams channels into Google Chat spaces. 


    Getting started 


    Rollout pace 


    Availability 

    • Available to all Google Workspace customers. Note that a separate CloudM license is required to enable data migrations. 

    Resources 

    Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – February 14, 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.




    2.0 Flash is now the default model in the Gemini app and Gemini Advanced for Workspace users 
    The Gemini app is now operating on 2.0 Flash, which features improved response quality, speed, and efficiency. This update is applicable when using Gemini or Gemini Advanced on web or mobile. | Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to all Google Workspace users accessing the Gemini app or Gemini Advanced. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about accessing the Gemini app with your Workspace account. 


    Pin conversations on your Google Group
    Users can already star, mark as read/unread, report, delete, or lock a conversation in a Google Group. Today, we’re excited to reintroduce the additional ability to pin a conversation, which can be useful to highlight a conversation for other users in a group. The ability to pin messages is limited to users who have permissions to “moderate” a group. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release domains is complete; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for February 18, 2025. | Available to Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about pinning conversations. 
    pinning a conversation to your google group





    Managing bills & finances using summary cards in the Gmail mobile app 
    Following last month's announcement of event summary cards, we're excited to introduce updated summary cards that enable you to view and pay bills, or set a reminder to pay later using Google Tasks. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains on Android and iOS devices. | Available to Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about using summary cards in Gmail. 


    summary cards that enable you to view and pay bills, or set a reminder to pay later using Google Tasks

    Now generally available: migrate messages from Microsoft Teams to Google Chat 
    In December 2024, we introduced the ability for Google Workspace admins to migrate conversations from channels in Microsoft Teams to spaces in Google Chat in open beta. Beginning today, this functionality is generally available for all Google Workspace customers, making it easier for organizations to onboard and deploy Chat in their organizations. | Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available for all Google Workspace customers. | For detailed information, please refer to our original announcement, as well as our Help Center.

    Example of a completed migration

    Example of a completed migration



    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 Learning Tools Interoperability™ update: control when meeting recordings are shared with a new toggle
    Instructors using Meet LTI™ to create and host meetings can control how meeting recordings are shared. | Learn more about Google Meet Learning Tools Interoperability™.

    Create and vote on polls directly in Google Chat 
    In order to provide users with an easy way to gather feedback directly in their Google Chat conversations, we’re introducing a new Poll app. | Learn more about the poll app.

    Improving the cover images experience in Google Docs 
    We’re introducing improvements to adding and working with cover images in Google Docs. | Learn more about the cover image improvements. 

    Data classification labels in Gmail are now available on all Android and iOS devices
    In November 2024, we launched an open beta for data classification labels in Gmail. Beginning this week, data classification labels will be available when using the Gmail app on mobile Android and iOS devices. | Learn more about Data classification labels in Gmail. 

    Create names for group direct messages in Google Chat 
    Users can now create names for existing and new group direct messages. | Learn more about naming group messages in Chat. 

    Introducing the board tab in Google Chat 
    In our continuing effort to improve the ways Google Chat helps teams communicate and collaborate, we’re excited to introduce board in Google Chat. This feature, which can be thought of as a virtual bulletin board, organizes important information and helps keep your team on the same page. | Learn more about board in Chat.


    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: 

    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).            

      Introducing the board tab in Google Chat

      What’s changing 

      In our continuing effort to improve the ways Google Chat helps teams communicate and collaborate, we’re excited to introduce board in Google Chat. 

      This feature, which can be thought of as a virtual bulletin board, organizes important information and helps keep your team on the same page by enabling anyone to: 

      • Pin and share crucial messages, files, and links for quick access 
      • Use intelligent suggestions to quickly find and add relevant resources 
      • Maintain an organized workspace by displaying the board next to your conversation stream when needed and hidden at other times 
      The board in Chat helps you stay focused and reduces context-switching. By gathering relevant assets in a consistent, accessible location, this feature helps with common tasks: 
      • A project manager can maintain a single source of truth for all project-related files and resources shared with their team 
      • A workgroup leader can provide one location to find relevant information and resources used on a regular basis
      • A new team member can quickly find resources to get up to speed on their role and responsibilities so they can contribute to the team as soon as possible 

      board in google chat
      Who’s impacted 


      End users


      Why it’s important 

      Save time and keep assets and conversations organized with the board in Chat, a place where any team member can pin important messages, files and web links. Curating a repository of relevant information for a team or workgroup can be highly beneficial, but ongoing management can be time consuming and cumbersome. The board in Chat solves for this by providing a dynamic, customizable, and visually appealing way to consolidate important information, with file suggestions from Gemini to ensure that all relevant assets are included. 


      Getting started 

      • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
      • End users: 
        • The board is for everyone in a conversation to use and reference. However, space managers can restrict who can update a board by going to space settings > Modify space board and details. 
        • The board tab will appear in all direct messages, group messages and spaces. Clicking on it will open a dedicated right panel displaying the board alongside the message stream. 
          • By default, all users can pin, add resources, edit, and delete information from the board with the exception of announcement spaces. 
          • For spaces, a space manager has the ability to restrict board modification access. 
          • For announcement spaces, only space managers can edit a Board by default. Managers can change this default if needed to allow all members to edit it. 
        • The board will feature sections for pinned messages and pinned resources. 
        • Visit the Help Center to learn more about the Board tab in Chat.

      Rollout pace 

      Availability 

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

      Resources