Tag Archives: Next 2023

Expanding Smart replies everywhere you receive messages in Google Chat

This announcement is part of Google Cloud Next ‘23. Visit the Workspace Blog to learn more about the new Google Chat. 

What’s changing 

Building upon recently introduced features in Google Chat, such as smart compose and autocorrect, we’re excited to announce that smart replies are expanding from direct messages to group messages and spaces on Chat on web.

You can now utilize smart replies, powered by machine learning, to quickly respond when you're on the go, in a hurry or just want to take the tediousness away from typing messages in Chat. 
Expanding Smart replies everywhere you receive messages in Google Chat

Who’s impacted

End users 


Why you’d use it 

Now available in spaces and group conversations, smart replies help you respond to teammates quickly and move projects forward more efficiently. 


Additional details 

Smart reply uses sophisticated machine learning intelligence to recognize which messages most likely need responses and then proposes up to three different replies. 


Getting started 

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: 
    • Smart replies will appear automatically. Simply select one of three response options surfaced in a chat or customize your response before you click send. Please note, this feature is available in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.
    • To t​urn off smart replies in Chat, navigate to the top right, click Settings > Under "Smart Reply," uncheck the box. 
    • Visit the Help Center to learn more about replying to a chat message. 

Rollout pace 

  • This feature is available now for all users. 

Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources 

Differentiate messages better with additional modernizations in Google Chat

This announcement is part of Google Cloud Next ‘23. Visit the Workspace Blog to learn more about the new Google Chat. 

What’s changing

Earlier this year, we announced a modernized Google Chat based on Google’s Material Design 3 that included updates to the font, colors, layouts, panel sizing and more. Building upon this, we’re introducing message bubbles to enable users to more easily differentiate incoming versus outgoing messages in the Chat message stream. 

Currently, all messages in Chat are aligned the same regardless of the sender and displayed without any visual containers that separate messages into clear groups. With today’s update: 
  • Each incoming message will have an independent message bubble aligned to one side with a solid color background 
  • Each outgoing message will have an independent message bubble aligned to the other side with a different color background 
Differentiate messages better with additional modernizations in Google Chat

Getting started 

  • Admins and end users: No action required. You’ll automatically see these updates in your web and mobile experience over the next several weeks. 

Mobile - Each incoming message will have an independent message bubble aligned to one side with a solid color background Each outgoing message will have an independent message bubble aligned to the other side with a different color background

Rollout pace 

Web: 
Android: 

Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources 

Evolving collaboration in Google Chat with smart chips

This announcement is part of Google Cloud Next ‘23. Visit the Workspace Blog to learn more about the new Google Chat. 

What’s changing

In 2021, we launched smart canvas to drive the next era of collaboration in Google Workspace. Since then, we’ve added numerous smart chips to Google Docs and Sheets that enable you to preview and access rich, context-setting information and files within your documents and spreadsheets. Today, we’re excited to announce smart chips in Google Chat on web. 


When composing a message in Chat, typing “@” will now display a list of suggestions for files to include as smart chips. You can search files by typing the name of the file, and the results will be based on files you’ve used most recently. Once a file is selected, you can insert it directly into your message. 
Evolving collaboration in Google Chat with smart chips

Who’s impacted 

End users 


Why you’d use it 

Many people take a number of collaborative actions in Chat so they can get work done faster. For example, you may share project files in a direct message or space to gather quick feedback from stakeholders. 


This feature reduces friction for senders by eliminating the need to separately find files within Drive and then copy/paste them into a Chat message. Now, users can send files as smart chips so they are compact and readable in a message, without leaving Chat. 


Additional details 

An in-line preview of the file chip will be shown while composing the message, similar to when pasting the URL of the file into Chat. This can be removed by clicking on the dismiss button before sending the message or at any point when editing the message. 


Getting started 

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: In Google Chat on web, type “@” followed by a file name to search for a file and insert it directly into a message. Visit the Help Center to learn more about sending & sharing files in Google Chat. 
    • Note: Mobile users can receive and click on smart chips, but cannot insert them on the Chat mobile app at this time. 

Rollout pace 


Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources 

Import and convert sensitive Excel files into client-side encrypted Google Sheets

This announcement was made at Google Cloud Next ‘23. Visit the Workspace Blog to learn more about latest security updates and the next wave of AI innovation in Workspace.


What’s changing

Launching in open beta, you can now import and convert sensitive Excel files into Google Sheets with client-side encryption. Your encrypted Excel file won’t be changed, even as you change the encrypted Sheets file.

In Google Sheets, navigate to File > Import.


Additional details

With this release:
  • You can only import encrypted .xslx Excel file types. Additional Excel and tabular file types are not supported.
  • During import, unsupported Excel features in Sheets will be ignored.
  • The maximum file size is 20MB.
  • The maximum number of cells that can be imported is 5 million.

Getting started

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Standard and Education Plus customers