Tag Archives: Rapid Release

Adding folder support to Gemini in the side panel of Google Drive

What’s changing

Since rolling out Gemini in the side panel of Google Drive, users have been able to summarize one or multiple documents, get quick facts about a project, and more. We also introduced a new way for users to interact with the Gemini side panel while viewing PDFs.

Today we’re excited to announce that you can now focus your Gemini conversations in Drive to a specific Drive folder using the side panel. For example, after indicating a specific folder via an @-mention, you can ask Gemini to find files in the folder or write a summary of the folder’s content. You could also ask things like: 
  • “Summarize files in @-folder” 
  • “What is the theme of the content in @-folder” 
summarizing a folder in Drive using Gemini


Additional details 

Gemini can only answer questions about text documents, PDFs, spreadsheets, and presentations. 


Getting started 

  • Admins: To access Gemini in the side panel of Workspace apps, users need to have smart features and personalization turned on. Admins can turn on default personalization setting for their users in the Admin console. 
  • End users: 
    • If Gemini in the side panel is closed, you can: 
      • Navigate to a folder, and click on the “Summarize this folder” button, or; 
      • Right-click on a folder in the doclist, and click on “Ask Gemini” in the context menu, or; 
      • Select a folder in a doclist, and click on “Summarize this folder” in the selection toolbar. 
    • If Gemini in side panel is already open, you can: 
      • Drag and drop a folder from the doclist into the side panel, or; 
      • @-mention a folder in the side panel’s textbox. 
    • If you are searching for a folder, you can: 
      • Click the Gemini icon next to the folder in the search dropdown box. 
    • Visit the Help Center to learn more about collaborating with Gemini in Google Drive. 

Rollout pace 


Availability 

Available for Google Workspace customers with these add-ons: 
  • Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, Education Premium 
  • Google One AI Premium 

Resources 

Available in open beta: prevent sensitive changes by locking Groups

What’s changing

Admins can now label a Google Group as “Locked,” which will heavily restrict changes to group attributes (such as group name & email address) and memberships. This will help admins who sync their groups from an external source and want to prevent getting out of sync, or who want to restrict changes to sensitive groups. This feature will be available in open beta, which means no additional sign-up is required. 

The Group Details page in the Admin console shows a “Locked” label on the group, with the message “You can’t update this group - it might be managed by an external identity system.”


Who’s impacted

Admins

Why it’s important

If you use third-party tools, like Entra ID, to manage group synchronization, you may encounter inconsistencies when modifications are made to these groups, like adding or removing members, for example. To help address this, we’re introducing the option to “lock” a group, which will prevent modifications within Google Workspace and help maintain synchronization with the external source. 

When a group is locked, only certain admins* can modify:

  • The group name, description, email, and alias(es)
  • Group labels
  • Memberships (adding or removing members) and member restrictions
  • Membership roles
  • Delete the group
  • Set up a new membership expiry

When a group is locked, access and content moderation settings are not affected, this includes:

  • Who can post
  • Who can view members
  • Who can contact members
  • Membership removals due to an existing membership expiry
  • Access or content moderation settings

*Super Admins, Group Admins, and Group Editors with a condition that includes “Locked Groups”

Additional details

By default, the changes listed above will be restricted from end users, including group owners and managers of a locked group. If you want to also restrict some admins from making these changes in the Admin Console or APIs, you can assign them the Group Editor role with a condition that excludes locked groups. 

The ability to lock or unlock a group using the “Locked” label is available to Super Admins, Group Admins, or a custom role with the “Manage Locked Label” privilege. Lock a group using the “Locked” group label in the Admin Console, or the Cloud Identity Groups API.


Getting started

Rollout pace

Availability

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

Resources


Create fully stylized documents using Gemini in Google Docs

What’s changing 

Building upon AI-powered features such as help me write, image generation, and more using Gemini in Google Docs, we’re excited to introduce a new way for users to create highly structured, styled, and visually-appealing documents with Gemini. 

Today, we’re introducing help me create, a new feature that lets you build a full document using content in Drive from a single, custom prompt. Simply click to create at the top of a new document or go to File > New > Help me create to get started. After describing the document you want to create, which includes the option to pull in content from your files using “@ filename", Gemini will transform your blank page into a long-form document with cover images, in-line images, stylized text, tables, content from your Drive files, and more. 
help me create in Google Docs

Who’s impacted 

End users 


Why you’d use it 

Help me create is designed to help you get started with a first draft of your document. For example: 
  • A marketing manager at a CPG company can create a launch plan for a new product using the following prompt: Create a marketing plan to support the launch of a new line of coffee flavors. Include timing, owners, deliverables, and create a cover image that shows different types of coffee. 
  • A manager can create a vision document to keep their team on track by telling Gemini: Create an overview document of our team charter and goals based on [Team charter brainstorm notes], and include a cover image that shows team bonding in an office setting. 
  • A small business owner specializing in eco-friendly products can create a proposal for a new client by typing: Create a proposal for my new client using the deliverables listed in [Customer meeting notes - November 30, 2024]. Outline the scope of work, pricing, and timing, and create a cover image that shows eco-friendly cleaning products and inline images. 
You can also choose from a variety of starter prompts to expedite the creation process for common document use cases. For example, you can select: 
  • A roadmap for a product launch that includes strategy breakdowns and outlines key milestones, timelines, and initiatives (with the option to include images for each feature). 
  • A party planning checklist with a timeline of tasks, milestones, deadlines, and dependencies. 
  • A template for a 15-minute daily standup meeting with teammates that includes a table for each individual to leave their updates. 


Getting started 


Rollout pace

  • Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 10, 2024 
  • Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 16, 2024, with expected completion by January 9, 2025 

Availability 

Available for Google Workspace customers with these add-ons: 
  • Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, Education Premium 
  • Google One AI Premium 

Resources 

Build high-quality, modern documents faster in Google Docs with 40 new templates

What’s changing

We recently released our refreshed library of templates in Google Slides, and today we’re introducing a collection of 40 new high-quality, visually modern designs in Google Docs. 

These pre-made pageless templates consist of several new features that make your documents visual and effective. Document tabs keep your documents organized, placeholder chips make it easy for you and your collaborators to add data, and building blocks, pre-set layouts and styles give your document a premium look and feel. Accessible via the “Templates” button at the top of a newly created document or by going to File > New > From template gallery in an open document, users can find customizable templates that cater to a wide range of use cases. For example, there are templates for blog posts, press releases, business proposals, and journals, in addition to: 

  • A project roadmap, marketing plan, and sales emails for business users. 
  • An interview guide, onboarding guide, and training manual for human resource teams. 
  • A reading list and class notes templates for education users. 
new templates in Docs

Who’s impacted 

End users


Why you’d use it 

Docs templates help users save time since they don’t have to build documents from scratch, create more uniform, high-quality, visually-appealing documents, and enable them to be more productive with the latest Docs features in their daily processes. 


Additional details

You can expect even more high-quality Docs template options in the coming months. 


Getting started 

Rollout pace 

Availability

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

Resources 

Introducing Gemini Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI™)

What’s changing

We’re pleased to introduce Gemini LTI™, an AI-powered assistant that can integrate into third party Learning Management Systems (LMS). Gemini LTI™ helps enhance the educational experience for both educators and students by providing AI-driven tools and features powered by Gemini within their LMS environment. To start, Gemini LTI™ integrates with Canvas by Instructure and Powerschool Schoology Learning. 





Who’s impacted

Admins and end users


Why you’d use it

Google is committed to making AI helpful for everyone, in the classroom and beyond. Bringing Gemini into LMS tools helps educators boost their creativity and productivity to create more dynamic and engaging learning experiences for their students. Specifically, educators can use the AI tools to:

  • Outline a lesson plan, including learning objectives.
  • Generate a quiz and export it to Google Forms.
  • Create a hook to spark curiosity and engage your students.

Students can further solidify what they’re learning in the classroom or explore new topics alongside an AI:
  • In-the-moment assistance: get unstuck and keep learning going by get clarification in real time. 
  • Learning coach: get a step-by-step learning plan built around specific learning goals.
  • Brainstorming partner: generate fresh ideas for a research paper, additional authors to read, and more.
  • Feedback on writing: get suggestions on how to strengthen your arguments and hone your ideas
  • Mock interviews: prepare for an upcoming internship or extra curricular interview.


Additional details

Gemini LTI™ is part of Google Workspace LTI, our suite of LTI™ tools, including Assignments LTI™, Google Drive LTI™, and Google Meet LTI™. Visit our Help Center to learn more about Workspace LTI™. 


Getting started

Tackle repetitive tasks, extract deeper insights, and more with the latest premade Gems in the Gemini app

What’s changing

Earlier this year we introduced Gems for the Gemini app, which are custom AI experts that you can build across a variety of topics. At launch, we included several premade Gems, which allow you to easily chat with an already built, topic-defined Gem, like a writing editor or coding partner.

Launching first in English, we’re introducing several new Gems which you can leverage across a variety of areas, including common use cases for teams across sales, customer service, marketing, human resources, and more. Specifically, these Gems are:

  • Sales pitch ideator
  • Hiring consultant
  • Outreach specialist
  • Copy creator
  • Sentiment analyzer

The starting point for one of the new premade Gems, Outreach specialist, in the Gemini



Who’s impacted

End users

Why you’d use them

Gems empower users to streamline time-consuming tasks, generate innovative ideas, and enhance productivity. By minimizing repetitive prompting, Gems provides a tailored experience, maximizing the efficiency and potential of Gemini to meet your specific needs:

  • Sales pitch ideator can help sales teams create compelling pitch materials to drive conversions. 
  • Hiring consultant can help hiring teams write requirements based on job descriptions for similar positions. 
  • Outreach specialist can help sales and customer support teams craft personalized messages to customers.
  • Copy creator can help marketing teams write appealing branded content.
  • Sentiment analyzer can help customer-facing teams analyze feedback and reveal sentiment trends over time. 

Getting started

  • Admins: Gems are available in Gemini (gemini.google.com) by default — there is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: These premade Gems will be available starting in English. We hope to expand to additional languages soon. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Gems.

Request an eSignature on PDF files

What’s changing 

Earlier this year we introduced eSignature in Google Docs for select Google Workspace customers. eSignature helps you request, track, and add signatures to official contracts, and more. 


Today, we’re pleased to announce that you can now request electronic signatures on PDF files stored in Google Drive. This capability includes custom fields, such as phone number, job title, company, etc. Expanding eSignature to include PDFs will make it even easier to request and capture signatures all without leaving Workspace.

Requesting an eSignature on a PDF stored in Google Drive


Getting started



Rollout pace


Availability

Available for Google Workspace:
  • Business Standard and Plus
  • Enterprise Starter, Standard and Plus
  • Essentials and Enterprise Essentials Plus
  • Education Plus
  • Also available to Google Workspace Individual subscribers 

Resources


Assign Calendar resources to organizational units

What’s changing

Admins can now assign Calendar resources, such as rooms, projectors, or company cars, to specific organizational units. Upon doing so, the resource will be governed by the policies and settings of the assigned organizational unit (OU), including data location policies.


Getting started


Rollout pace


Availability

  • Available for Google Workspace Enterprise Plus and Assured Controls customers

Resources


Adding granular control options for who can respond to Google Forms

What’s changing

Last year, we ​​introduced a beta that gives Google Forms creators more granular control over who can respond to their forms via sharing settings. 

Previously, form creators had two sharing options: restrict responses to users within their domain (and trusted domains) or make forms public (i.e. anyone with the URL can respond). 

With this new option, now generally available, 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. 

Adding granular control options for who can respond to Google Forms




Who’s impacted 

Admins, end users and developers 


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 publishing & sharing your form with responders.

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 

Now generally available: configure third-party apps by select API scopes

What’s changing 

Earlier this year, we launched the ability to configure third-party apps by select API scopes to open beta. Beginning today, this feature is now generally available. 


This update gives admins more granular control. They can limit third-party app access to specific OAuth 2.0 scopes for Google APIs, like Drive or Gmail. This prevents apps from gaining additional access without admin consent, even if they request new API scopes in the future. This helps ensure data access is restricted to only what admins deem necessary.



Getting started


Rollout pace


Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as Cloud Identity Free and Premium customers


Resources