Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - March 7, 2025

2 New updatesUnless 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.Advanced formatting for tables in Google SheetsFollowing the improvements made to tables in Google Sheets in August and September, we’re excited to introduce advanced formatting for tables. Now, users have access to a new table formatting sub menu that allows them to toggle on and off gridlines, alternating colors, condense view, and include a table footer. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for March 31, 2025. | Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about using tables in Google Sheets.“Extensions” in Gemini are now “apps” and we’ve upgraded the model powering apps to 2.0 FlashThere are two updates for the Gemini app on web and mobile: “Extensions” in the Gemini app are now referred to as “apps”. Although there are no changes to functionality, please be mindful of this update. Gemini can connect to Google Workspace apps, like Drive or Gmail, to help provide more contextual and relevant responses to your prompts and allow you to take certain actions. The model powering apps in Gemini upgraded to 2.0 Flash Thinking (experimental). Built on the foundation of 2.0 Flash, this model delivers improved performance and better advanced reasoning capabilities with efficiency and speed. Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to all Google Workspace users accessing the Gemini app or Gemini Advanced. | Admins can visit the Help Center to learn more about turning Workspace extensions on or off for their organization, and end users should use this Help Center article to learn more about using apps connected to Gemini with a work or school Google Account.Previous announcementsThe announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.Improving Google Calendar's interoperability with Microsoft OutlookCalendar now reliably processes calendaring emails sent using the Microsoft-specific format for rich text emails called Transport Neutral Encapsulation Format (TNEF). | Learn more about Calendar's interoperability with Microsoft Outlook.Introducing the Salesforce for Gemini extension in GmailYou can now install the Salesforce extension for Gemini in Google Workspace, which will allow you to get information from Salesforce and create leads and contacts directly from Gemini in the side panel of Gmail. | Learn more about the Salesforce for Gemini extension in Gmail.Use Gemini in the side panel of Google Slides in seven new languages You can now use Gemini in the side panel of Google Slides, which includes the ability to generate images, in the following seven new languages: French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish. | Learn more about using Gemini in Slides in new languages.Enhancements for custom and AI-generated backgrounds in Google MeetWe introduced two improvements for creating custom background images with Gemini in Google Meet. | Learn more about backgrounds in Meet. Completed rolloutsThe 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: Easily find and navigate your Google Chat conversations by organizing them into custom sectionsScheduled Release Domains: Easily convert data to people chips and update chip format in Google Sheets (People Chip Suggestions)Use Gemini in the side panel of Workspace apps in seventeen more languagesCreate names for group direct messages in Google Chat (Web)Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains: Improving Google Chat app commandsImproving the cover images experience in Google DocsCreate names for group direct messages in Google Chat (Android)“Take notes for me” in Google Meet now captures “next steps”“Take notes for me” in Google Meet now captures citations to transcriptsGoogle Voice now supports call delegationExpanding SIP Link for Google Voice to new countriesTransferring your personal Google Voice number to a Google Workspace business account just got easierGoogle Vids is expanding its AI voiceovers with new optionsExtending file upload to Gemini app usersGoogle Vids introduces new looping animations featureSummaries in Google Chat home now available for direct messages and read conversationsImproving Google Calendar's interoperability with Microsoft OutlookIntroducing the Salesforce for Gemini extension in GmailFor a recap of announcements in the past six months,

Mar 7, 2025 - 23:39

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - March 7, 2025

2 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.

Advanced formatting for tables in Google Sheets

Following the improvements made to tables in Google Sheets in August and September, we’re excited to introduce advanced formatting for tables. Now, users have access to a new table formatting sub menu that allows them to toggle on and off gridlines, alternating colors, condense view, and include a table footer. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for March 31, 2025. | Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about using tables in Google Sheets.

“Extensions” in Gemini are now “apps” and we’ve upgraded the model powering apps to 2.0 Flash

There are two updates for the Gemini app on web and mobile:

“Extensions” in the Gemini app are now referred to as “apps”. Although there are no changes to functionality, please be mindful of this update. Gemini can connect to Google Workspace apps, like Drive or Gmail, to help provide more contextual and relevant responses to your prompts and allow you to take certain actions.
The model powering apps in Gemini upgraded to 2.0 Flash Thinking (experimental). Built on the foundation of 2.0 Flash, this model delivers improved performance and better advanced reasoning capabilities with efficiency and speed.

Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to all Google Workspace users accessing the Gemini app or Gemini Advanced. | Admins can visit the Help Center to learn more about turning Workspace extensions on or off for their organization, and end users should use this Help Center article to learn more about using apps connected to Gemini with a work or school Google Account.

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.

Improving Google Calendar's interoperability with Microsoft Outlook

Calendar now reliably processes calendaring emails sent using the Microsoft-specific format for rich text emails called Transport Neutral Encapsulation Format (TNEF). | Learn more about Calendar's interoperability with Microsoft Outlook.

Introducing the Salesforce for Gemini extension in Gmail

You can now install the Salesforce extension for Gemini in Google Workspace, which will allow you to get information from Salesforce and create leads and contacts directly from Gemini in the side panel of Gmail. | Learn more about the Salesforce for Gemini extension in Gmail.

Use Gemini in the side panel of Google Slides in seven new languages

You can now use Gemini in the side panel of Google Slides, which includes the ability to generate images, in the following seven new languages: French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish. | Learn more about using Gemini in Slides in new languages.

Enhancements for custom and AI-generated backgrounds in Google Meet

We introduced two improvements for creating custom background images with Gemini in Google Meet. | Learn more about backgrounds in Meet.