Third-party whiteboarding add-ons for Google Meet will be available for room hardware based on Android. As all-in-one devices with touchscreens become certified for Meet, users will be able to whiteboard on them to share ideas, brainstorm, and work on projects together in real-time meetings, wherever they are.

The following third-party whiteboard software will be available on these devices:

Participants who join Meet calls on the web or via the mobile app will be able to view and interact in whiteboard sessions by installing the corresponding add-on. Add-ons can be found in the Workspace Marketplace along with pricing and terms from each third-party vendor.

Add-ons for Google Meet are available from the Workspace Marketplace

Getting started

Rollout pace

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Resources

Google Workspace customers can now deploy the Now Assist Virtual Agent for Google Chat integration directly from the Google Workspace Marketplace. This update simplifies the deployment process for Workspace and ServiceNow administrators, allowing them to provide employees with centralized access to support and automated workflows within their primary communication tool more easily.

The Now Assist Virtual Agent allows users to perform routine ServiceNow tasks and requests without leaving Google Chat. Individuals can get answers from knowledge base articles, create support tickets, check the status of existing requests, and order new items. This integration reduces the need to switch between applications, helping users maintain focus and resolve issues more efficiently.

With Now Assist, users have a contextual conversational experience that can initiate AI Agents to further automate complex workflows and requests.

Getting started

Rollout pace

Availability

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What’s changing 

Google Workspace admins can now get better insights into how Chat apps are being used within their organization via enhanced logging and display of log information. Specifically, we are enhancing Chat event logs to add Chat app related events. Using these logs, admins can gain insights such as:

• Which Chat apps have been added to what Spaces 
• What apps have been added in a specific space 
• What apps have been removed, and who removed them 
• What are the most popular chat apps within your organization 

An example of a data visualization on Chap app usage created via Looker based on BigQuery export data 

Getting started 

• Admins: 
• Logs will be collected by default. Admins can see the logging information: 
• Via BigQuery log export and subsequent queries / data visualizations 
• Via the Reports API 
• Coming soon, the logs will also be available in the Security Investigation Tool (SIT) 
• Use our Help Center to learn more about allowing users to install Chat apps, or using Chat log events. 
• End users: 
• No end user impact. 

Rollout pace 

• This feature is available now. 

Availability 

Audit logs are available via: 

• The Reports API to all Google Workspace customers \
• BigQuery to Frontline Standard and Frontline Plus; Enterprise Standard and Enterprise Plus; Education Standard and Education Plus; Enterprise Essentials Plus. 
• (Coming soon) The Security Investigation Tool (SIT) to Frontline Standard and Frontline Plus; Enterprise Standard and Enterprise Plus; Education Standard and Education Plus; Enterprise Essentials Plus; Cloud Identity Premium. 

Resources 

• Google Workspace Admin Help: Chat log events 
• Google Workspace Admin Help: Allow users to install Chat apps

What’s changing 

We're making it quicker and easier to find and use your favorite apps and actions in Google Chat with a redesigned integrations menu that lets you search for apps and execute commands with fewer clicks. The menu is accessible through the "+" button next to the compose bar or by typing "/". For example, you can now simply type "/poll" to start a Poll using the Poll app, or press the “+” button and see options to create a calendar invite, upload a Drive file, send a Meet link, or more. 

Getting started 

Rollout pace 

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What’s changing 

Chat apps will now automatically be added as needed to future conversations after being installed by a user. Previously, a user had to manually install a Chat app into every space, group chat, and direct message. 

For example, the first time a user tries to start a poll with the Poll app, they will be prompted to install the Poll app. After that, when they try to create a Poll in any space, the app will automatically be installed, and users can start voting right away. 

Note that users can only install Chat apps as allowed by their admin. Admins can also choose to install apps for their organization, making apps available by default for some or all users without the need for users to install apps themselves. 

Getting started 

Rollout pace 

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What’s changing 

Lucidchart, an app that helps users collaborate on diagrams, such as flowcharts, wireframes, entity relationship diagrams, and more, and Lucidspark, a virtual whiteboard tool, are two third-party add-ons already available across Workspace apps, such as Docs and Meet. Today, we’re excited to announce support for both of these apps in Google Chat.

Lucidchart and Lucidspark’s integrations with Google Chat will enable users to: 

Searching for Lucid documents in Chat spaces

Additional details 

Getting started 

Resources 

What’s changing

In 2023, Atlassian introduced Jira and Confluence smart chips, which brings together popular tools used for project management and content collaboration. Since then users have been able to easily access Jira issues and Confluence pages within Google Docs, Sheets and Slides, and now we’re excited to announce a new integration with Gmail that's now included as part of the Jira and Confluence app. 

Users can now create new Jira issues, view up-to-date information about existing issues, and take action all directly from Gmail. 

Whether you're tracking projects, managing tasks, or collaborating across teams, this integration expansion across multiple Workspace apps keeps everything connected – without disrupting your workflow. 

Getting started 

Availability 

Resources 

3 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.

Adding improved accessibility tagging to PDFs exported from Google Docs 

To improve the ability for users with screen readers and other assistive technology to read and navigate PDFs, we’re adding more structural and accessibility tagging in PDFs exported from Google Docs. Specifically, we’ve improved tagging for paragraphs, headings, hyperlinks, image alt text, and lists. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains, with expected completion by mid January 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 Google Docs with a screen reader.

Improving out of office notifications in Google Chat group messages and spaces 

Today, if you navigate to a 1:1 direct message with someone who is out of office, you will see a banner that shows the person is out of office and the date they are returning. We’re excited to announce that this banner will now extend to group direct messages and spaces. If a group direct message or space has more than 6 users, out of office status will only be shown if the user is @ mentioned. | 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 mentioning someone else in a Chat message. 

Easily discover Google Workspace Marketplace apps in Google Docs

We’re making it easier for users to discover and install relevant add-ons and apps available in the Google Workspace Marketplace. Starting this week, when you add a link into a Google Doc that is supported by select Marketplace apps, you will be prompted to install the relevant add-on. Once installed, you can replace the link with a third-party smart chip and preview relevant app information upon hovering over the chip. | Rollout to Rapid Release domains is complete; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for December 10, 2024. | Available to Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about inserting third-party smart chips from other applications.

Update

[October 18, 2024] We have updated the rollout information for this feature. See the Rollout section below for more details.

What’s changing

What’s changing

Developers can create apps for the Google Workspace Marketplace that automate tasks, integrate Google Workspace with third-party products, and enhance communication and collaboration. 

To improve upon the publishing experience, we’re excited to announce that developers can now make changes to their app listing, save them as a draft, and send the draft version to review. This will allow developers to preview changes and share drafts with specific users to help with validation before publishing a listing. 

Who’s impacted 

Developers 

Why you’d use it 

This update allows developers to test and preview their Google Workspace Marketplace app listing prior to publishing, which enables feedback collection and ultimately makes updating an app listing much easier. 

Additional details 

While changes are under review in the draft state, the original app listing remains available on the Google Workspace Marketplace. 

Getting started 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

Resources

1 New update

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.

Improved user experience for Google Meet on Android devices

If you’re joining a Google Meet call from Android phone, tablets or large screen devices, you’ll now see a more streamlined, space-efficient experience with edge-to-edge video. We’ve expanded the video feed to encompass spaces where there were previously margins around the video feed. This helps provide a richer, more immersive viewing experience. You’ll also notice a sleeker user interface for meeting controls, and clearer indicators for information such as the meeting title. | Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available now for all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about joining a meeting.

Previous announcements

What’s changing 

The IFTTT integration enables users to automate Chat with 1,000+ of today's most popular apps. For example, Chat users can now set up workflows, like sending an onboarding email to a customer that’s added as a new member to a space, or sending a message to a space when a new file is added to a Google Drive, Dropbox, or Box folder. Using the integration, Chat users can also stay up-to-date on all of their communities by having new Discord, X, and Facebook mentions or tags automatically posted to a space. 

Using the UKG Flow app, users and employees can perform common UKG actions, such as those included in the Timekeeping & Scheduling functionalities of UKG Pro WFM. 

With these integrations, users can accomplish more in their workday by completing common tasks using daily productivity apps, without ever leaving Chat. 

Getting started 

Rollout pace 

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What’s changing

In 2023, we introduced the ability for admins to install Google Chat apps to direct messages on behalf of users within their domain from the Google Workspace Marketplace. Now, end users can also discover and install Google Chat apps from the Google Workspace Marketplace. 

Additionally, users can now open the Google Workspace Marketplace directly from within Chat. This will include an enhanced browsing experience with curated app categories such as “Intelligent apps”. Lastly, developers can start publishing Chat apps on the Google Workspace Marketplace, allowing users to more easily discover, install and use the apps.

Who’s impacted 

Admins, end users and developers 

Additional details 

Getting started 

3 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.

New ways to use the Google Sheets app on iOS devices 

You can now copy charts from the Google Sheets app on all iOS devices and paste them externally as images or within the same spreadsheet as a duplicate chart. In addition, you can modify text formatting using the contextual toolbar in Sheets when a keyboard is attached to iOS tablets. | Rolling out to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains now. | Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts. | Learn more about adding & editing a chart or graph and editing & formatting a spreadsheet. 

Adding ‘Admin managed apps’ category to Google Workspace Marketplace

We’re excited to announce a new featured app category in the Marketplace: Admin managed. These Enterprise apps can be installed only by a Google Workspace administrator for their organization. | Available now to all Google Workspace customers. | Learn more about Featured app categories. 

Bulk select in Gmail on Android and iOS devices 

We’re introducing a feature that enables you to bulk select a batch of messages in the email threadlist with one tap using the Gmail app on Android and iOS devices. After clicking the select all icon, a batch of messages will be selected, enabling you to easily perform email actions such as deleting multiple messages or marking them as “read”. | This feature is available now on Android devices and is rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains on iOS devices. | Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts. 

Create shareable video presentations in Google Slides 

We’re introducing slides recordings, a new Google Slides feature that lets you easily record yourself presenting, and then share the presentation with others to view when it works for them. | Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus and Education Plus only. | Learn more about slides recordings. 

The next evolution of automated data entry in Google Sheets 

Expanding message bubbles in Google Chat to iOS devices 

In September, we introduced message bubbles in Google Chat on web and Android, enabling users to more easily differentiate incoming versus outgoing messages in the Chat message stream. This week, we’re excited to announce the expansion of message bubbles to iOS devices. | Learn more about message bubbles. 

Updates to the Google Drive scanner on Android & iOS devices 

We’re introducing additional enhancements to the Drive scanner on Android devices, which now powers the Google Pixel camera and includes improvements to the scanner experience when capturing content. We’re also expanding the Google Drive scanner and title suggestion feature to iOS devices. | Learn more about Drive scanner. 

Introducing a new homepage view in Google Drive 

We’ve added a new streamlined homepage for Drive called Home that makes it easier and faster for you to find files that matter most. | Learn more about Drive home. 

Introducing a new mobile experience for Google Chat 

Google Vault now supports Google Calendar 

Google Vault now supports Calendar, which means customers can take new actions around Calendar data. | Available to Google Workspace Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, Education Plus customers or customers with the Vault add-on license only. | Learn more about Vault supporting Calendar. 

More insights to help admins troubleshoot Google Meet hardware issues 

In 2022, we introduced several improvements for managing Google Meet hardware devices. These improvements included surfacing additional information about device issues, such as a description of the issue, when the issue was detected, and more. Now, we’re taking these improvements one step further by providing admins with even more data points. | Learn more about Google Meet hardware issues. 

Monitor insider risk of Google Workspace data with Chronicle 

Admins can now more seamlessly integrate their Google Workspace data with Chronicle (Google’s cloud-native Security Operations platform), to quickly detect, investigate and take action on risky activity and threats. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Standard and Enterprise Plus customers only. | Learn more about Chronicle. 

Google Classroom now supports roster import from SIS partners

Educators can now easily import students from their student information system (SIS) to Google Classroom using OneRoster. This integration saves educators time and helps make class setup much quicker. | Available to Education Plus and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade only. | Learn more about roster import. 

What’s changing

We’re introducing a new admin setting to control whether users can install and run any internal app from the Google Workspace Marketplace along with their allowlisted third-party apps. This added admin feature gives more controls to customize users’ access to trusted internal apps based on their company policies, security requirements and user needs. 

Currently, admins can leverage Marketplace apps access settings to choose to allow users to access all internal and third-party apps or specific allowlisted internal and third party apps published in the Marketplace. Many organizations build internal apps and add-ons specifically for for their organization, and this added admin control saves admins time by allowing them to distribute all internally-built apps with a single click, rather than managing and allowlisting each one. 

Who’s impacted 

Admins, end users and developers 

Why it matters 

This requested feature enables admins to have added control over app access settings. 

Additional details 

With this new setting, admins can allow any internal app, but still limit the installation of third-party apps. Internal apps are apps that are privately-published in your organization. 

Getting started 

What’s changing

Beginning today, you’ll see a new independent security verification badge for select apps in the Google Workspace Marketplace. This badge indicates that the app was validated by an independent security assessor to meet the integration and security requirements, as outlined in Tier 3 of the Cloud Application Security Assessment. 

What’s changing

Google Chat apps integrate with productivity tools, enable you to collaborate with others, and can also help automate your work. Previously, to start using an app in Chat, users had to individually install apps as described here. 

Starting this week, admins can install Chat apps for direct messages on behalf of users within their domain from the Workspace Marketplace. Users will automatically see when an app has been enabled, eliminating the need to manually install the app themselves. 

Who’s impacted 

Admins 

Why you’d use it 

This feature enables admins to provide their users with instant access to the Chat integrations they need for their workflow within an organization. 

Getting started 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

Resources