Streamlining rubric generation in Google Classroom with Gemini

To make it easier to create rubrics and grade in Google Classroom, educators can now instantly generate a new Classroom-ready rubric during their assignment creation workflow, using context from their assignment.

With this update, there will now be multiple ways to create and use rubrics in Classroom:

  • [New] Draft relevant Classroom rubrics from the assignment creation page: Within the “Rubrics” section, generate a new Classroom-ready rubric with help from Gemini based on their assignment. Educators can review and edit the proposed rubric criteria before adding it to the assignment, saving valuable prep time. 
  • Convert existing rubrics files from the assignment creation page: Within the “Rubrics” section, educators can select an existing rubric they have and instantly convert it to a Classroom-ready rubric.
  • Create rubric files from the Gemini tab: When planning their lessons, educators can collaborate with Gemini to draft a rubric based on information that they provide. They can then export the rubric to Sheets or Docs before attaching it to their class.

Note: This feature is only available for users over age 18.

Streamline grading setup by instantly generating custom rubrics directly within the assignment creation workflow.

Getting started

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Education: Education Fundamentals, Standard, and Plus

Resources

A unified API for AI model routing

Google Cloud API Gateway now offers a model routing feature in Public Preview, allowing developers to dynamically route traffic to models like Gemini, Claude, or OpenAI OSS-GPT without hardcoding endpoints or managing open-source proxies. Developers can easily configure these routing rules directly within their OpenAPI 3.x specifications by mapping virtual model names to specific backend targets on a shared host. Once deployed, the Gateway acts as a serverless ingress layer that accepts standard OpenAI-compatible requests, automatically transcodes the payload to the native schema of the target model, and routes the traffic on the fly.

Beta Channel Update for ChromeOS / ChromeOS Flex

The Beta channel is being updated to OS version 16733.40.0 (Browser version 151.0.7922.104) for most ChromeOS devices.

If you find new issues, please let us know one of the following ways:



  1. File a bug

  2. Visit our ChromeOS communities

    1. General: Chromebook Help Community

    2. Beta Specific: ChromeOS Beta Help Community

  3. Report an issue or send feedback on Chrome

  4. Interested in switching channels? Find out how.


Andy Wu

Google ChromeOS

Stable Channel Update for Desktop

The Stable channel has been updated to 151.0.7922.75/.76 for Windows and Mac and 151.0.7922.75 for Linux, which will roll out over the coming days/weeks. A full list of changes in this build is available in the Log 


Interested in switching release channels? Find out how here. If you find a new issue, please let us know by filing a bug. The community help forum is also a great place to reach out for help or learn about common issues.


Daniel Yip

Google Chrome

Gemini in Google Classroom is expanding to users of all ages, with contextualized Gemini starter prompts for students

Last year, we launched Gemini in Google Classroom to help educators save time on planning and create more engaging lessons, and later expanded Gemini in Classroom to higher education students 18 years of age and older to help them study and learn. Starting August 10, 2026, Gemini in Classroom will also be made available to K-12 and higher education students of all ages who have already been granted access to Gemini in Classroom, Gemini and Gemini Notebook by their admin, offering a guided space to interact with these tools.

In Classroom, students can access the Gemini tab to transform their class materials into interactive experiences that help them study and learn. For example, students who have access to Gemini can select course materials to create flashcards or practice quizzes with Gemini that are tailored to their class. Students with Gemini Notebook access can also sync the materials provided by their teacher to Gemini Notebook, enabling them to create interactive study guides, audio overviews, infographics, and more.



Additionally, starter prompts on the student Gemini tab can now use context from Classroom to tailor Gemini interactions specifically to students’ schoolwork. This update transforms the existing starter prompts into highly contextualized experiences, eliminating the need to go back and forth between Classroom and Gemini to get support relevant to what they’re learning in the classroom.

When a student clicks on one of these starter prompts, a new box now appears that allows them to select a specific class and assignment. The Gemini prompt will then incorporate the relevant title, assignment instructions, and curriculum materials as context directly from Google Classroom, ensuring that the resulting interaction is grounded in the student’s academic context.



If Gemini in Classroom and the Gemini app are enabled, students will also be able to access “Learn with Gemini” when they hover over any assignment in “Due Soon” on the redesigned Classroom homepage. “Learn with Gemini” helps students get guided help or create study guides, practice quizzes, and flashcards – all based on their class curriculum.



Access to the Gemini tab in Classroom is currently available globally in all Classroom-supported languages in which Gemini is also available.

Getting started

Admins:

  • Access to the Gemini tab in Classroom is On by default for teachers and students of all ages, and is controlled using the Gemini in Classroom control. If Gemini in Classroom is currently turned off for students, access will remain off for all students, including students younger than 18.
  • As an administrator of your organization's Google Accounts, you can control who is allowed to use Gemini in Google Classroom. The student capabilities are only available to users:
    • Whose role is defined as “Student” in Classroom
    • Who are in a group or OU with Gemini in Classroom set to On
    • Who are in a group or OU with Gemini Notebook set to On and/or Gemini set to On
Note: Users do not need to have both the Gemini app and Gemini Notebook set to On in order to see the Gemini tab. For example, if Gemini is set to Off, Gemini features will not be visible.


  • If you would like to disable Gemini in Google Classroom for users who are under 18 years old, you can create an OU with only those users and turn off access for that OU only. Visit the Help Center to learn about managing access to Gemini in Classroom, Gemini app, Gemini Notebook, and the option to turn these services on or off for users in your Admin console.
  • Ensure roles in Classroom are appropriately assigned to users. Learn more about teacher and student roles.

End users:

  • Navigate to the Gemini tab in the navigation bar in Google Classroom.
  • When using generated content, you should always review the outputs as AI can make mistakes and refine the output so that it fits your context and local policies.
  • Visit the Help Center to learn more about Gemini in Classroom and learn more about how to use generative AI for students.

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Education: Fundamentals, Standard, and Plus

Resources

Why do internet promo deals cost more over time?

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Promotional pricing on internet service is designed to look like a great deal. It often isn't. Customers who choose a low introductory rate routinely pay more per month on average overall than customers who chose straightforward pricing from day one.

How promotional pricing works

Many major internet providers advertise a rate that applies only to new customers for some limited amount of time, typically 12 to 24 months. The promotional rate often appears in ads, mailers, and search results, and may not include taxes and fees. But, even if it’s a great price for that short period, the standard rate activates automatically when the promotional period ends. And, according to HighSpeedInternet.com, these standard rates can be up to more than $70 higher per month, and usually both the amount and the timing is tucked away in the fine print.

These rates can come with other requirements as well. Some providers bundle the promotional rate with a TV or phone package. The bundle lowers the apparent monthly cost, but the discount is temporary, and customers often continue paying for service they don't use long after the promotional period ends. Or they can represent guaranteed pricing like a multi-year price lock. Advertising like "your price won't change for 5 years" sounds reassuring. But these promotions frequently exclude equipment rental fees and broadcast TV surcharges. And of course, when the lock expires, standard rates apply.

Three promotions to watch out for

There are three common advertising approaches that some internet providers use to attract new customers, but it pays to read the fine print. 

  • Introductory rates. Advertisements often promise fast internet starting at a low monthly rate, but the asterisk usually leads to a "for 12 months" disclaimer. After that, the price jumps to the standard rate. When you add a monthly equipment rental fee and a one-time installation or activation charge, your average monthly cost climbs significantly.

  • Bundles. Bundle promotions reduce the individual price of each service only while the bundle remains active. When the promo ends, each component usually reverts to its standard rate. Customers who decide to drop TV from the bundle often discover that the internet-only rate is higher than what they were paying for the entire bundle before.


  • Price locks. A limited-time price lock can look competitive, but it’s important to read the fine print. Price locks typically exclude other essential fees like equipment and may only apply to select speeds. When the lock ends, the standard rate kicks in, often requiring customers to call customer service to negotiate a new discount.


Once the promotional period ends, the standard rate kicks in automatically, and customers pay a significantly higher price per month than what they signed up for.

But GFiber’s transparent pricing policy is designed so you always know exactly what you're going to pay. Our products are priced at a flat rate every month with no hidden fees. There are no expiring introductory rates to worry about, confusing bundles to manage, or price locks to negotiate. What you see when you sign up is what you can expect.

The GFiber difference: transparent, all-inclusive pricing

GFiber uses an all-inclusive pricing structure designed to remove any pricing uncertainty for our internet products. For example, the GFiber Core 1 Gig plan is $70 per month.[1] This straightforward rate includes professional installation and your Wi-Fi hardware (including router and up to extenders as needed[2]), with no promotional expiration dates, no data caps, and no unexpected rate hikes down the road. And that price hasn’t changed since we launched it in KC in 2012.

This commitment to a truly great customer experience is a primary reason why GFiber has been awarded #1 in Customer Satisfaction for Residential Wired Internet Service in the South Region by J.D. Power for three consecutive years.[4] Customers know exactly what they will pay every single month and never have to spend their valuable time negotiating with customer service over an unexpected increase on their bill.

The real cost of chasing a deal

The lowest advertised rate is rarely the lowest long-term cost. Introductory pricing, bundle discounts, and multi-year locks all share a compelling number up front and an inevitably higher number down the road. Coupled with the frustration of not realizing your bill went up, having to call to request the original price you signed up for, seeing new customers get a better deal than you, these lower priced deals are seldom worth it in the long run.

The internet is an essential monthly expense. That’s why our suite of lifestyle internet products is built around how you use the internet, like GFiber’s Core 1 Gig for $70. Every month. No negotiating required. Because with GFiber, the price you see when you sign up is exactly what you can expect month after month, year after year.


Footnotes and Disclaimers


  • [1] Pricing & Service: Upload/download speed and device streaming claims are based on maximum wired speeds. Actual internet speeds, Wi-Fi speeds, and Wi-Fi coverage are not guaranteed and can vary based on factors such as home or business size and layout, construction materials, hardware and software limitations, latency, packet loss, etc. Advertised prices do not include local access fees, which go back into your community, or taxes, both of which may be subject to increase. 

  • [2] Customers canceling service will have to pay a replacement fee (including any applicable taxes) if they fail to return equipment within 60 days after cancellation.

  • [3] J.D. Power Award: GFiber received the highest score in the South region of the J.D. Power 2023-2025 U.S. Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Studies, which measures customers’ satisfaction of service with their current internet. Visit jdpower.com/awards for more details.

What makes GFiber’s fiber-optic infrastructure unique for high-speed internet?

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There are several ways to connect your home to the internet today, and each comes with its own set of performance standards. GFiber runs on an entirely fiber-optic network built to deliver high symmetrical speeds, low latency, and reliable performance directly to your home. Additionally, GFiber proactively improves network technology across active service areas to align with modern bandwidth demands.

Understanding internet connection types

Most households connect to the internet via fiber, cable, DSL, fixed wireless 5G, or satellite. The structural performance of these formats varies based on physics and network materials. Here’s how they break down:

  • Fiber-optic technology: Fiber carries data as pulses of light through glass. Fiber-optic technology allows signals to travel faster than electrical currents. Fiber networks run fiber-optic cable from a central facility directly to your home.

  • Cable internet infrastructure: Cable usually runs on hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) networks. While fiber may carry data to a neighborhood node, coaxial cable handles the final leg of the journey to the home and uses copper cable and electrical signals

  • DSL networks: DSL uses traditional copper telephone lines. Because of the limitations of copper, signal quality and speed often drop the further you are from the provider’s central office.

  • Fixed wireless 5G: Fixed wireless 5G connects homes using the same radio spectrum as mobile cellphone networks. Data travels from nearby cell towers to a receiver installed at your home.

  • Satellite infrastructure: Satellite uses radio waves beamed from space to a home dish. While satellite reaches remote areas, weather can affect signal quality and offered speeds are often lower.

Which internet connection is right for you?

Selecting an internet format depends on your specific performance needs and local network availability. For those on the fence about which type of internet would work best for them, it’s worth noting that according to an editorial analysis from CNET, "Google Fiber raises the bar for fiber internet service."[1]

Additionally, CNET editors note that "You can expect fully symmetrical speeds and a reliable connection." Symmetrical architecture balances your network link, providing identical performance lanes for both downloading and uploading data.

Internet Type

Best For

Features

Fiber

4K ultra-high definition streaming, real-time content creation with large files, instant response gaming, and multi-device households for simultaneous remote work and entertainment

The fastest speeds (symmetrical uploads/downloads[2] and near zero latency)

Cable

General internet needs such as web browsing and streaming

High speed downloads, limited upload speeds 

Fixed wireless 5G

General internet needs such as web browsing and streaming

Powered by phone networks. Speed varies by location; upload speeds are usually lower

DSL 

Basic browsing

Potentially lower speeds tied to physical distance from the central office

Satellite

Rural or remote areas

Available where others aren't; prone to weather interference

GFiber's XGS-PON and 25G PON network technology 

GFiber operates two advanced technologies—XGS-PON and 25G PON—simultaneously. By deploying both systems on the same physical infrastructure, GFiber has already prepared our network for the increasing internet demands of multimodal AI environments, immersive video streaming, and advanced cloud computing.

XGS-PON powers our current residential products. Core 1 Gig, Home 3 Gig, and Edge 8 Gig all run on this 10 Gbps symmetrical fiber platform, which serves the majority of our customers today.

25G PON is our next-generation layer. GFiber has been deploying this technology since 2023. Ninety percent of homes and businesses in our network footprint are now 20 Gig capable. To unlock this capacity, a technician installs a new optical network terminal (ONT) inside the home without the need to dig new street trenches. Because this updated technology uses already deployed fiber lines, GFiber increases total network capacity through hardware and software updates rather than disruptive neighborhood construction.

Today, GFiber operates an all-fiber network in 19 states and counting. See if GFiber is available in your neighborhood at gfiber.com. 


Footnotes and Disclaimers

[1] CNET Award Attribution: CNET: Best No Contract ISP 2025 Overall Winner. Reprinted with permission. © 2025 Ziff Davis, LLC. All Rights Reserved. "Google Fiber raises the bar for fiber internet service." "You can expect fully symmetrical speeds and a reliable connection."

[2] Upload/download speed and device streaming claims are based on maximum wired speeds. Actual internet speeds, Wi-Fi speeds, and Wi-Fi coverage are not guaranteed and can vary based on factors such as home or business size and layout, construction materials, hardware and software limitations, latency, packet loss, etc.