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Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – April 18, 2025

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.


Create custom chart groupings in Connected Sheets
We’re excited to announce that Connected Sheets users can now create custom groupings for numeric values in a chart. More specifically, users can control the minimum and maximum value of the buckets and the interval size of the bucket. We hope this improves upon the experience of using Connected Sheets to visualize a large amount of data.  | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. | Available to Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about analyzing & refreshing BigQuery data in Google Sheets using Connected Sheets, Google Sheets limitations, and getting started with BigQuery data in Google Sheets.

Create custom chart groupings in Connected Sheets




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.


Use Gemini in Google Classroom to generate questions or a quiz based on specific text 
We're adding a text-dependent question generation tool to further our efforts for AI to help educators save time, create captivating learning experiences, and inspire creativity. | Learn more about text-dependent questions in Classroom. 

Google Docs code blocks now available in additional programming languages 
We’re adding support for additional code languages to give even more users the ability to easily visualize code, making more code readable and collaboration much easier. | Learn more about new programming languages for code blocks in Docs. 

Google Classroom is expanding to 7 additional languages 
Last month, we announced the ability to use the Google Classroom mobile app in additional languages, and today we’re excited to announce the same languages are also now available with the web experience: Afrikaans, Assamese, Estonian, French Canadian, Icelandic, Kazakh and Swahili. | Learn more about new languages in Classroom. 

Introducing silent reading mode in Google Classroom’s Read Along 
We’re introducing a new feature that allows students to read a book in silent reading mode. | Learn more about silent reading mode. 

Control Workspace Business and Enterprise users’ access to new Google Workspace with Gemini features before general availability
In the coming weeks, Google Workspace Business and Enterprise admins will be able to turn on access to Workspace with Gemini alpha features for their users. Turning this on gives your users a head start on leveraging our latest AI features and the opportunity to provide Google with helpful feedback as we develop new features. | Learn more about access to new Gemini features before general availability.

Introducing the ability to grade and assign grading labels in bulk in Google Classroom
To further improve grading options for teachers using grading systems in Google Classroom, we recently introduced the ability to perform bulk grading via ‘grade all’. | Learn more about bulk grading in Classroom.

Updates for configuring your preferred language for “Take notes for me”, recorded captions, and meeting transcripts
You can now set your preferred language from the Calendar invite and during the meeting when using Google Meet on Android and iOS devices. | Learn more about preferred languages in Meet.

Completed rollouts

The 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: 
Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains: 
For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).

Updates for configuring your preferred language for “Take notes for me”, recorded captions, and meeting transcripts

What’s changing

We recently announced additional language support for “Take notes for me”, recorded captions, and meeting transcripts. You can now set your preferred language for these features: 
  • From the Calendar invite. Your preferred language will apply to every meeting in a series.
  • During the meeting when using Google Meet on Android and iOS devices.
Choosing your preferred language from the Calendar invite

Choosing your preferred language during the meeting on a mobile device




Additional details

Available on iOS for:
  • Gmail: 6.0.250305.1795546
  • Meet: 298.0.72766

Available on Android for:
  • Gmail: 2025.04.06.744527406
  • Meet: 301.0.744527189

Getting started


Rollout pace

Mobile availability:

Calendar availability:


Availability

“Take notes for me” is available for Google Workspace:
  • Business Standard and Plus
  • Enterprise Standard and Plus
  • Also available with the Gemini Education Premium add-on
  • Anyone who previously purchased the Gemini Enterprise* and AI Meetings & Messaging* add-ons will also receive this feature.
*As of January 15, 2025, we’re no longer offering the Gemini Enterprise add-ons for sale. Please refer to this announcement for more details.

Transcripts are available for Google Workspace:
  • Business Standard and Plus
  • Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus
  • Education Plus and the Teaching & Learning Add-on
  • Workspace Individual Subscribers

Captions included in a meeting recording are available for Google Workspace:
  • Business Plus and Standard
  • Education Plus for users with a "Staff" or "Student" license, and the Teaching & Learning add-on
  • Enterprise Essentials
  • Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus
  • Workspace Individual Subscribers
  • Google One subscribers with 2 TB or more storage space

Resources


Introducing the ability to grade and assign grading labels in bulk in Google Classroom

What’s changing

To further improve grading options for teachers using grading systems in Google Classroom, we recently introduced the ability to perform bulk grading via ‘grade all’. With this new feature, teachers can quickly and efficiently grade all students' work on the Gradebook page by selecting ‘grade all’. They can also choose to override existing grades and automatically return them to students after grading. 


Today, we’re excited to announce that teachers can now take bulk grading action on the Student work page in addition to the Gradebook. This update enables teachers to grade and assign grading labels in bulk, ultimately making grading more efficient and saving teachers time. 


Getting started 

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: 
    • Once a teacher has set up grading, they can follow these steps to grade all: 
      • Go to Google Classroom > Student Work Page > select multiple students > click the bulk actions menu and select the desired option 
    • Visit the Help Center to learn more about grading & returning an assignment. 

Rollout pace

Availability 

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

Resources 

Control Workspace Business and Enterprise users’ access to new Google Workspace with Gemini features before general availability

What’s changing

In the coming weeks, Google Workspace Business and Enterprise admins will be able to turn on access to Workspace with Gemini alpha features for their users. Turning this on gives your users a head start on leveraging our latest AI features and the opportunity to provide Google with helpful feedback as we develop new features. More information can be found below which can help you decide whether early access is right for your users. We first introduced this option last year for Google Workspace customers who previously purchased a Gemini Enterprise, Gemini Business and AI Meetings & Messaging add-on. 


Access to Gemini alpha features can be turned on for all users or a subset of users in specific Organizational Units (OUs) or Groups.

Admin console > Generative AI > Gemini for Workspace > Alpha features




Additional details

  • Alpha features get the same robust data protection standards that come with all Google Workspace services.
  • Alpha features are experimental and may not always get things right. We’re looking forward to customers’ feedback to help us improve these features before they’re rolled out to general availability. However, please keep in mind that Alpha features may be changed, suspended or discontinued at any time without prior notice.

Getting started

  • Admins: 
    • This feature will be OFF by default and can be enabled at the domain, OU, or group level. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning access to Gemini in Workspace apps Alpha on or off. 
    • Please consider the following before configuring Gemini alpha access for your users:
      • With this launch, Gemini add-on licenses will no longer be required for your users to access Gemini in Workspace apps alpha features. Please ensure the alpha setting is turned ON only for your desired groups or OUs.   
      • Once the Gemini in Workspace apps alpha setting is enabled, users may be granted access to new alpha features at any time — it is not possible to enable a subset of features or opt-out of specific features. We strongly recommend that admins and end users sign up for the Google Workspace alpha community page. Here, you can find the latest Gemini in Workspace apps alpha features, ask questions and provide feedback about the features on this page.
      • Features may be added to, modified, and removed from alpha at any time — there is no advanced notice of these features appearing for users.
      • Some alpha features may not roll out to all your selected alpha users. 
      • As these features are not yet generally available, we will not offer full support for these features.
      • You can also help us improve Gemini in Workspace apps by allowing users at your organization to provide feedback via research studies and surveys. 

Rollout pace

Admin setting 

Availability

This update impacts Google Workspace:
  • Business Starter, Standard, and Plus
  • Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus


Resources


Introducing silent reading mode in Google Classroom’s Read Along

What’s changing 

In addition to the recent announcement of educators being able to upload content to Read Along in Google Classroom, we’re excited to introduce a new feature that allows students to read a book in silent reading mode. 


Prior to today, students could only read aloud and unlike the default reading mode, silent reading mode will allow students to read a book silently without having to draw attention to themselves or disturbing their classmates. In addition to giving teachers more flexibility in how they use Read Along, this new reading mode is particularly useful in scenarios where multiple students might be working on a reading assignment in the same space. With less noise and fewer distractions, students can still build independent reading skills and will continue to: 
  • Receive assistance from the AI reading buddy when needed by clicking on any unknown words 
  • Be presented with questions to help with their reading comprehension 
  • Receive stars when they read with few errors or assistance and answer questions correctly 

Additional details 

When using silent reading mode, teachers will not be provided with a student's reading performance related to accuracy, words per minute, or phonics. The teacher will receive reading performance insights related to comprehension. 


Getting started 


Rollout pace 

Availability 

Available for Google Workspace: 
  • Education Plus and the Teaching and Learning add-on 

Resources

Google Classroom is expanding to 7 additional languages

What’s changing

Last month, we announced the ability to use the Google Classroom mobile app in additional languages, and today we’re excited to announce the same languages are also now available with the web experience: 
  • Afrikaans
  • Assamese 
  • Estonian 
  • French Canadian 
  • Icelandic 
  • Kazakh 
  • Swahili 

Additional details 

Certain Google Classroom features might not be accessible in all languages, including Read Along in Classroom, Practice sets, Originality reports and Gemini in Classroom 

Getting started 

Rollout pace 


Availability 

Available for Google Workspace: 
  • Education Fundamentals, Standard, Plus, and the Teaching and Learning add-on, Endpoint Education add-on 
  • Customers with the Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on 

Resources 

Google Docs code blocks now available in additional programming languages

What’s changing

In 2022, we introduced a smart canvas feature that enables you to format and display code in Google Docs with code blocks. 

We’re adding support for additional code languages to give even more users the ability to easily visualize code, making more code readable and collaboration much easier. Starting today, users can now format code blocks in the following additional programming languages: 
  • C# 
  • Go 
  • Kotlin 
  • PHP 
  • Rust 
  • TypeScript 
  • HTML 
  • CSS 
  • XML 
  • JSON 
  • Protobuf 
  • Textproto 
  • SQL 
  • Bash/Shell 
additional Docs code blocks programming languages


Getting started 

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: To format and display code in a Doc, select Insert > Building blocks > Code blocks > choose your programming language or search @ > Code blocks > choose your programming language. Visit the Help Center to learn more about inserting smart chips & building blocks in your Google Doc. 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

Available for Google Workspace: 
  • Business Standard and Plus 
  • Enterprise Starter, Standard and Plus 
  • Enterprise Essentials Plus 
  • Education Standard and Plus 

Resources 

Use Gemini in Google Classroom to generate questions or a quiz based on specific text

What’s changing 

Earlier this year, we introduced the ability to generate vocabulary lists with the help of Gemini in Google Classroom. Today, we’re adding a text-dependent question generation tool to further our efforts for AI to help educators save time, create captivating learning experiences, and inspire creativity. 

Educators can select a Google Drive file or manually input text, select which skills they want students to demonstrate, then generate questions to assess grade-specific comprehension and critical reasoning skills of students. Once generated, educators can then export the questions to a Google Form or Google Doc to assign to students. This new option can be particularly useful in a variety of scenarios, such as creating an exit ticket or a quiz to check students’ understanding.

Getting started 

Rollout pace

Availability

Available for Google Workspace for Education customers with these add-ons: 
  • Gemini Education and Gemini Education Premium 

Resources 

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – April 11, 2025

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.


Deep Research is now available on Gemini 2.5 Pro Experimental
Google Workspace users with access to the Gemini app can now use Deep Research with Gemini 2.5 Pro Experimental, the world’s most capable AI model according to industry reasoning benchmarks and Chatbot Arena. Gemini Deep Research is your personal AI research assistant, and with our most intelligent model, it’s even better at every step of the research process. Try it now by selecting Gemini 2.5 Pro (experimental) from the drop down and tapping “Deep Research” in the prompt bar. | Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to all Google Workspace users with access to the Gemini app. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Gemini for in-depth research.


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.


Help me write in Google Docs now available in four additional languages 
In Google Docs, Help me write is now available in four additional languages: Japanese, Italian, French and German. | Learn more about language availability for Help me write in Docs. 

Help me write in Gmail now available in Japanese and Korean 
Building upon our recent language availability announcement for Italian, French and German, we’re excited to introduce Help me write in Gmail across web and mobile devices in two additional languages: Japanese and Korean. | Learn more about language availability for Help me write in Gmail. 

Educators can now upload content to Read Along in Google Classroom 
Educators now have the ability to upload their own content into Read Along as part of the assignment creation process. | Learn more about uploading your content to Read Along. 

Create and manage grading periods using the Google Classroom API 
Last year, we introduced the availability of grading periods endpoints as part of the Google Classroom API through the Google Workspace Developer Preview Program. This week, we’re excited to announce the general availability of this feature. | Learn more about the Classroom API. 

Reference your Google Calendar using Gemini in the side panel of Gmail in additional languages 
You can now reference your Google Calendar using Gemini in the side panel of Gmail in 20+ additional languages. | Learn more about language availability for referring to your Google Calendar using Gemini in Gmail. 

Preview summaries in the Google Chat home view now available in three additional languages 
Summaries in the home view are now available in three additional languages: Spanish, Portuguese and German. | Learn more about language availability for summaries in Chat home.

Save time making changes or updates to AI voiceovers in Google Vids 
In continuing our efforts to enhance AI voiceover features, you can now make updates to your scripts and apply changes to your AI voiceovers with one click for every scene in your Vid, whether doing this manually or using Help me create. | Learn more about AI voiceovers in Google Vids.

The Gemini app, as well as Gemini features in Google Workspace, are now BSI C5 certified
This week at Google Cloud Next 2025, we announced that the Gemini in Google Workspace apps and the Gemini App have achieved the German BSI C5 attestations – the first AI productivity assistant to achieve this certification. | Learn more about BSI C5.


Completed rollouts

The 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: 
Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains: 
For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).

The Gemini app, as well as Gemini features in Google Workspace, are now BSI C5 certified

What’s changing 

Today at Google Cloud Next 2025, we announced that the Gemini in Google Workspace apps and the Gemini App have achieved the German BSI C5 attestations – the first AI productivity assistant to achieve this certification. For our customers operating in the EU, this means they can confidently adopt and integrate AI into their work with assurances that stringent third-party auditors have determined that Gemini’s architecture meets a high bar of security and privacy. 

This latest certification continues to build on Gemini’s existing, comprehensive set of safety, privacy, and security standards, including: SOC 1/2/3, ISO 27017/18, and ISO 42001 (the first international standard for AI Management Systems), as well as HIPAA compliance and as the first generative AI assistant to achieve US FedRAMP High attestations. 

Getting started 


Availability 

  • This update impacts all Google Workspace users accessing the Gemini in Google Workspace and the Gemini app. 

Resources