Tag Archives: Google Meet

Improve communication and representation with Dynamic layouts in Google Meet

What’s changing

We’re thrilled to introduce a brand new, redesigned layout experience for Google Meet that will improve communication and collaboration for all users, but especially for those in hybrid meetings. There are many exciting new features bundled in this extensive launch across Meet for web and rooms. Check out the video overview to see the new features in action and keep reading for more details:


Dynamic layouts:
  • “Portrait tiles” prioritize faces by cropping out excess background video
  • Optimized tile placement logic to enable much more efficient layouts that minimize unused space
  • Visual design refresh, including color-sampled tile theming for users with their cameras off
  • Larger room tiles in the grid when ‘Dynamic tiles’ is not active
  • More flexibility around how tiles are cropped, including self-view
  • Increased pin limit from 3 to 6 to provide more flexibility to customize your layout


Portrait tiles and various design improvements in action


Dynamic tiles:
  • An individual video tile is created for up to 3 meeting participants joining from the same conference room with Google Meet hardware
  • AI-enabled active-speaker detection automatically highlights only the tile of the in-room speaker without any special hardware requirements
  • Other meeting participants can pin these tiles in their layout as they would any other tile

Individual tiles for up to three meeting participants in a conference room


Face match:
  • When Dynamic tiles are in use in a room with a Google Meet hardware device, users can associate their name with their face from Companion mode on Web so their tile can be labeled. This creates a consistent experience where everyone can show up in their best light, whether they’re in the room or joining remotely. 

When using Companion mode, you can associate your name with your Dynamic tile




Who’s impacted

Admins and end users


Why it matters

These layout enhancements in Google Meet bring a refreshed, modern feel to the meeting grid while also adding the functional benefits of increasing space efficiency and improved representation for hybrid meetings. It allocates available space based on content being presented, tiles pinned by users, and more to address a core hybrid-work challenge  of remote meeting participants not being able to easily see or identify in-room users. 


Additional details

Please see below for more important information regarding these features:

Dynamic layouts
  • Legacy layouts remain available
    • Users who do not wish to see portrait tiles can still do so by switching from Auto (dynamic) to Tiled (legacy) in the layout options selection menu.
  • More flexible self-view options
    • Users now have much more control over the appearance of their self-view tile. When you set your self-view preference, it will carry over across meetings.
  • Framing and new uncropping functionality
  • Prevent your video from being cropped for others
    • Some users may prefer that their video feed never be cropped by other Meet users.  Users can select “Show my full video to others” from the three-dot overflow menu of their self-view tile. This will cause their video to always render as an uncropped tile for other users. We encourage sign-language interpreters especially to consider using this feature to ensure that arms and hands are not unintentionally cropped out.

Dynamic tiles
  • Dynamic tiles work in meetings with up to 3 in-room participants 
  • Dynamic tiles will automatically fall back to a room view if:
    • More than 3 people are detected
    • Users are sitting too close to give each user their own tile without significant overlap
    • There is too much movement detected in the room and it’s causing distractions

  • Platform support
    • Available for ChromeOS-based room devices at launch
    • AOSP (Android) device support is expected in the future
    • Not available in interop mode


Face match
  • Face match is available for any Companion mode web user checked into a room using dynamic tiles. Face match supports a maximum of 12 faces. 
  • Face match only associates your name with your face for Dynamic tiles when you are in view of the room camera for the duration of the meeting. A user may have to check in again using Companion Mode if they disappear from view for long enough.


Getting started

  • Admins: 
    • We recommend thoroughly reviewing the Help Center articles (especially if your organization uses Google Meet hardware) to ensure both you and your end users are prepared for these changes.

    • Dynamic layouts
      • Will be ON by default for all web and room devices.  There is no admin setting for this feature – only layout options for end users.

    • Dynamic tiles
      • You can control whether Dynamic tiles are ON or OFF by default when devices join a call by using the Default camera framing individual device setting. 

Devices > Google Meet hardware > [Device name] > Device settings > Default camera framing

      • Best practices for rollout:
        • Dynamic tiles work best when used in smaller rooms (capacity of 6 or less) where participants sit less than 10 feet from the camera.
        • Glass walls can sometimes cause people outside the meeting room to be picked up by the camera and given a tile – dynamic tiles should be deployed only after testing in these rooms.

    • Face match 
      • Face match will always be available in companion mode when room check-in and dynamic tiles are active on the associated room device. There is no separate admin or end user setting for this feature.

  • End users:  
    • Dynamic layouts
      • Will be ON by default for all web and room devices.  You can turn Dynamic layouts OFF by switching from Auto (dynamic) to Tiled (legacy) from the layout options selection menu in Meet (or to Sidebar or Spotlight)
    • Dynamic tiles
      • Whether Dynamic tiles are ON or OFF by default depends on the configuration of your admin. It can be turned ON or OFF from the framing section of your Meet hardware device touch controller or TV user interface menu.
    • Face match
      • Available via Companion mode if Dynamic tiles is active on your room device and when you check-in to that room device.

Rollout pace

Due to the quantity of features included in this launch, you should expect to see different combinations of the included features gradually become available over the next few weeks. 

  • Rapid Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on March 31, 2025
  • Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 21 days for feature visibility) starting on April 17, 2025
.

Availability

  • Dynamic layouts are available for all Google Meet meetings on the web and from meeting rooms via hardware devices. They are available for all Google Workspace customers as well as users with personal Google accounts.
  • Dynamic tiles and Face match require a Google Meet hardware device and associated license.

Resources


“Take notes for me” in Google Meet is available in seven additional languages

What’s changing 

Today, we are excited to start rolling out support “take notes for me” in the following seven additional languages: 
  • French 
  • German 
  • Italian 
  • Japanese 
  • Korean 
  • Portuguese 
  • Spanish 

When you enable "take notes for me” in Google Meet, you'll see the language in which the notes will be taken. You can click on the language to change it or you can change your language from Settings > Meeting records > Language spoken in the meeting. Note that multilingual meetings are not supported at this time.

Turning “Take notes for me” on


All meeting participants will see a blue pencil icon on their screen and a notification that notes are being taken. They can click on the pencil to see the meeting notes taken so far.


Getting started


Rollout pace


Note: This update will be rolling out at a much slower pace than usual as we carefully monitor performance and quality. We'll update this post when the rollout for each language is complete.


Availability

Available to Google Workspace
  • Business Standard and Plus
  • Enterprise Standard and Plus
  • Also available with the Gemini Education Premium add-on

Anyone who previously purchased these add-ons will also receive this feature:
  • Gemini Enterprise*
  • AI Meetings & Messaging*

*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.

Resources


More languages are available for recorded captions and transcripts in Google Meet

What’s changing

Starting today, transcripts in Google Meet are available in seven additional languages:

  • French
  • German
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Spanish




Additionally, captions included with a meeting recording will be available in three additional languages:
  • Italian
  • Korean
  • Japanese


Getting started

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
  • End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about using recorded captions and transcripts in Google Meet. 

Rollout pace


Note: This update will be rolling out at a much slower pace than usual as we carefully monitor performance and quality. We'll update this post when the rollout for each language is complete.

Availability

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 and Essentials
  • Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus
  • Workspace Individual Subscribers
  • Google One subscribers with 2 TB or more storage space

Resources


More AI-powered features in Google Meet and Google Chat are coming to Google Workspace Business and Enterprise editions

What’s changing 

Earlier this year, we announced that we’re including the best of Google AI in Workspace Business and Enterprise plans without the need to purchase a separate Gemini add-on. Beginning today, additional AI-powered features are available for Business and Enterprise editions: 


For Google Meet: 
  • Generated background images: With Gemini in Meet, you can generate unique and bespoke meeting backgrounds. Meeting backgrounds can help obscure your surroundings during a meeting or they can enhance the meeting itself. Users will also benefit from our latest model upgrade for background generation, as well as additional style options, like a professional office, library, or home office to help refine their custom backgrounds. 
  • Studio look: Gemini in Meet uses machine learning to detect and enhance (if necessary) the quality of your portrait by reducing noise and increasing sharpness, bringing you into focus so you can look your best in meetings. 
  • Studio lighting: Using machine learning, Gemini in Meet will simulate studio-quality lighting and adjust light position and brightness in your video feed, so you're perfectly lit for your meeting. Note: Studio lighting is only available on devices that meet certain browser and processor requirements. Visit the Help Center to learn more about device requirements for studio lighting. 
  • Studio sound: Gemini in Meet will automatically recreate and balance missing or distorted frequencies helping to make your voice come through crisp and clear. This can be especially useful when dialing in via phone or using bluetooth headsets for example. 

For Google Chat: 
  • Translate for me: Chat will automatically detect and translate over 120 languages to a user’s preferred language while keeping the original message available for review. Instead of navigating outside of Chat to translate a message, this reduces friction and improves collaboration with colleagues, partners and customers in other parts of the world. 

For Google Drawings: 
  • Background image removal: Gemini’s image background removal functionality (also available in Slides and Vids) is now available in Google Drawings.

Getting started

Rollout pace

Availability

Available for Google Workspace:
  • Business Standard and Plus
  • Enterprise Standard and Plus

These features are already available to Gemini for Workspace add-on customers. Note that as of January 15, 2025, Gemini Business, Gemini Enterprise, AI Meetings & Messaging, and AI Security add-ons are no longer available for purchase. Please refer to this announcement for more details.



More AI-powered features in Google Meet and Google Chat are coming to Google Workspace Business and Enterprise editions

What’s changing 

Earlier this year, we announced that we’re including the best of Google AI in Workspace Business and Enterprise plans without the need to purchase a separate Gemini add-on. Beginning today, additional AI-powered features are available for Business and Enterprise editions: 


For Google Meet: 
  • Generated background images: With Gemini in Meet, you can generate unique and bespoke meeting backgrounds. Meeting backgrounds can help obscure your surroundings during a meeting or they can enhance the meeting itself. Users will also benefit from our latest model upgrade for background generation, as well as additional style options, like a professional office, library, or home office to help refine their custom backgrounds. 
  • Studio look: Gemini in Meet uses machine learning to detect and enhance (if necessary) the quality of your portrait by reducing noise and increasing sharpness, bringing you into focus so you can look your best in meetings. 
  • Studio lighting: Using machine learning, Gemini in Meet will simulate studio-quality lighting and adjust light position and brightness in your video feed, so you're perfectly lit for your meeting. Note: Studio lighting is only available on devices that meet certain browser and processor requirements. Visit the Help Center to learn more about device requirements for studio lighting. 
  • Studio sound: Gemini in Meet will automatically recreate and balance missing or distorted frequencies helping to make your voice come through crisp and clear. This can be especially useful when dialing in via phone or using bluetooth headsets for example. 

For Google Chat: 
  • Translate for me: Chat will automatically detect and translate over 120 languages to a user’s preferred language while keeping the original message available for review. Instead of navigating outside of Chat to translate a message, this reduces friction and improves collaboration with colleagues, partners and customers in other parts of the world. 

For Google Drawings: 
  • Background image removal: Gemini’s image background removal functionality (also available in Slides and Vids) is now available in Google Drawings.

Getting started

Rollout pace

Availability

Available for Google Workspace:
  • Business Standard and Plus
  • Enterprise Standard and Plus

These features are already available to Gemini for Workspace add-on customers. Note that as of January 15, 2025, Gemini Business, Gemini Enterprise, AI Meetings & Messaging, and AI Security add-ons are no longer available for purchase. Please refer to this announcement for more details.



View invited meeting participants on Google Meet hardware

What’s changing

You can now see participants who were invited to the meeting but have yet to join the call right on Google Meet hardware. These participants can be found under the “Also invited” heading. Additionally, you’ll also be able to see the RSVP status of everyone on the invite, including “optional” attendees. This feature makes it easier for you to start meetings more efficiently by quickly determining who has not joined or who has declined.

Viewing the guest list in the people panel on a Series One Desk 27 device


Viewing the guest list on a Meet hardware touch controller





Additional Details

  • Guest lists are hidden for events with more than 50 guests.
  • Invited groups and their participants are not displayed on guest lists.

Getting Started

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: On Google Meet hardware devices for eligible Google Workspace editions, this feature will be available by default for Meet calls with a Calendar event. Visit the Help Center to learn more about viewing the Calendar guest list in Google Meet.


Rollout pace

  • Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on March 10, 2025
  • Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on March 17, 2025

Availability 

Available on Google Meet hardware devices for Google Workspace:
  • Enterprise Standard and Plus
  • Business Starter, Standard, and Plus
  • Education Fundamentals, Standard, Plus and the Teaching & Learning add-on
  • Nonprofits

Resources


Enhancements for custom and AI-generated backgrounds in Google Meet

What’s changing

We’re introducing two improvements for creating custom background images with Gemini in Google Meet:

  • First, we’ve upgraded the image generation model, which will significantly improve the visual appeal and quality of generated backgrounds, while also better representing user requests.
  • Next, we’ve added several new preset styles to help you get started creating your own backgrounds. Specifically, you’ll see options for the following:
    • Professional office
    • Bookshelf
    • Stylish living room
    • Cozy living room
    • Tropical beach
    • Fantasy castle
    • Sci-fi spaceship


Getting started


Rollout pace

Availability

Available for Google Workspace:
  • Business Standard and Plus
  • Enterprise Standard and Plus
  • Also available with the Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on

Anyone who previously purchased these add-ons will also receive this feature:
  • Gemini Business*
  • Gemini Enterprise*
  • AI Meetings and Messages*

*As of January 15, 2025, we’re no longer offering the Gemini Business and Gemini Enterprise add-ons for sale. Please refer to this announcement for more details.

Resources

“Take notes for me” in Google Meet now captures citations to transcripts

What’s changing

Recently, we announced that next steps will automatically be captured when using “take notes for me” in Google Meet. Building upon that momentum, your meeting notes document will now include citations, or timestamps, which correlate to the exact point in the meeting transcript that references the summarized notes. 

For example, you’ll see something like: “Sophie discussed the updated marketing plan (00:08:32)”. When you click on the timestamp, the meeting transcription tab in the document will open and take you to  the moment that the discussion occurred. From here, you can drill into the details of the discussion for even more context.

When you click on a timestamp, the transcription tab will open automatically to the specific point in the conversation


Getting started

Rollout pace

  • Rapid Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on February 20, 2025

This feature will be rolling out at a much slower pace than usual as we carefully monitor performance and quality. We will update this post when rollout for Rapid Release domains is complete and Scheduled Rollout is expected to begin.

Availability

Available to Google Workspace
  • Business Standard, and Plus
  • Enterprise Standard, and Plus
  • Also available with the Gemini Education Premium add-on

Anyone who previously purchased these add-ons will also receive this feature:
  • Gemini Enterprise*
  • AI Meetings & Messaging*

*As of January 15, 2025, we’re no longer offering the Gemini Business and Gemini Enterprise add-ons for sale. Please refer to this announcement for more details.

Resources

Updated design for Google Meet meeting controls on Android and iOS

What’s changing

We are updating the location of some Google Meet meeting controls on Android and iOS devices, which are intended to organize features in a more intuitive way. This will help you to navigate the Meet layout faster and more intuitively. These are strictly design updates with no changes in functionality. 

1. Emoji reactions are moving from the triple-dot overflow menu to the bottom bar. Simply tap the Emoji toggle to access or hide the reaction picker.

Before

After





2. The hand raise feature is moving from the bottom bar to the triple-dot overflow menu. This change applies to mobile devices only - if you’re using a larger screen device, such as a tablet, you’ll continue to see the Hand Raise icon in the main call controls menu.

Before

After



3. Host management controls will move from the overflow menu to the settings menu, under the “General” section.

Before

After



4. The option to report a problem is now in one location, in the Settings menu.

Before

After




Finally, there is an additional change for iOS only: The end call button is moving from the left side to the right side of the primary controls, bringing the experience inline with Android.

Before

After



Additional details

The minimum build required for these updates are:
Android:
  • Meet: 291.0.722438190.duo.android_20250202.14
  • Gmail: 2025.02.02.722438226
iOS:
  • Meet: 294.0
  • Gmail: 6.0.250209

Getting started

  • Admins: There is no admin impact or action required.
  • End users: You’ll notice these improvements automatically. 

Rollout pace

These updates will rollout to Android devices first, followed by iOS. We will update this post as the respective rollouts complete.

Android:

iOS:

Availability

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

Resources







Scroll through live captions and translated captions in Google Meet

What’s changing

We’re improving the live captions and translated captions experience in Google Meet by including the ability to scroll through the text. Previously, captions were displayed in real-time, but disappeared once they were no longer relevant to the current conversation. This update makes it possible to scroll back and review the last 30 minutes of captions at your own pace. This can be particularly helpful if you’ve missed a portion of the conversation or you want to review specific details mentioned earlier in the conversation. 

Scrolling through the caption history in Google Meet
You can use “Jump to the bottom” to see the latest real-time captions


Getting started


Rollout pace


Availability

  • Available for all Google Workspace customers, as well as users with personal Google accounts

Resources