Google continues to enhance its Workspace tools with performance improvements and new features that boost productivity. This month’s updates include speed improvements in Google Sheets, AI-powered enhancements in Google Docs, and exciting new capabilities in Notebook LM.
Faster and More Efficient Google Sheets
Google has made significant speed improvements to core actions in Sheets. Copying and pasting data between spreadsheets is now 50% faster, filtering conditions are also 50% quicker, and spreadsheets load up to 30% faster. While not the flashiest update, these optimizations make everyday tasks smoother and more efficient.
Enhanced Cover Images in Google Docs
Google Docs now provides a default cover image when creating a new document. Users with Gemini AI can generate custom images directly, upload from Drive, or select from web-sourced images. This update streamlines the process of adding visuals to documents.
New Polling Features in Google Chat
For teams relying on Google Chat and Spaces, the Polls app now enables easy in-chat voting. Users can create polls using the slash command (“/poll”), vote directly in chat, and even export results to Google Sheets. Admins must allowlist the app for organization-wide use.
Smarter PeopleChips in Google Sheets
Google Sheets now automatically converts detected email addresses into PeopleChips, making collaboration more intuitive. The format can be adjusted to display different name styles, such as first name, last name, or both.
Expanded File Upload Options for Gemini AI
Users of Gemini AI can now upload a broader range of file types for AI-powered analysis, including Google Docs, plain text files, PowerPoint presentations, and more. This makes it easier to use Gemini AI for summarizing and extracting insights from various sources.
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Notebook LM Becomes a Core Google Workspace Service
Notebook LM, now an official Workspace core service, offers enterprise-grade security and AI-driven research capabilities. This tool allows users to upload diverse sources—such as PDFs, websites, and Drive files—and analyze them with AI-powered insights. Unlike Gemini, which pulls from the web, Notebook LM only references the provided sources, making it an invaluable tool for focused research.
With features like automated summaries, chatbot-assisted queries, and even an audio overview function, Notebook LM helps users efficiently process large amounts of information and extract key insights.
Stay Updated with Google Workspace
These updates enhance productivity and collaboration across Google Workspace. If you have any questions or need guidance on leveraging these new features, feel free to reach out to us!
Stay tuned for more updates next month!