Boosting Productivity with New AI Updates in Google Workspace

Google Workspace continues to evolve with significant artificial intelligence enhancements, bringing more intelligent features to key applications. These updates aim to streamline workflows, enhance user experiences, and provide administrators with refined controls over how AI is integrated into their organisations. This post details recent improvements focusing on AI-driven feedback in Google Classroom and new configurations for "Take notes for me" in Google Meet.

AI-Suggested Feedback in Google Classroom

Educators can now leverage AI to help draft personalised guidance on written assignments within Google Classroom. This new capability, powered by Gemini, allows teachers to generate tailored feedback that considers a student's work, grade level, and any specific areas of focus defined by the educator. This innovation addresses the significant time commitment involved in providing high-quality, individualised comments.

By utilising AI to assist in drafting these comments, educators can manage their workloads more effectively, allowing them to focus on delivering timely and specific feedback crucial for student development. This support helps enhance student growth by fostering stronger self-reflection and evaluation skills, while also enabling the provision of empathetic guidance across large classes that might otherwise be challenging to scale.

When providing feedback in private comments on assignments, educators can select "Help me write" to receive suggestions from Gemini. These suggestions can then be reviewed, edited, and refined by the teacher before being shared with students, ensuring that educators maintain full control over the guidance provided. This feature is part of Gemini in Google Classroom and is available in English for education users aged 18 and over.

Administrator Controls:

Administrators have control over who can access Gemini in Google Classroom. This is managed via the Admin Console, where access can be toggled on or off for users designated as 18 years of age and over within the institution's age-based access settings. This ensures compliance and appropriate usage within educational environments.

Availability and Rollout:

This feature is available for Google Workspace for Education Plus and the Teaching and Learning add-on. A gradual rollout is underway for both Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains, with full visibility expected within 15 days from February 19, 2026.

Enhanced 'Take Notes for Me' Configurations in Google Meet

Significant updates have been introduced for the "Take notes for me" feature in Google Meet, particularly for organisations participating in the Gemini Alpha programme. These updates provide administrators with greater control over AI-driven note-taking functionalities.

For Gemini Alpha customers, new settings are being tested in Google Meet that will automatically enable "Take notes for me" for meetings involving three or more participants. This setting will be active by default for participating organisations. Administrators can, however, disable this feature at any time through the Google Meet section of the Admin Console, by adjusting the "Automatic note-taking" value to "OFF".

This update is especially valuable for administrators seeking to standardise meeting practices and ensure comprehensive documentation for larger team collaborations, while still offering the flexibility to manage its deployment according to organisational needs.

Availability and Rollout:

The administrative setting rollout began on February 18, 2026, with full visibility within 15 days. New functionality for Gemini Alpha customers will commence no sooner than March 11, 2026, with a gradual rollout over 15 days. This feature is available for Business Standard and Plus, Enterprise Standard and Plus, Google AI Pro for Education add-on, and Frontline Starter, Standard, and Plus.

Granular User Controls for 'Take Notes for Me'

Alongside the administrative configurations, users now have more direct control over the "Take notes for me" feature in Google Meet. These enhancements provide clearer visibility and the ability to manage AI note-taking before and during meetings.

When joining a Google Meet call, participants will now see a more prominent notice in the green room if "Take notes for me" is enabled for the upcoming meeting. This increased visibility ensures users are well-informed about AI activities during their calls.

Eligible users also gain the ability to turn off both "Take notes for me" and transcription directly from the green room before a meeting commences. For calls already in progress, users can still stop or start the note-taking functionality at any point. This empowers individuals to make immediate decisions regarding AI assistance based on the context and privacy requirements of each specific meeting.

Administrator Impact:

There is no specific administrative control required for this user-facing feature. The user controls enhance individual autonomy within the AI framework already established by administrators.

Availability and Rollout:

This feature is rolling out gradually to Rapid Release domains starting February 18, 2026, and to Scheduled Release domains from March 5, 2026, with full visibility expected within 15 days for both. It is available for Business Standard and Plus, Enterprise Standard and Plus, Google AI Pro for Education, and Frontline Plus.

These recent AI advancements in Google Workspace underscore a commitment to enhancing productivity and collaboration through intelligent features, while also providing administrators and users with the necessary controls to manage these powerful tools effectively. These updates demonstrate a clear focus on integrating AI to support daily operations and improve educational and business workflows alike.