Google Workspace round-up: 19 to 23 October 2026

Google added several features this week to Workspace, the business email and office suite many Malaysian companies use. The biggest for most offices is live speech translation in Google Meet, now in 63 languages. There are also smaller changes in Google Vids, Google Sheets and Google Vault, and one setting admins should know about in the Gemini app. Most features reach accounts over the next two to three weeks.

Google Meet: translation in 63 languages

Meet can now translate speech in near real time between any of 63 languages in the same meeting. It detects the language being spoken, and each person turns translation on for themselves from the meeting toolbar. Captions follow the translated audio.

It needs an eligible plan. For businesses that means Business Standard or Business Plus (or Enterprise Standard and Plus). On those plans a meeting can be translated for up to 90 minutes. Guests from other companies can use it when the person who set up the meeting has an eligible plan. It does not work in recordings, live streams or dial-in calls.

Google Vids: separate audio and change clip speed

In Vids you can now pull the sound out of a video clip and move or trim it on its own. You can also speed up a clip to 2x or slow it down to 0.25x.

Google Sheets: box and whisker charts

Sheets now draws box and whisker charts from a range of numbers, with no helper formulas. These charts also survive when you import or export an Excel file.

Google Vault: exports of Gemini chats

Admins who use Vault can now search and export users' Gemini conversations from Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides and Meet, for legal or record-keeping needs.

Gemini app: Gemini Notebook as a connected app

You can now work with your Gemini Notebook notebooks from inside the Gemini app. Google has switched this on by default for users outside the European Economic Area. Admins can control it in the Gemini and Gemini Notebook access settings.

What this means for you

1. If your team meets with overseas suppliers or customers, check your plan. Google lists Business Standard and Business Plus for Meet translation; Business Starter is not on the list.
2. To use it, start a Meet call, click the translation control in the toolbar and choose your language. Update the Meet app on phones first.
3. Workspace admins: review the Gemini Notebook setting in the Admin console if you limit AI tools in your company.
4. Not sure which plan you have, or need help with Workspace settings? Contact our support team.

How SyncTech can help

Thinking of moving your company mail into Google Workspace, or out of it? Our business email migration service copies old mail and plans the switch. If you only need mail, compare the cost in our Google Workspace vs email hosting guide.

Source and credit

We are sharing this news from Google. This summary is written by Synctech in our own words.

• Real-time speech translation in Google Meet expands to 63 languages with automatic language detection, Google Workspace Updates, 22 October 2026: https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2026/10/real-time-speech-translation-in-google-Meet-expands-to-63-languages-with-automatic-language-detection.html
• Extract audio tracks in Google Vids, Google Workspace Updates, 23 October 2026: https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2026/10/extract-audio-tracks-in-google-vids.html
• Adjust video clip playback speed directly in Google Vids, Google Workspace Updates, 23 October 2026: https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2026/10/adjust-video-clip-playback-speed-directly-in-Google-Vids.html
• Create box and whisker charts in Google Sheets, Google Workspace Updates, 22 October 2026: https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2026/10/create-box-and-whisker-charts-in-google-sheets.html
• Google Vault now supports filtered exports for Gemini in Workspace, Google Workspace Updates, 22 October 2026: https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2026/10/google-vault-now-supports-filtered-exports-for-Gemini-in-Workspace.html
• Take actions on your notebooks from Gemini Notebook directly in the Gemini app, Google Workspace Updates, 23 October 2026: https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2026/10/take-actions-on-your-notebooks-from-Gemini-Notebook-directly-in-the-Gemini-app.html

Retrieved 26 October 2026. Google, Google Workspace, Google Meet, Gemini and Google Vids are trademarks of Google LLC. Synctech is not connected with Google. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. If anything here is wrong, email support@synctech.com.my and we will correct it.