Hello GEC Community! 👋
As we continue our February focus on Digital Well-Being and Safety, staying informed about the latest tools is essential for maintaining a secure and efficient learning environment. This week’s updates bring powerful new AI capabilities to more educators and students globally, alongside improvements to how we connect across different platforms.
Here is your weekly recap of the latest Google Workspace updates:
🌟 Gemini Expands for Education Plus and Teaching & Learning
In a major milestone for global education, generative AI capabilities are now available to Education Plus and Teaching & Learning Upgrade customers at no additional cost for users aged 18 and older. This includes Gemini features in Docs, Slides, Forms, and Vids.
- Pro-Tip: As we discuss Digital Well-Being this month, remember that these tools are designed with strict data governance to keep your institutional data safe.
- Learn more about Gemini for Education
🤝 Google Meet & Microsoft Teams Interoperability
Collaboration just got easier. We are introducing built-in interoperability between Google Meet and Microsoft Teams. You can now join Microsoft Teams meetings from ChromeOS-based Meet hardware and join Google Meet calls from Windows-based Teams Rooms.
✍️ Polished Emails with Proofread in Gmail
The "Proofread" feature in Gmail is expanding to more Workspace plans. Beyond basic spelling, it suggests improvements for tone, conciseness, and clarity, helping you maintain a professional voice in all your community communications.
💻 Gemini in Chrome for Chromebook Plus
Users on Chromebook Plus devices can now access Gemini directly within the Chrome browser. This integrates AI tools seamlessly into your daily browsing while adhering to secondary and higher-education data standards.
📚 Expanded Practice Tests: JEE Main
Following the launch of SAT prep, Gemini is now expanding to support the JEE Main. This is a fantastic resource for secondary students preparing for critical academic milestones with on-demand, full-length practice exams.
🛠️ More Updates to Note:
- Google Vids: Features like the read-along teleprompter and styled captions are now available to all Workspace users.
- Classroom API: Student Group endpoints are now generally available for developers, allowing for more customized classroom management tools.
- Speech Translation: Now generally available for select plans in Google Meet to bridge language gaps in global meetings.
💡 Note: Many of these features depend on your specific Workspace edition or licensing. I recommend checking with your IT Administrator to see which of these new tools are currently enabled for your domain.
Original Source: Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - February 6, 2026
