Google Workspace just got a batch of updates that make video creation easier, AI assistants more useful, and encryption setup less painful for IT admins. If your team uses Workspace, here's what changed in the first week of October 2026—and why it matters for your day-to-day operations.

What's new with AI voiceovers in Google Vids?

The text-to-speech engine behind Google Vids' AI voiceovers has been upgraded to Gemini 3.8 Flash Lite TTS. In practical terms, this means the automated narration in your videos sounds more natural and less robotic. If you've been creating training videos, product demos, or internal announcements using Vids, the voice quality just improved without you having to do anything.

What are "skills" in Gemini, and are they replacing Gems?

Google has introduced "skills"—essentially reusable prompts that tell Gemini how to handle specific tasks. Think of them as saved instructions. Instead of typing out the same detailed prompt every time you want Gemini to, say, summarise meeting notes in a particular format, you create a skill once and reuse it.

Over the coming weeks, skills will roll out to Workspace users and will eventually replace Gems entirely. If you've built custom Gems, start thinking about how you'll transition those workflows.

Can you customise caption styling in Google Vids now?

Yes. Captions in Google Vids are now fully customisable. You can change:

Font and typography
Position on screen
Animation style

This is useful if you need videos to match your brand guidelines or just want captions that don't look generic.

What does the new Docs, Sheets, and Slides API update mean for developers?

Developers can now programmatically create, read, and manage comments across Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides through their APIs. The Docs API also supports suggested edits now—automated tools can propose changes for a human to review rather than editing content directly.

This opens up possibilities for:

Building custom review workflows
Integrating third-party tools that need to leave feedback on documents
Creating automated quality checks that flag issues as suggestions

Is Client-side encryption setup getting easier?

Google has added a simpler setup option for Workspace Client-side encryption (CSE). Admins who've put off implementing CSE because the initial configuration was tedious should take another look. The new option is designed to make that first-time setup significantly faster.

For organisations handling sensitive data—legal, healthcare, finance—this removes one excuse for delaying encryption.

Does Google Meet work with Microsoft Teams now?

The interoperability between Google Meet and Microsoft Teams on Android (AOSP) devices is now generally available. It was in preview before; now it's production-ready. If your organisation uses Meet but regularly joins calls with clients or partners on Teams (or vice versa), this reduces the friction of switching between platforms.

What about the Gemini student hub?

Google's dedicated learning hub in the Gemini app—originally for personal accounts—is now available to Google Workspace for Education users. If you're in the education sector, this gives students a single place to access Gemini's learning tools.

Frequently asked questions

Will my existing Gems stop working?
Not immediately. Google says skills will "eventually replace" Gems, so there's a transition period. But if you rely heavily on Gems, plan to migrate them to skills as the feature rolls out.

Do I need to do anything to get the new Vids voiceover quality?
No. The upgrade to Gemini 3.8 Flash Lite TTS happens automatically. New voiceovers you create will use the improved engine.

Is the Meet-Teams interoperability available on all devices?
The general availability announcement specifically mentions Android (AOSP) devices. Check Google's documentation for the latest on other platforms.

Does the simpler CSE setup reduce security?
No. It's a streamlined configuration process, not a reduction in encryption standards.

If you're looking to get more out of Google Workspace—or need help configuring features like Client-side encryption—Blue Chip Technologies Ltd. can help. We support businesses worldwide with remote setup and ongoing Workspace management.

Get in touch: