What’s New in Google (Part 1): Level Up Gmail & Google Slides with AI

Welcome to the first installment of our What's New in Google series! Every Wednesday throughout October, we are breaking down the newest Google Workspace updates to help you save time and transform your classroom workflow. 

Today, we are exploring brand-new AI features inside Gmail and game-changing presentation tools in Google Slides.

Feature Focus: Gmail

The Gemini button is the multi-colored diamond shape.
The Studio button is the arrow shape.

  • Instant Gmail Answers: Tap the Gemini icon inside Gmail to prompt AI directly. It pulls answers and synthesizes info across multiple email conversations so you don't have to search manually.

  • Daily Unread Email Summaries: Select "Studio" at the top of your inbox, click "More in Studio," and set up a scheduled daily digest notification for unread messages.


Feature Focus: Slides

  • AI-Generated Presentation Decks: Prompt Gemini inside Google Slides to construct a full, multi-slide deck using existing Google Drive files as your source material and style reference

Attach files from your Google Drive for content or as a style reference.

  • Dynamic Sheets Charts: Insert charts directly from Google Sheets (Insert → Chart → From Sheets). Click the three dots on linked charts to update visuals instantly whenever source data changes.

  • Convert Slides to Video with AI Avatars: Select File → Convert to Video to turn slides into narrated videos featuring voiceovers and customizable AI avatars.

Try It Out in Your Practice

GoalQuick ActionWorkspace Tool
Catch up on inbox clutter

Schedule a daily digest in Studio

Gmail

Build a lesson deck quickly

Prompt Gemini using a Drive reference doc

Google Slides

Create sub plans or video recaps

Convert slides into an AI avatar video

Google Slides 

(Plus/AI Pro)

Follow Along & Next Steps

Want to test these features yourself? Make a copy of our interactive presentation deck to follow along step-by-step.

Click the image above to open the slide deck and make your own copy.

Join us next Wednesday, October 7th, for Release 2, where we'll cover inline AI generation in Google Docs, audio summaries, and smart template tabs!

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