Google Workspace Weekly Recap

Google Workspace Weekly Recap – August 14, 2026

Improved file importing in Google Sheets with tables and linked pivot tables

We’re introducing two key improvements in Google Sheets that preserve formatting and linked data when converting files from Microsoft Excel. First, Excel tables will now seamlessly import as Sheets tables. Second, Sheets now fully supports importing Excel pivot tables that are backed by table ranges. | Learn more.

New usability features in Connected Sheets

Google Workspace is introducing two usability enhancements to Connected Sheets to improve data presentation and give more flexibility when analyzing BigQuery data. | Learn more.

Use Sheets canvas to visualize data in custom, interactive mini-apps

We’re excited to launch Sheets canvas, a new Gemini-powered capability that transforms your spreadsheets into custom, interactive, read-write applications using simple natural language prompts. It acts as a dynamic visualization layered directly on top of your spreadsheet data, allowing you and your team to work in layouts that best fit your workflows. | Learn more.

Take Notes for me for in-person meetings is now available

We know that balancing active participation with note taking during face-to-face discussions can be a challenge. You shouldn’t have to choose between staying present in the moment and capturing critical context for later. We’re excited to start rolling out a new way to make Google Meet the home for all of your meetings, expanding beyond just video calls to support your in-person collaboration. | Learn more.

New admin controls for adding invitations to Google Calendar

Google Calendar users have three options for how event invitations are added to their calendar: auto-add invitations from everyone, auto-add invitations from known senders only, or add invitations only after the user responds in email. To date, administrators can only choose the default value for users in their organization. | Learn more.

The Google Workspace Weekly Recap for August 14, 2026, focuses heavily on advanced AI data tools, smoother cross-platform file migrations, and improved in-person productivity features. [1]

📊 Google Sheets Upgrades

Excel-to-Sheets Tables: Microsoft Excel tables now seamlessly import into Google Sheets as native Sheets tables while fully preserving formatting and linked data. [1]
Connected Sheets Usability: Two new enhancements give users better data presentation and more flexibility when analyzing massive BigQuery data sets. [1]
Sheets Canvas: This new Gemini-powered capability allows users to build custom, interactive, read-write mini-apps directly over spreadsheet data using simple natural language prompts. [1, 2]

🤝 Meetings & Calendar Controls

Take Notes for Me: This Gemini feature is now available for face-to-face discussions, allowing automated note-taking during in-person meetings so users can stay fully engaged. [1]
Calendar Invitation Restricting: New admin controls add granular choices for event invitations, offering three options: auto-add from everyone, auto-add from known senders, or add only after an email response. [1]