Google added more AI-powered features in Google Meet and Google Chat

In short:

Google is enhancing AI-powered features in its Workspace Business and Enterprise editions without requiring a separate Gemini add-on. The updates include:

For Google Meet:

• Generated Backgrounds: Create unique meeting backgrounds with additional style options like offices or libraries.
• Studio Look: Enhances video quality by reducing noise and improving sharpness.
• Studio Lighting: Simulates professional lighting for better video presentation (device requirements apply).
• Studio Sound: Balances audio frequencies to improve sound clarity, especially for phone or Bluetooth headset users.

For Google Chat:

• Translate for Me: Automatically detects and translates over 120 languages into a user's preferred language, with the original message still accessible.

For Google Drawings:

• Background Image Removal: Allows users to remove image backgrounds, extending functionality already available in Slides and Vids.

Availability and Rollout:

• These features are available in Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus plans.
• Gradual rollout started on March 11, 2025, with some features already available.
• Admins and users can refer to the Help Center for setup guidance and features like "Translate for Me" need to be enabled manually by users.

What’s changing 

Earlier this year, Google announced that Google included the best of Google AI in Workspace Business and Enterprise plans without the need to purchase a separate Gemini add-on. Beginning today, additional AI-powered features are available for Business and Enterprise editions: 

For Google Meet: 

• Generated background images: With Gemini in Meet, you can generate unique and bespoke meeting backgrounds. Meeting backgrounds can help obscure your surroundings during a meeting or enhance the meeting itself. Users will also benefit from Google's latest model upgrade for background generation and additional style options, like a professional office, library, or home office, to help refine their custom backgrounds. 
• Studio look: Gemini in Meet uses machine learning to detect and enhance (if necessary) the quality of your portrait by reducing noise and increasing sharpness, bringing you into focus so you can look your best in meetings. 
• Studio lighting: Using machine learning, Gemini in Meet will simulate studio-quality lighting and adjust light position and brightness in your video feed, so you're perfectly lit for your meeting. Note: Studio lighting is only available on devices that meet certain browser and processor requirements. 
• Studio sound: Gemini in Meet will automatically recreate and balance missing or distorted frequencies helping to make your voice come through crisp and clear. This can be especially useful when dialling in via phone or using Bluetooth headsets for example. 

For Google Chat: 

• Translate for me: Chat will automatically detect and translate over 120 languages to a user’s preferred language while keeping the original message available for review. Instead of navigating outside Chat to translate a message, this reduces friction and improves collaboration with colleagues, partners and customers in other parts of the world. 

For Google Drawings: 

• Background image removal: Gemini’s image background removal functionality (also available in Slides and Vids) is now available in Google Drawings.

Getting started

• Admins: Visit the Help Center to learn more about managing access to Gemini features in Workspace services.
• End users:
  Background generation: When enabled by your admin, visit the Help Center to learn more about creating background images with Gemini in Google Meet.
  Studio lighting and look: Visit the Help Center to learn more about improving your video experience.
• Studio sound: Studio sound is automatically active for dial-in and web when noise cancellation is enabled.
• Background image removal: Click an image in a drawing in Google Drawings > Edit image  > Remove background. Visit the Help Center to learn more about removing image backgrounds in Google Drawings, Slides & Vids.
• Translate for me: Automatic translation via translate for me will be OFF by default. Turn ON the automatic translation setting at chat.google.com (web) or on your Android or iOS device by going to Settings > Automatic Translation > select the box for ‘Translate messages to your preferred language. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Automatic Translation in Chat.

Rollout pace

• Custom background images, studio lighting, and studio sound in Google Meet: Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on March 11, 2025
• Studio look in Google Meet: Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on March 18, 2025
• Translate for me in Google Chat and background image removal in Google Drawings: Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now.

Availability

Available for Google Workspace:

• Business Standard and Plus
• Enterprise Standard and Plus

These features are already available to Gemini for Workspace add-on customers. Note that as of January 15, 2025, Gemini Business, Gemini Enterprise, AI Meetings & Messaging, and AI Security add-ons are no longer available for purchase. 

Source: Google