Google Chat

2024. Google Chat adds quick audio conferencing like in Slack



Google Chat, the enterprise chat service, has added an instant voice meeting feature similar to "Huddles" in Slack. It allows you to quickly create a group voice or video call directly from within a chat. Interestingly, Google even plagiarized the name—the feature is also called "Huddles." To start a quick meeting, simply click the drop-down menu next to the call icon and select "Start the huddle." By default, this will be an audio call, but users can turn on video or share their screen, just like in Google Meet. The new feature will be available to all Workspace users within a few weeks.


2024. Google Chat now supports IFTTT integration



The enterprise messenger Google Chat has added a new integration with IFTTT. You can now set up triggers for new messages, members, or workspaces, and perform actions such as publishing a message or creating a new chat. For example, when adding a new member to a group or uploading a file from Google Drive or Dropbox, you can automatically send an email or message. IFTTT integration is also available for other Google Workspace services, such as Gmail, Drive, and Calendar.


2024. Google Chat gets AI features



Google is adding features based on the Gemini AI model to its Workspace business service. These features will be integrated into existing Workspace accounts and are also available as a paid add-on for $10 per user per month. Google Chat, the team messaging app, has also received AI features. These include a chat summary feature that automatically captures meeting notes, and a "Translate for Me" tool that can automatically translate into 69 different languages. This is especially useful when communicating with employees from different parts of the company.