Google has begun rolling out an AI assistant called Ask Gemini directly inside Google Chat, replacing the old side panel with a unified search and assistant bar.

• What it is: Ask Gemini in Chat lets users search across Gmail, Drive and Calendar, draft messages, generate images and catch up on conversations without leaving Chat.
• Who is affected: Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard and Plus, and Google AI Pro for Education customers with their account language set to English. Rollout began 26 August 2026.
• What else is new: A new admin setting lets you restrict specific users or groups from creating Chat spaces, while still allowing direct messages.
• What to consider: Promotional higher usage limits apply until 1 October 2026, after which normal licensing limits resume.

We recommend admins review the new Chat space creation controls before the Gemini rollout reaches all users, so permissions match how your business actually works.