Apps Script Becomes a Core Service

The biggest news this quarter is Apps Script is officially a core Google Workspace service [Update: June 22, 2026]! This is a significant milestone as this provides enterprise-grade data protection and technical support to Apps Script for Google Workspace customers. For enterprise adoption, this means your scripts are now safeguarded with the exact same security parameters as Gmail, Calendar and Drive.

Google Drive Events Go GA

Configure event-driven architectures for your files now that subscriptions for Google Drive events are generally available [Update: May 18, 2026]. You can use the Google Workspace Events API to monitor changes within Google Drive and trigger automated workflows via Google Cloud Pub/Sub. To get started and to understand the capabilities you can check out a recent tutorial we published on exploring the Google Workspace Events API for event-driven Google Drive automation.

Workspace Model Context Protocol (MCP) Servers

Building on other recent announcements, Google announced the Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers launched in Developer Preview to Google Workspace services [Developer Preview: April 22, 2026]. This initial release provided the base servers for Calendar, Drive, Gmail and Chat. This momentum has continued with a steady stream of MCP-related updates appearing in the release notes. Shortly after the initial launch, the Chat MCP server expanded with search_messages and send_message tools [Update: May 07, 2026]. By late May, the Drive MCP server gained a copy_file tool [Update: May 21, 2026] to duplicate and redirect files programmatically. This rapid addition of specific tools shows a clear commitment to expanding these integrations.

Workspace API Quota Changes

As we see a potential increase in consumption of Workspace data via MCPs a future consideration might be the new tiering model for API usage quotas, which started rolling out earlier this quarter [Update: May 01, 2026]. Developers executing data migrations must also plan for these changes, in particular, the change to Google Drive API usage which is now measured in quota units rather than request counts and users face a strict 1 TB daily egress limit. Quota units for Gmail methods like drafts.get, messages.get and threads.trash have also shifted.

Expanded Chat App Interactions

The Google Chat API continues to expand its interaction options. Update your Chat apps to use the quoteType field in QuotedMessageMetadata to quote messages across different spaces or threads [Update: June 12, 2026]. You can also control notification delivery by setting the createMessageNotificationOptions field to either force push notifications or send messages silently. To monitor user activity, the Google Workspace Events API now supports subscriptions to user read state updates for both spaces and threads [Developer Preview: May 28, 2026]. Configure message actions for Google Chat apps or Workspace Add-ons through the Developer Preview Program so users can invoke your app directly from the message context menu [Developer Preview: April 10, 2026]. Additionally, call the FindGroupChats method to find a group chat with specific members [Update: April 15, 2026], and use the Chat API to create a custom section to organise conversations into personalised views [Update: April 01, 2026]. To simplify access, several methods including getting messages and space events now support app authentication with administrator approval [Update: March 31, 2026].

Integrate with Google Meet

For Google Meet integrations, use the phoneAccess and gatewaySipAccess fields on the spaces resource to identify a meeting space and join calls [Update: April 16, 2026]. You can also work with artifacts by retrieving smart notes files from conference records using the get and list methods on the smartNotes resource, or subscribe to Google Meet events to monitor when notes are started, ended or generated [Update: April 02, 2026].

Manage Calendars and Drive Approvals

Following the secondary calendar deprecation notice in Q1, administrators can now programmatically transfer the ownership of secondary calendars between users within the same organisation using the Calendar API [Update: June 18, 2026]. To refine event visibility, apply the new writerWithoutPrivateAccess calendar access level [Update: June 01, 2026]. This permits read and write access to non-private events while keeping private events obscured as busy blocks. Over in Google Drive, implement the new approvals resource methods to start, decline and manage file approvals programmatically [Update: April 21, 2026].

These updates are clear evidence that there is a lot going on in Google Workspace development.

Q1 2026 Developer Roundup: Vertex AI, Agentic Add-ons, and the Growth of Workspace Studio

The first quarter of 2026 has been a significant period for the Google Workspace ecosystem, primarily focused on providing the tools needed to scale the “agentic” workflows we saw emerging late last year. From the arrival of the Vertex AI Advanced Service in Apps Script to the full rollout of Google Workspace Studio, the platform is becoming increasingly integrated and capable of supporting sophisticated, AI-driven automations.

Apps Script: AI is Now an Advanced Service

For many Apps Script developers, the standout update this quarter is the arrival of the Vertex AI Advanced Service. Launched in January, this service allows you to call the Vertex AI API and prompt Gemini models directly within your projects, removing the previous reliance on UrlFetchApp.

While the service represents a step forward by handling authentication natively, it currently has some limitations. As noted in our January deep dive, while the connection is simplified, it lacks support for key features like Grounding with Google Search or the specialised Image Generation and Editing models available in the broader Vertex AI API. For developers requiring these advanced capabilities or alternative authentication methods, such as service accounts, the manual UrlFetchApp approach remains a necessity for now, though we hope to see these gaps closed in future iterations.

Google Workspace Studio

As of March 19, 2026, Google Workspace Studio (formerly Workspace Flows) has launched to all Rapid and Scheduled Release domains. It provides a centralised hub for creating and managing AI agents without needing extensive code.

Looking ahead, we’re expecting even more extensibility. It hopefully won’t be long until the initially announced features, including the ability for agents to call external APIs via webhooks and the integration of custom Apps Script steps, are released. These additions will allow developers to bridge the gap between low-code convenience and the complex logic required for internal proprietary tools.

Google Chat: The Add-on Evolution & Interactive Cards

We’ve seen a continued effort from Google to unify the developer experience in Google Chat. A major milestone is the ability to convert interactive Chat apps into Google Workspace Add-ons. This allows for a single distribution through the Marketplace that can extend Chat alongside Gmail, Calendar, and Docs.

This shift is supported by the general availability of the AddOnsResponseService, along with Cloud Pub/Sub and Dialogflow integrations for Chat-based add-ons. Additionally, a new Developer Preview launched in March allows Chat apps to create and asynchronously update card-based messages on behalf of users.

Gmail & Postmaster Tools v2

For those managing high-volume email workflows, the Gmail Postmaster Tools API v2 reached general availability in February. This version provides deeper access to the full Postmaster Tools dataset, including compliance status and the queryDomainStats method for more flexible reporting on sender reputation.

Security, Permissions, and API Graduations

Governance and security remain a priority, with several key updates affecting how we manage data and access:

• Drive API Access: The enforceExpansiveAccess parameter is now deprecated. To restrict access, developers are encouraged to use the “folders with limited access” configuration.
• Secondary Calendar Management: Following community feedback, Google has postponed the deletion of orphan secondary calendars for paid accounts until October 5, 2026. To assist with this transition, a new Calendar API endpoint will launch by June 2026, allowing administrators to programmatically transfer ownership of individual secondary calendars.
• Google Meet Security: Updated guidance advises against reusing Meet codes across different Calendar events to prevent unintended access. Developers should generate a unique conference using the createRequest field for every new event.
• Granular OAuth: A gradual rollout of the granular OAuth consent screen has begun for Chat apps built with Apps Script, offering users more control over specific scope grants.
• Classroom API: Student Groups endpoints have graduated to General Availability, enabling programmatic management of group memberships.
• Marketplace API Deprecation: The licenseNotification resource has been deprecated. While there is no direct replacement, developers can monitor install events via Google Analytics.

Relational Power: JDBC Supports PostgreSQL

While not in the official release notes, a significant update for the community is the addition of PostgreSQL support to the Apps Script JDBC service. By supporting the jdbc:postgresql:// protocol, developers can now connect their automations directly to relational databases, moving beyond the traditional limits of Google Sheets for data storage.

The Road Ahead

The pace at which features are moving from Developer Preview to General Availability indicates a platform that is maturing rapidly. The roadmap for Google Workspace Studio also hints at extensibility including the anticipated release of custom triggers and actions built with Apps Script, a dedicated connectors platform for third-party tools like Jira and Salesforce, and the ability to integrate custom Vertex AI models directly into workflows will represent a fundamental change in how we handle complex data processing within Workspace automations.

The final quarter of 2025 has been a transformative period for the Google Workspace ecosystem, centred on the evolution of “Agentic” workflows. With the transition of Google Workspace Flows into the newly branded Google Workspace Studio, developers now have a centralised platform for building AI-powered automations. From deep Chat customisation to enhanced Meet artifacts, here’s a roundup of the key updates from October, November, and December that you need to know about.

Google Workspace Studio & Add-ons

The most significant shift this quarter is the general availability of Google Workspace Studio (formerly Workspace Flows). This platform allows developers to build AI agents that automate everyday work across the ecosystem.

• Studio Extensions: Developers can now build Google Workspace Add-ons that extend Studio, allowing for custom logic and integrations within AI-driven processes (this feature is in “Limited Preview” likely due to the extended rollout period for Workspace Studio).
• Dialogflow Integration: In a new developer preview, Chat apps built as Google Workspace add-ons can now use Dialogflow CX and Dialogflow ES, enabling more sophisticated natural language conversations within the Workspace interface.

Google Chat API: Deep Personalization

The Chat API received continued substantial updates focused on helping users organise information and enhancing app interactivity.

• Custom Sections: A major developer preview now allows the Chat API to programmatically create and manage custom sections. Developers can now create, delete, and position these sections to organise conversations in a personalised view.
• Membership Roles: Membership management has been refined with the introduction of new role types. In the Chat UI, existing space managers are now Owners, and a new Manager role (Role Assistant Manager) has been added to help administer spaces.
• Rich Links and Accessories: Generally available updates include support for reading rich links to Gmail threads and the ability for Chat apps to include interactive accessory widgets in private messages.

Google Meet: Working with Artifacts

Real-time data accessibility was a core focus for Meet this quarter, particularly around the Developer Preview Program.

• Smart Notes Retrieval: You can now retrieve smart notes files in a conference record using the get and list methods on the smartNotes resource.
• Event Subscriptions: Calendar invitees can now receive started and transcript generated events through the Google Workspace Events API.
• Meeting Identification: New fields for phoneAccess and gatewaySipAccess have been added to the spaces resource to help identify and join meeting spaces.

Google Drive API

• Comment and Reply Events: In a new developer preview, developers can now subscribe to comment and reply events in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. This is a powerful feature for building reactive applications that monitor file collaboration in real-time.

Gmail & Calendar: Ownership and Insights

• Postmaster Tools v2: The Gmail API v1 now offers a developer preview for Postmaster Tools v2. This includes compliance status data and the queryDomainStats method for flexible querying.
• Secondary Calendar Ownership: As of November, secondary calendars have moved to a single data-owner model. This change restricts the ability to delete or manage secondary calendars to the designated data owner, preventing unintended actions across organisations.

The Road Ahead

This quarter has shown a clear trajectory toward more intelligent, “agentic” integrations within Google Workspace. From the rollout of Google Workspace Studio to the granular control provided by new Chat and Drive events, the platform is becoming increasingly responsive to automated workflows.

It will be exciting to see how the community uses these new capabilities in the coming months. As for the future of Apps Script, Q1 2026 I think will be very exciting, stay tuned!!!