Google announces updates for Meet: in-meeting reactions, PiP, security improvements, and more

Google announced a significant update to Google Meet yesterday, and it includes a vast number of long-requested features. The main additions are in-meeting reactions, emoji-based feedback, and the ability to use Meet right inside of Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Users also get a new picture-in-picture mode to allow multitasking or more easily ignoring a meeting. With the latest update, users can stream a meeting to YouTube. 

Another major highlight of the announcement is security improvements. Google will roll client-side encryption in Meet in May, an update that is currently still in beta. With this launch, users will be better able to control their encryption keys. Google will also roll out end-to-end encryption for meetings later this year. 

“We know we need solutions that help people build connections that can bridge the gap between physical spaces and somewhere else,” said Dave Citron, Google’s director of product management for Google Meet and Voice. 

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Dave noted that most of these updates focus on collaboration equity and ensure that users can contribute to meetings regardless of their experience level, role, location devices, and language. 

The company will also launch personal video tiles for every participant, even if they are in a conference room with others. This update will help remote employees to have the same experience as those working in a physical space. 

However, these new Google Meet features will roll out later this year, and features such as responding with emojis during a meeting will have to wait until next month. Picture and picture will also roll out next month, whereas automatic noise cancellation will roll out for all users.