Expansion of Gemini Tools for Faculty and Staff

  • 2 February 2026

Following recent updates to Google for Education’s core services, the University of Alberta is preparing for an immediate rollout of several new AI features within our Google Workspace environment. These tools are being integrated as core services, ensuring they meet our institutional standards for data privacy and security. At this time, these new features will be implemented for faculty and staff only.

The following tools are expected to appear in your Workspace interface as of February 4, 2026.

  • Google Docs: Access "Help Me Write" for drafting technical documentation, grant summaries, or course descriptions. The side panel can also be used to summarize long-form documents or suggest structural changes.
  • Google Slides: Generate original visual aids and diagrams from text prompts directly within the presentation interface to assist with lecture delivery.
  • Google Forms: Use AI to generate draft assessment questions or surveys from a brief topic description. It also provides automated summaries of collected response data.

In the coming months, Google will implement Gemini functionality within Sheets and Gmail.

No manual installation is required; the Gemini icon will appear in the side panel of the respective apps once the update is live. Individual users cannot disable Gemini integrations in these applications.

Data Privacy and Security

The Gemini app is a core Google Workspace service supported by Information Services and Technology (IST) and is therefore included and protected by the University of Alberta’s agreement with Google. Google does not use University of Alberta data, prompts, or generated content to train its public AI models. All intellectual property remains within the university's controlled environment. 

Gemini app activity from the web or mobile app cannot be deleted or turned off for Google Workspace for Education accounts (including for the University of Alberta). If you use the Gemini web or mobile app with a U of A account, your activity is turned on, and your conversation history is retained for 18 months. If you do not use Gemini, no data will be shared.

For more information on using Gemini, including details on information privacy best practices, visit the Get Started with Gemini article.