Google has unveiled a suite of new features for its Workspace for Education platform aimed at strengthening security and promoting responsible use of AI in schools. The enhancements include AI media verification, ransomware detection, and more granular administrative controls, giving educators and administrators better tools to protect data and ensure safe learning environments.
Speaking at the Bett 2026 conference, Google’s Group Product Manager for Education, Akshay Kirtikar, explained that the new tools are designed to help schools verify AI-generated content and safeguard critical data while maintaining flexibility for learning and innovation.
The AI verification tool, powered by Google’s SynthID watermark technology, allows teachers and students to determine whether images or videos were created or edited using Google AI. Users simply upload media to the Gemini app and ask whether it was AI-generated, with the system analyzing both audio and visual elements. Google plans to expand this verification to audio files and AI models from other platforms over time.
On the security side, the updates bring advanced ransomware detection and recovery. When ransomware is detected on a computer using Drive for Desktop, file syncing pauses automatically, and both users and administrators are alerted. Schools can quickly restore multiple files to pre-infection versions, preventing data loss and avoiding ransom demands.
Additional administrative controls include the SecOps data connector, which allows Education Plus and Standard users to forward all Workspace activity logs to the Google SecOps platform. Centralizing audit data helps schools detect complex threats, speed up investigations, and maintain compliance records.
Google also introduced enhanced access controls for Google Meet live streams, giving hosts the power to restrict viewing to selected users or groups, ensuring sensitive educational content is only available to intended participants. A new opt-in “Adaptive” meeting type further allows administrators to manage these controls without affecting existing meetings.
Kirtikar emphasized that these updates are part of Google’s ongoing commitment to making Workspace for Education both innovative and secure. Schools now have greater visibility and control over AI content, cyber threats, and user access, helping create a safer and more trustworthy digital learning environment.
