In a blog post on September 9, 2026, Google unveiled a new set of features for its AI subscriptions— Google AI Plus, AI Pro, and AI Ultra —which have all been operating under the Google One umbrella since the Google Drive rebranding. The focus is on voice control for Gmail, Docs, and Keep; the new image editing tool Google Pics; and Sheets Canvas, which turns spreadsheets into small interactive apps. One of the most exciting new features, Gemini Spark, is once again unavailable to users in Germany.
In a nutshell:
- New voice features in Gmail, Docs, and Keep for AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra
- Google Pics (image editing based on Nano Banana) for AI Pro and Ultra
- Sheets Canvas transforms spreadsheets into interactive mini-apps
- Gemini Spark gets Chrome and Photos integration but remains unavailable in the EU, Switzerland, the UK, or Nigeria
- Students worldwide receive one year of AI Plus or AI Pro for free
Voice features are coming to Gmail, Docs, and Keep
First up is voice control, which Google will initially roll out to individual users during the week of September 3, 2026, with Workspace business customers to follow. In Gmail, users will soon be able to search their inbox by voice, for example by asking, “Which gate is my flight from?” Keep automatically converts spoken notes into structured lists—no typing required. In Docs, the voice feature acts as a hands-free writing assistant that organizes documents while also incorporating information from Gmail, Drive, Chat, and the web.
Gmail and Keep will receive the new voice tools across all three subscription tiers: AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra. In Docs, the feature is reserved for the two more expensive plans, Pro and Ultra.
Google Pics: Image Editing with Nano Banana in Workspace
With Google Pics, Google is introducing a standalone image tool in Gmail, Docs, and Slides, with Drive set to follow shortly thereafter. It’s based on Google’s “Nano Banana” image model and allows for object isolation to make targeted edits, text editing directly within the image, and collaborative editing of graphics within a team. A single prompt can also generate multiple design variations, such as for posters, social media graphics, or illustrations. Those who want to use the tool independently of the Workspace apps will soon be able to find it separately at pics.new. Google Pics is available for AI Pro and AI Ultra, as well as for most Workspace business plans.
Sheets Canvas Turns Spreadsheets into Small Apps
Probably the most unusual new feature is called Sheets Canvas: It lets you turn spreadsheets into interactive mini-apps without formulas or code. Google cites examples such as a study tracker created from a simple to-do list, a fantasy football dashboard, or a seating chart generator created from a wedding RSVP list. The feature is launching globally in English for AI Pro and Ultra and is expected to roll out gradually to Workspace Business, as well as Enterprise Standard and Plus.
Gemini Spark is being expanded—just not for users in Germany
However, the expansion of Gemini Spark —the agent-based AI assistant that, with user permission, accesses saved passwords and logged-in accounts on Chrome to complete tasks independently—is likely to attract significantly more attention. Manual approval is still required for payments. A new feature is the integration with Google Photos: U.S. subscribers to AI Pro and Ultra can now use Spark to edit photos and curate albums, which is quite convenient, especially since free storage on Google Photos is set to be phased out soon anyway.
The problem for German readers: Although Gemini Spark has been available in more than 160 countries since July 2026, the service remains blocked in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria. Google has not yet provided a reason for this. While the three other new features in this update are available as usual in Europe, subscribers here continue to pay the full price for a subscription whose key feature remains unavailable to them.
What are the current prices for Google AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra?
The prices and storage quotas for Google One AI subscriptions in Germany were last significantly reduced in the spring of 2026. Here’s a current overview for reference:
| Subscription | Price (monthly) | Storage | Gemini Usage Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Plus (Basic) | €4.99 | 400 GB | 2x |
| AI Plus (2 TB) | €9.99 | 2 TB | 2x |
| AI Pro | €21.99 | 5 TB | 4x |
| AI Ultra | €99.99 | 20 TB | 5x |
| AI Ultra (20x) | €219.99 | 30 TB | 20x |
Source: GoogleWatchBlog, as of June 2026.
Paid extras for the Pro and Ultra plans include YouTube Premium Lite, Google Home Premium, and Google Health Premium, among others. All plans can also be shared with up to five family members.
Free Google AI Subscription for One Year: The Student Offer
Current students can get a Google AI subscription at a lower price. In the U.S., students receive one year of AI Pro (regularly $19.99 per month) for free, including a fourfold usage limit, 5 TB of storage, and Google Health Premium. Outside the U.S.—in over 140 countries, excluding the U.S. itself, Bolivia, Albania, Canada, Macau, Hong Kong, and Tunisia—students instead receive one year of AI Plus with double the usage limit and 400 GB of storage. The offer runs through December 31, 2026, and can be renewed for up to four years as long as student status is maintained.
Conclusion: Useful everyday features, but the gap with the U.S. is growing
With the fall update, Google is noticeably enhancing its AI subscriptions: voice control in Gmail and Docs, a handy image tool, and spreadsheets that transform into mini-apps are practical additions for everyday work. However, the fact that Gemini Spark—of all things, the flagship product—is once again bypassing Germany and the rest of the EU is likely to raise some eyebrows among paying subscribers here. Whether and when Google will close this gap remains to be seen. We’ll keep an eye on it.
