Google has significantly revamped its Gemini ecosystem with a series of major updates and strategic shifts. Where the focus used to be on chatbots and text generation, the platform is increasingly centered on advanced reasoning models, deep integrations, and so-called agentic workflows. But of course, we already knew that.
Fun friends: Claude integrates with Google Workspace
While all players previously stuck firmly to their own exclusive AI ecosystem, Google is now opening the floodgates: Claude is now directly integrated into Google Workspace. If you don't believe it, take a look in the Google Marketplace!
(Paying) Claude users can open the assistant via a built-in side panel directly within Google Workspace. Instead of constantly copying and pasting between browser tabs, Claude can now, just like Gemini, rewrite text directly in Google Docs, structure financial models in Sheets, check comments based on current Drive access rights, etc.
One doesn't have to replace the other; on the contrary, together they are strongest!
Who's at the API door
We're already big fans of this big friendly giant! But... not all third-party tools are saints.
Allow us a small technical sidestep: the integration of external tools into Google Workspace is done via OAuth connections to enable the (automation) of tasks and workflows. When such an application is authorized, the external provider receives an API token that grants access to specific data within your cloud environment. In practice, this means that data can flow directly to the third-party servers and that the application can perform interactions independently. In short, your data leaves your Google Workspace, because you yourself have given permission for this! (Which, by the way, does not happen with Gemini, remember?)
Good or bad?
More and more tools are asking for full editing or even administrator rights (and more and more customers agree without thinking twice). We at CLOUDMEN are somewhat alarmed about this!
With full modifying rights, an external application can not only view sensitive company information, but also overwrite documents, permanently delete files, or send outgoing emails on behalf of employees. Admin rights are even riskier, because a compromised integration can then manipulate the configuration of the entire domain or take over accounts.
Silent rights
If the external software provider were to fall victim to a data breach or vulnerability (and chances are...), such a broadly authorized connection acts as a direct backdoor to your entire Workspace (a classic supply chain attack).
It is therefore essential to apply the principle of least privilege: block unreviewed applications in the Google Admin Console by default and only allow tested tools with the strictly minimal scopes needed for their specific task. Regularly (at least annually) check which apps have access to your Workspace and whether they are still being used.
Just think about it... is it really necessary for a little planning app to be able to read your entire Google Drive? Does an AI note-taker in fact requires access to your mails and chat history?
Come on in (with limited rights)
The shift is clear: AI is not standing still and Gemini and Claude are going head to head to make your workday easier. Just take a second before you click agree, or contact the little helpers at CLOUDMEN!
