Google Meet audio huddles are now available in the Google Chat upgrade

One of Google's other main apps, Meet, is enabling an audio-focused feature in the Chat app. Google Chat users can initiate an audio-first meeting via huddles, which are described as a "quick and adaptable method to connect."

The new feature offers several customization choices, including the ability to add video, share your screen for a full conference experience while multitasking in Chat, and resize or slide the window after the huddle has begun.

In a variety of situations, such as "two colleagues syncing quickly to discuss a project they've been messaging about in their Chat stream," Chat and Meet users benefit from huddles.

If you haven't guessed it before, Huddles' seamless integration with Chat makes it completely compatible with multitasking within the app, particularly given that users may share their screens and resize it.

The Meet video button, which is now in Chat's compose bar, is being moved to the Chat header to make room for the new functionality. This will provide users more options, such as calling, starting a huddle, or sharing a Meet link from a single entry point.

Huddles should now be accessible in spaces, group messaging, and direct messages, as Google notes. To initiate a huddle in Chat, users need to click the Video icon located in the upper right corner of their message and choose "Start a huddle."

Though you can turn on video at any time, keep in mind that huddles only start audio by default. It's also important to note that you should see a chat chip in your message thread stating that [user] has created a huddle when you are asked to join one. Click "Join" to join the huddle.

Google claims that huddles will be added to Chat on November 27 and that it will take longer than two weeks for everyone to be able to use the feature. Actually, it is anticipated that the rollout will conclude by December 20, 2024.

Google Workspace accounts with Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Frontline Starter, Frontline Standard, Essentials, Enterprise Essentials, and Enterprise Essentials Plus packages, as well as nonprofit organizations, can access the new Google Chat huddles.