Last updated: 30 October 2026 · Based on Google’s official Workspace Updates blog
Quick answer: Google has upgraded Gemini in Google Sheets. The AI function (also called “Fill with Gemini”) now handles up to 3,000 cells per request, responds faster and gives more consistent results from cell to cell. It also shows the exact web source for each cell it fills. Google says it is up to 55 times faster than manual entry for a 500-cell task. The update began rolling out on 20 October 2026 to Workspace Business/Enterprise Standard and Plus, and to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.
What’s new in Gemini for Google Sheets
| Improvement | What it means |
|---|---|
| Up to 3,000 cells per request | Summarise, categorise or process far more rows in one go |
| Faster responses | Upgraded processing returns results more quickly |
| Better cell-over-cell consistency | Similar inputs get similar outputs down a column |
| Cell-level web citations | Each AI-filled cell shows the exact web sources Gemini used (Sheets on the web) |
| Up to 55x faster than manual entry | Google’s internal study of 95 people on a 500-cell task with English prompts |
Why cell-level citations matter
Using AI to fill a spreadsheet with facts, such as company headquarters, product prices or population figures, carries a risk: you can’t easily tell where each answer came from. With citations attached to each individual cell, you can check any value against its source before you trust it. That makes the AI function far more useful for research and reporting.
Who gets the update?
- Google Workspace: Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard and Enterprise Plus
- Personal Google accounts: Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra subscribers
- Education: Google AI Pro for Education add-on
- Add-ons: AI Expanded Access
Business Starter, Enterprise Essentials and free Google accounts are not on the list. For Workspace organisations, the feature is on by default wherever Gemini in Sheets is enabled.
Rollout: a gradual rollout began on 20 October 2026 for both Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. It can take up to 15 days to reach your account.
How to use Gemini in Google Sheets
- Open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets on the web, signed in with an eligible account.
- Click Ask Gemini (the spark icon) in the top-right corner to open the Gemini side panel.
- Describe what you want, for example: “Categorise the feedback in column B as positive, neutral or negative.”
- To fill cells directly, use the AI function in a cell, e.g.
=AI("Summarise this review in 5 words", B2), then drag it down the column. The new limit lets one request cover up to 3,000 cells. - For fact-based results pulled from the web, open a filled cell to see its citations and confirm the source.
Other Gemini updates in Sheets this month
- Gemini in Sheets on iOS: now available on iPhone and iPad, following the Android launch.
- Ask questions about BigQuery data: with Connected Sheets, you can ask about BigQuery data in plain language, and Gemini queries the full dataset, not just the visible rows.
- Box-and-whisker charts: now a native chart type in Sheets.
Practical ways to use it
- Sorting customer feedback: tag thousands of survey replies by topic or sentiment.
- Lead research: fill in a company’s industry or city, with a source in every cell.
- Cleaning product data: standardise names, write short descriptions or pull out key specs.
- Students and teachers: summarise long text columns or sort answers into groups.
Tip: AI output can still be wrong. Spot-check a sample of rows, especially numbers, and use the citations to confirm facts before sharing the sheet.
Frequently asked questions
How many cells can Gemini fill in Google Sheets at once?
After this update, the AI function supports up to 3,000 cells per request.
Is Gemini in Google Sheets free?
Not for this feature. It is for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers, and for Workspace Business Standard/Plus, Enterprise Standard/Plus and some education and AI add-ons.
Does Gemini in Sheets show sources?
Yes. When the AI function fills cells from the web, each cell now shows the exact web sources used. Citations are available in Google Sheets on the web.
When will I get the new Gemini features in Sheets?
The rollout started on 20 October 2026 and can take up to 15 days to reach all eligible accounts.
How do I open Gemini in Google Sheets?
Click the Ask Gemini (spark) button in the top-right corner of Google Sheets to open the Gemini side panel.
Sources
Feature details, availability and rollout dates: Google Workspace Updates, “Fill with Gemini now provides cell-level citations for web sources and supports larger requests” (28 October 2026) and the weekly recap of 23 October 2026. Coverage: Gadgets 360. Help: Google’s AI function guide.
Featured image: GlobeTrendNews, using a photo by Gerard van de Bruinhorst via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).