Google Chat Revamps ‘Huddles’ to Compete with Slack Meetings

Google Chat may soon have a new online collaboration tool that will make it much easier to stay up to date on the most recent business duties.

The messaging app has revealed “huddles,” a brand-new quick-start feature that lets users establish an audio-only gathering right from the chat window.

According to the firm, huddles will be a “fast and flexible way to connect” if you need to quickly catch up with a colleague.

‘Huddles’ is a new feature in Google Chat.  With the new ‘huddles’ feature in Google Chat, users may easily begin a meeting while conversing with a co-worker. The new feature gives a button to initiate an audio call in picture-in-picture mode. After other users have joined, users can add additional capabilities like screen sharing or video. The business claims that the Huddle tool, which shares the same name as rival Slack’s, will function in both group conversations and direct communications on Google Chat.

The Business says, Google Chat users on Rapid Release domains will be able to use the new huddles functionality by December 20. The distribution is planned to start on January 6, 2025, therefore users on Scheduled Release domains will have to wait a few more weeks.

Google Chat users may initiate huddles via direct messages, group messaging, and places, the firm claims. Users can activate their video after entering a huddle, which will begin as an audio call. Screen sharing and other tools seen on standard Google Meet calls will also be accessible during huddles.

Since 2021, Google’s competitor Slack has provided a tool of the same name; a year later, it was enhanced to include video calls. The huddle function is available on both the desktop and mobile versions of Slack.

Users of Google Chat can initiate a huddle by clicking on the downward-pointing arrow next to the call button in a group chat window or direct message, and then selecting Start a huddle. At the bottom right corner of the screen, the service will show a little picture-in-picture call with buttons for screen sharing, end call, mute, and video (which is turned off by default).

Additionally, users may adjust the huddle window’s size, which is useful if someone else is sharing their screen or if their camera is switched on. According to the business, customers may continue using Google Chat while staying on the call by using the picture-in-picture option.

Google Workspace Business Starter, Standard, and Plus levels, as well as Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus, Frontline Starter and Standard, Essentials, Enterprise Essentials, and Enterprise Essentials Plus, and Nonprofits tiers, will be able to utilize the emerging functionality.

“Huddles help to reduce meeting fatigue for hybrid workers, and eliminates the need for lengthy discussions over email or in Chat,” the firm wrote in a blog post introducing the change to Google Workspace.

“Huddles seamlessly and instantly integrate into the Chat experience rather than abruptly cutting out of the chat to enter a meeting. Huddles’ structure facilitates multitasking in Chat by making it simple to share or adjust your screen.

With this functionality, Google Chat joins competitors Slack and Microsoft Teams, who also provide the ability to start immediate meetings.

Huddles, a feature of Slack, enables fast video and audio conversations for those impromptu brainstorming sessions or catch-ups. Using real-time audio and the messages transmitted during the huddle, the firm recently announced that its Slack AI platform will now produce notes. This will allow attendees to keep track of exactly what was said and by whom.