Google Chat is finally getting an avatar feature for group participants

Google Chat has undergone significant changes over the past few months, starting with a redesigned logo in December. The mobile app has also undergone various design updates in recent months. Google Chat is actively working on including features like voice messaging, a common feature in many messaging apps. Another addition to the feature list is participant avatars for unread group chats (spaces).

The addition of participant avatars for unread group chats in Google Chat is a significant development for the platform, especially compared to popular collaborative communication tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams. However, it remains unclear from Google blog post whether this feature will provide a consistent view of participants’ avatars even after the thread has been read, a functionality present in some competing platforms such as Slack.

Google Chat Groups participant avatar, how will it affect users?

This new feature in Google Chat, showing participant avatars for unread group chats, is a valuable addition for users working with large teams or multiple topics. It makes it easy to quickly identify relevant topics to read, improving the overall user experience. Additionally, the availability of this feature across platforms, including web, Android, and iOS, ensures a consistent and accessible experience for chat users across devices.

Google has made it easier for users to access the new feature to display participant avatars for unread group chats in Google Chat. No account-based restrictions or administrator settings are required to enable this feature. A gradual rollout will begin over the next few weeks, ensuring that all users, regardless of their workspace level or account type, will eventually have access to it. This inclusion extends to free or personal Google account holders, who will also be able to view avatars for unread threads in spaces.

Conclusion

The recent addition of participant avatars for unread group chats in Google Chat is a useful improvement that makes it easier for users to manage and prioritize their conversations. However, it comes after a redesign in January that received mixed reviews, particularly for changes like moving the Mentions tab to a three-dot menu. Despite these design tweaks, Google continues to refine and introduce features to improve the user experience of its chat platform.