Google brings more AI to Gmail
Google is equipping Gmail with new AI functions based on Gemini. Some features, such as AI overviews, will be available free of charge to all users.
(Image: PixieMe/Shutterstock.com)
Google has announced that it will equip Gmail with more AI functions. Some features previously hidden behind a paywall will also be made available to all 3 billion users – according to the number stated by the company. US users will get access first.
More Gemini for Gmail
The basis of the new AI functions for Gmail is, of course, Google's AI model Gemini, which has found its way into search, smartphones, watches, smart TVs, cars, and the smart home in recent months. AI is intended to help users search their inbox more easily and grasp content faster. AI overviews, which the company introduced in a similar form for search last year, are to help with this in the future.
(Image:Â Google)
The AI overviews are intended to help in Gmail to summarize mail conversations with dozens of replies and to present the most important points clearly.
Furthermore, users will be able to ask a question in natural language in the inbox search instead of using keywords. As an example, Google mentions: "Who was the plumber who gave me an estimate for the bathroom renovation last year?" According to Google, Gemini will then sift through the inbox, find the required answer, and summarize the necessary details.
The summaries using the AI overview will be free for everyone in the future. However, the ability to ask questions in the inbox with the AI overview is only available to subscribers of Google's AI Pro and Ultra. This feature will also initially be available only to users in the USA and will be made available to users in other countries later.
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New Writing Tools
Google is also integrating writing tools into Gmail: With the "Help Me Write" function, emails can be revised or written from scratch. The "Suggested Replies" feature is also being introduced. This is an update to "Smart Replies" that analyzes the context of the conversation to offer meaningful one-click responses that are intended to match your own writing style.
(Image:Â Google)
As an example, Google writes: "Suppose you are organizing a family reunion and your aunt asks if she should bring cake or pie instead. With suggested replies, you can immediately draft an initial response in your tone and style, which you can then refine before sending." In addition, Gmail will receive an extended correction function that allows users to check grammar, tone, and style.
The "Help Me Write" and "Suggested Replies" functions will be free for all Gmail users. The correction function is reserved for subscribers of the AI Pro and Ultra plans.
AI Inbox
In addition to the "normal" inbox, Gmail will get an "AI Inbox," which Google describes as a "personalized briefing" that "highlights important tasks for users and keeps them up to date on everything essential." The AI inbox is intended to help "set priorities by identifying VIPs based on signals such as frequently contacted people, contacts in the contact list, and relationships that can be derived from the content of the messages."
(Image:Â Google)
According to Google, this function will bring important things like a due invoice or a dentist appointment reminder to the top. Trusted testers in the USA will initially have access to the AI Inbox before the feature is rolled out to more users in the USA in the coming months.
Google emphasizes that the analysis of data "is secure and carried out with the usual Google data protection measures, so that users retain control over their data." The company also states that it does not use Gmail content to train its Gemini AI models.
According to Google, all AI functions in Gmail can be deactivated. However, deactivating them will also turn off other functions such as spell check.
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The new Gmail functions are based on Gemini 3 and are available in English in the USA starting today. They are to be introduced in other regions in the coming months. The manufacturer does not provide a specific rollout schedule.
(afl)
