Google has begun rolling out generative AI-powered tools in Gmail, aiming to help users manage cluttered inboxes and automate email writing. Some of the new features are free, while others will require a subscription.
The new tools allow users to ask Gmail questions such as “What’s the name of the job recruiter I met last month?” and retrieve relevant messages instantly. Google is also testing an AI-powered inbox, set for broader release later this year, which automatically generates to-do lists and highlights tasks from email conversations.
Other features include automatic email summaries, suggested personalized replies, and a “Help Me Write” tool to draft messages based on short prompts. Paid AI tools, available under Google’s subscription plans starting at $20 per month, include enhanced email searches and a proofreading assistant that can revise sentences for clarity and conciseness.
The AI tools are powered by Google’s Gemini assistant, which analyzes user emails without human review. Google assures users that while Gemini accesses the inbox for AI functions, employees do not read the content, and Gmail data will not be used to train or improve the AI models.
Blake Barnes, Google’s vice president of product overseeing Gmail, said the tools aim to reduce the time people spend on email management while maintaining privacy safeguards. Early testers report that the AI-powered inbox is particularly useful for summarizing conversations and creating actionable to-do lists, though some users remain cautious about sharing additional data with the system.
