Gmail gets major AI boost: Google rolls out ‘AI Inbox’ and summarisation tools

New Delhi: Google on Thursday announced a major integration of its Gemini AI models into Gmail, introducing new experiences designed to offer personalised insights and streamlined communication for its 3 billion users. The suite of features, which has begun rolling out to users in the US as well as AI Pro and Ultra subscribers, includes an "AI Inbox," conversation summaries, and enhanced drafting tools.

A key highlight of the update is the new AI Inbox, which functions as a personalised briefing by highlighting pending tasks and catching users up on critical updates. Blake Barnes, VP of Product at Gmail, explained that the system identifies "VIPs" by analysing signals such as frequent contacts and message content to infer relationships. While this feature is currently limited to trusted testers before a broader launch, Barnes emphasised that the analysis occurs securely, maintaining strict user privacy controls.

For the broader user base, Google is introducing "AI Overviews" at no cost. Similar to recent updates in Google Search, this feature synthesises long email threads with multiple replies into concise summaries of key points. Users can also ask their inbox specific questions to generate simple, AI-driven answers without needing to dig through past messages.

The update also democratises writing assistance, making the "Help Me Write" tool available to all users for polishing or drafting emails from scratch. Additionally, updated "Suggested Replies" will use conversation context to offer relevant, one-click responses that mimic the user's specific writing style. While these core features are free, the advanced "Proofread" capability remains exclusive to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers. The company plans to further enhance these tools next month by integrating context from other Google apps.

(Inputs from IANS)