Google adds Gemini for Gmail (Image credit: Google)
Google has announced that it is adding new AI capabilities right inside the Gmail mobile app, along with bringing the power of Gemini to its Workspace apps, including Gmail, Drive, Slides, Docs, and more, with an AI-powered sidebar. The new set of AI-focused announcements was made during Google’s annual developer conference, I/O, in Mountain View, California.
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First up, the Gmail mobile app is getting three new AI-infused features, powered by Gemini. One is “Summarise email,” and as the name suggests, Gemini will now analyse email threads and provide a summarised view directly in the Gmail app. Simply tap the “Summarize” button at the top of your email thread to get summarised highlights. This way, users can save a lot of time and quickly extract the most important information. Google says the new “summarise email” feature will roll out to Workspace Labs users this week and to all Gemini for Workspace customers and Google One AI Premium subscribers next month.
Google is also adding something called “Gmail Q&A,” which allows you to express yourself in completely natural language and ask questions. It is similar to the side panel on the desktop and lets you open a prompt box when you have more specific requests. Many times, there are files buried in your inbox that you need information from, and it’s hard to find them. It could be a lost PDF file or a quarterly report from 2011, for example. Gmail Q&A will be available to Workspace Labs users on mobile and web starting in July.
Next up is “Contextual Smart Reply,” which Google says is a more nuanced version of AI-powered Smart Reply and Smart Compose tools that already exist. With Contextual Smart Reply, users can edit or simply send as-is. Basically, the new AI-powered feature looks at the context of the email and then provides customised smart replies based on the email you are in. Contextual Smart Reply in Gmail will be rolled out to Workspace Labs users on mobile and web starting July.
And that’s not the end of the AI announcements. If you are a Workspace user, Google is adding a sidebar in the side panel of Gmail, Docs, Drive, Slides, and Sheets, powered by the Gemini 1.5 Pro model. The side panel in Workspace apps will summarise, analyse, and generate content, taking advantage of insights from your emails, documents, and everything else. Gemini will find whatever you are looking at from your own data and provide far more insightful responses based on the context of your emails, files, and drive. Adding a Gemini-powered sidebar in Workspace apps is one more way to search for information at your fingertips. For example, if you are planning a trip to Las Vegas and bought tickets to the Sphere, assuming the confirmation and the tickets are in your email. You could ask Gemini, “what time does the Sphere option?” This is more specific ticket-specific information, and Gemini does that well, without you needing to look on the web. Gemini in the Workspace side panel is now available for Workspace Labs and Gemini for Workspace Alpha users. It will be available next month on desktop for businesses and consumers through Gemini for Workspace add-ons and the Google One AI Premium plan.
The writer is attending I/O 2024 at the invitation of Google India.
Anuj Bhatia is a seasoned personal technology writer at indianexpress.com with a career spanning over a decade. Active in the domain since 2011, he has established himself as a distinct voice in tech journalism, specializing in long-form narratives that bridge the gap between complex innovation and consumer lifestyle.
Experience & Career: Anuj has been a key contributor to The Indian Express since late 2016. Prior to his current tenure, he served as a Senior Tech Writer at My Mobile magazine and held a role as a reviewer and tech writer at Gizbot. His professional trajectory reflects a rigorous commitment to technology reporting, backed by a postgraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University.
Expertise & Focus Areas: Anuj’s reporting covers the spectrum of personal technology, characterized by a unique blend of modern analysis and historical context. His key focus areas include:
Core Technology: Comprehensive coverage of smartphones, personal computers, apps, and lifestyle tech.
Deep-Dive Narratives: Specializes in composing longer-form feature articles and explainers that explore the intersection of history, technology, and popular culture.
Global & Local Scope: Reports extensively on major international product launches from industry titans like Apple and Google, while simultaneously covering the ecosystem of indie and home-grown tech startups.
Niche Interests: A dedicated focus on vintage technology and retro gaming, offering readers a nostalgic yet analytical perspective on the evolution of tech.
Authoritativeness & Trust
Anuj is a trusted voice in the industry, recognized for his ability to de-jargonize trending topics and provide context to rapid technological advancements. His authority is reinforced by his on-ground presence at major international tech conferences and his nuanced approach to product reviews. By balancing coverage of the world's most valuable tech brands with emerging startups, he offers a holistic and objective view of the global technology landscape.
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