Gmail users on Android devices can now chat directly with Google’s AI assistant, Gemini, about their emails within the Gmail app. The new feature, Gmail Q&A, was rolled out by Google on Thursday, providing a new way to manage emails.
With Gmail Q&A, users can utilize Google Gemini as a personal assistant that can read their entire email inbox. Users can ask Gemini to summarize emails by using phrases like, “Catch me up on the emails about quarterly planning.” This offers a convenient way to stay updated on important communications.
Additionally, users can search for specific details by asking Gemini questions such as, “How much did the company spend on the last marketing event?” However, it’s worth noting that despite the advanced capabilities, users might encounter occasional inaccuracies, a common issue with even the best AI models.
Traditionally, users would rely on the search bar at the top of Google to find information in their Gmail. While this feature is still available, the Gemini button will now be added next to the search bar. This marks a shift in Google’s approach, moving from traditional search to AI chat-based interactions.
Paying users can access this feature by clicking the black star logo representing Gemini across Google’s product suite, located in the top-right corner of the app. For now, Gmail Q&A only accesses emails, but Google plans to extend this feature to files in the Drive account in the future.
In June, Gmail Q&A was introduced to web users who subscribe to Gemini or Google One AI Premium, at a cost of about $20 per month. While this feature is unlikely to be made available to free Gmail users soon, Google aims to demonstrate the value of these AI capabilities to justify the subscription costs.
As part of its strategy, Google is integrating Gemini across all of its products, including Google Docs, Gmail, Google Calendar, and more. This approach aims to generate revenue from these AI products, providing innovative solutions for users but requiring a financial commitment.
Google’s introduction of Gemini in Gmail represents a significant shift towards AI-driven email management. While the feature currently caters to paying users, its integration into various Google products underscores the company’s commitment to enhancing productivity through artificial intelligence.
Source: Techcrunch