Google on January 8 announced a major update to Gmail, introducing new AI-powered features under what it calls the ‘Gemini era’ of email, to help users manage growing inbox volumes and extract information faster.
The new capabilities are powered by Gemini 3 and begin rolling out on January 9 in the US, starting with English. Google said support for more languages and regions will follow.
The update brings AI Overviews to Gmail, allowing users to get summaries of long email threads and answers to questions asked in natural language. The feature uses Gemini to synthesise information across emails instead of requiring keyword searches.
“Instead of hunting for keywords or digging through a year of emails, just use natural language,” said Blake Barnes, vice president of product for Gmail. “Gemini’s advanced reasoning pulls the answer, instantly summarising the exact details you need.”
AI Overviews conversation summaries are rolling out globally at no cost, while the ability to ask questions directly to the inbox will be available to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.
Google also announced wider access to its AI-assisted writing tools. Help Me Write and updated Suggested Replies are now available to all users for drafting and refining emails. A new Proofread feature, which checks grammar, tone and style, will be limited to paid AI subscribers.
“Suggested Replies use the context of your conversation to offer relevant, one-click responses that match how you write,” Barnes added. He explained that Help Me Write will gain deeper personalisation next month by using context from other Google apps.
Another addition is AI Inbox, a new inbox view designed to surface priority emails, deadlines and reminders. The system identifies important messages based on factors such as frequent contacts, saved contacts and inferred relationships from email content.
“AI Inbox is like having a personalised briefing, highlighting to-dos and catching you up on what matters,” Barnes said, adding that analysis is done “securely with the privacy protections you expect from Google”.
AI Inbox is currently being tested with a limited group of users and is expected to roll out more broadly in the coming months.
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