Google is ushering Gmail into what it calls the Gemini era. It is rolling out new AI-powered features designed to help users manage their inboxes more efficiently. Announced via Google’s official blog, the update focuses on reducing email overload by intelligently surfacing the messages that matter most, which allows users to act faster and with less effort.
Google introduces an AI upgrade to Gmail
At the center of the update is a smarter inbox experience inside Gmail. Instead of displaying emails strictly in chronological order, Gmail now uses AI to identify and highlight messages that require attention first. This feature is based on factors like recent interactions, frequent contacts, and how users typically engage with similar emails. The goal is simple, help users spend less time scanning their inbox and more time responding to what actually matters.
This update builds on Gmail’s existing AI tools, like spam filtering and Smart Reply. However, it takes things a step further by focusing on inbox prioritisation. Google says the goal is to make email feel more manageable, especially for users who receive large volumes of messages daily. Importantly, users will still be able to switch back to the traditional chronological inbox if they prefer, keeping control firmly in their hands.
In addition to prioritization, Gmail is becoming more conversational thanks to AI Overviews. With the new “Ask your inbox anything” capability, users can request quick summaries of long email threads or ask for specific information without opening every message.
Google is also expanding its suite of productivity tools aimed at speeding up email responses. Features like Help Me Write assist users in drafting emails from scratch using short prompts, while Suggested Replies offer context-aware responses that can be sent or edited instantly.
Together, these updates reflect Google’s broader push to integrate Gemini-powered AI more deeply into everyday tools. For Gmail users, it means a cleaner inbox, quicker responses, and less time spent managing email, making productivity feel more seamless rather than overwhelming.
Originally reported by Viha Shah on Mandatory.
