Google’s Gmail just got a big AI upgrade and it’s (mostly) free
This shouldn’t come as a surprise–AI is omnipresent these days–but Gmail is getting a big old AI upgrade, and this time Google’s taking a hammer to its paywall.
During a press briefing led by Ross Reichardi from Gmail PR and Blake Barnes, head of Gmail product, Google announced a wide rollout of AI-powered Gmail features to all U.S. users for free. That includes tools like Help Me Write, AI-generated summaries in email threads, and more advanced Smart Replies, which were previously limited to paying customers.
There’s a brand-new Proofread feature that helps you spiffy up your email drafts in real time. It helps with things like fixing incorrect word usage and grammatical errors, and breaking up sentences that go on and on into infinity. You don’t have to use these suggestions if you don’t want to–they’re one-click optional. There’s also an undo button if you’re not feeling it.
Paying subscribers get some exclusive perks, though. Google One Pro and Ultra users now see AI overviews in Gmail’s search bar. This lets you ask questions like, “How much was my last electric bill?” and get summarized answers based on your email history. You don’t have to endlessly scroll to find whatever it is you’re looking for.
They also introduced a new feature called AI Inbox, which transforms your inbox into a kind of personal assistant. It uses Google’s Gemini to read entire threads and pull out emails that require immediate attention. Don’t worry, the traditional inbox you know and love is still there, and now you can toggle between the views. AI Inbox is rolling out to testers starting today, January 8.
Privacy was a big talking point throughout the briefing (as it should be!). Google stressed that personal Gmail content used for these AI features is processed in a private, isolated environment and is not used to train Gemini models. You can also turn these features off entirely.
So, what did I take away from this meeting? I see it as a clear push to make Gmail feel less overwhelming and more approachable. I’m not entirely closed off to it, as my own inbox contains years of email exchanges. That said, I’m still leery of the idea of AI further worming its way into my personal digital space.
The rollout is live today for consumer accounts and Pro/Ultra subscribers, though the AI Inbox is limited to a select group of testers, with wider availability coming later.