Google has begun rolling out new Gemini AI-powered features in Gmail, aiming to turn users’ inboxes into smarter, more proactive assistants.

The company says the update will help users save time by summarising emails and surfacing key information instantly.

Google announced the new features in a blog post, saying the updates will be introduced in phases. Some of the tools will be enabled by default in users’ inboxes as the rollout progresses.

“We're bringing Gmail into the Gemini era and making it your personal, proactive inbox assistant,” the company said.

AI-generated email summaries

One of the key features is AI-generated summaries of long email threads. When users open an email with dozens of replies, Gmail will automatically synthesise the entire conversation into a short summary highlighting the main points.

According to Google, this is designed to help users quickly understand discussions without scrolling through lengthy message chains.

Introducing AI overviews in Gmail

Google said inboxes contain valuable information, but finding it often requires advanced searching and manual effort. Even after locating the right emails, users usually have to read through multiple messages to extract answers.

To address this, Google is introducing AI Overviews, which turn scattered information into clear answers without the need for digging.

With AI Overviews, users can ask Gmail questions using natural language. For example, instead of searching keywords, users can ask, “Who was the plumber that gave me a quote for the bathroom renovation last year?”

Gemini’s advanced reasoning then scans emails and instantly summarises the relevant details.

Feature availability and subscriptions

AI Overview conversation summaries are rolling out for all users at no cost. However, the ability to ask questions directly to your inbox using AI Overviews is limited to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.

Google said these features are designed to reduce the time users spend searching through emails.

Starting today, all users can access Help Me Write, a tool that helps polish emails or draft messages from scratch. Gmail is also introducing new Suggested Replies, which use conversation context to offer relevant one-click responses that match a user’s writing style.

The company added that users can also use the new Proofread feature for advanced grammar, tone, and style checks before sending emails.

These new Gemini AI capabilities are beginning to roll out today in the United States. They will be available to Gmail users as well as Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.

Google said the rollout will start in English, with more languages and regions to follow in the coming months.