Google has just rolled out a major AI upgrade for its three billion users on Gmail.
While Gmail's previous updates have mostly been centred on upping security and patching privacy issues, this new update with Google's AI Gemini could change the way you use Gmail.
In an official announcement, Yulie Kwon Kim, VP of Product for Google Workspace, wrote: "New Gemini updates built directly into tools you use every day — like Gmail, Meet, Vids and Docs — are coming to Google Workspace."
Here’s what that means in practice. With your permission, Gemini can access your past emails and files stored in Drive to draft more 'personalised' replies that 'incorporate your context and tone.'
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Google confirmed: “Draft replies will sound authentically like you and match your typical tone, as the responses are created from past emails and Drive files.”
Additionally, Gemini will also clean out your inbox for you.
"Gemini doesn’t just help you write and find emails; now it can take over those time-consuming and dreaded email tasks, starting with deleting or archiving emails you no longer need," the tech giant announced. "Reclaim control over your emails with inbox cleanup. Simply tell Gemini what you want to do (e.g., “Delete all of my unread emails from The Groomed Paw from last year”) and watch as it helps you manage and declutter your inbox with a single click."
While the convenience is hard to deny, experts warn this new level of AI access also raises serious privacy flags.
So, Gmail's three billion users may have to make a choice.
Forbes recently reported that Gmail’s end-to-end encryption is 'flawed', which exposes users to attacks from potential hackers and malicious spam.
Meanwhile, Gemini’s AI features 'can’t operate on encrypted emails,' as Google verified with Forbes. In other words, if you want to use Gemini’s full capabilities, you might have to give up a layer of security.
Fortunately, there are a few workarounds.
iPhone users can use Apple’s Hide My Email feature, which lets users generate random email addresses to mask the real one 'so your personal email address can stay private.' And for Android users, Google's Shielded Email feature offers a similar level of protection.
Alongside the Gmail updates, Google Meet is also getting an upgrade, now offering 'near real-time, low-latency speech translation.'
The announcement on Google Workspace read: "It makes sure your voice, tone, and expressions still shine through — even when translated — allowing people speaking different languages to have natural conversations."