August 30, 2024
Google has recently launched a new feature called Gmail Q&A that enables Android users to chat with Gemini, the company’s AI assistant, from within the Gmail app. This feature was introduced in a blog post and is now available to subscribers of Gemini, allowing them to interact with the AI assistant directly from their email inbox. The feature will also be made available to iOS users soon.
One of the unique features of Gmail Q&A is the integration of Google Gemini as a personal assistant within the Gmail app. This allows Gemini access to the entire email inbox, allowing users to interact with it through voice commands. Gemini can summarize and provide updates on specific topics and search for specific details within emails. For example, a user can say ‘Catch me up on the emails about quarterly planning’ to get a summary of relevant emails or ask ‘How much did the company spend on the last marketing event?’ to retrieve specific information.
However, it is crucial to exercise caution when relying on AI models, including Gemini, as the information generated may occasionally be inaccurate or result in hallucinations. Therefore, it is advisable to double-check the AI's responses to ensure their accuracy and authenticity.
When it comes to finding information in Gmail, users can typically rely on the search bar located at the top of the app. However, Google is now introducing the Gemini button, situated adjacent to the search function, to signify a shift away from traditional search methods towards AI-driven chat interactions. Instead of searching for the original email, the new feature encourages users to converse with an AI chatbot that will summarize the desired information, while still referencing the source email in its replies.
To access this feature, subscribers can click on the black star logo, which represents Gemini, in the top-right corner of the app within Google's product suite. At the moment, Gmail Q&A is capable of accessing only your emails, but Google intends to broaden its scope to encompass files from your Drive account in the future.
Gemini has been integrated into various Google products as part of Google's broader effort to incorporate more AI features. In June, Google made Gmail Q&A available to web users who subscribe to Gemini or Google One AI Premium. This service costs approximately $20 per month.
It's unlikely that Gmail Q&A will become available to free Gmail users in the foreseeable future. Instead, Google is using features like Gmail Q&A to justify Gemini's high subscription costs. The company is gradually integrating Gemini into its suite of products, including Google Docs, Gmail, and Google Calendar, among others, but these advanced AI features come at a price. So far, these AI integrations represent Google's most promising way to monetize Gemini.