Google has announced enhancements to Gmail’s smart reply feature, which now offers personalized response suggestions drawing on information from both users’ inbox and Google Drive. This functionality will leverage the capabilities of the newly introduced AI, Gemini, to better align replies with users’ tone and communication style.
These updates expand on the contextual revisions made to smart replies last year, which allowed for longer responses compared to the previous brief options. However, these replies were limited to the context available within the ongoing email thread. With the latest enhancements, the smart replies will be capable of synthesizing a significantly broader context.
According to Blake Barnes, Vice President of Product for Google Workspace, “Gemini can understand the situation that you need to respond to” and will assist in gathering necessary information by reviewing relevant files and lengthy email threads to ensure comprehensive responses.
These smart replies will also adapt to the communication style of the individual you are addressing, allowing for more formal suggestions in a professional setting or casual responses for conversations with friends.
Barnes stated, “We’re transitioning from AI that is generally helpful to AI that offers personalized assistance.”
It’s anticipated that many users will take advantage of this new feature. Although Barnes did not disclose specific user numbers, he emphasized that “there are plenty of people that do” utilize smart replies. Nonetheless, users should verify the accuracy of AI-generated text prior to sending, especially in important communications, to avoid potential embarrassments.
Initially, the updated smart replies will be available in English, accessible through web browsers, iOS, and Android devices. The feature is scheduled to enter alpha testing in Google Labs in July, with a general rollout expected in the third quarter of 2025. There will be a cost associated with these advanced smart replies; they will be included in paid Workspace plans and Google One AI Premium subscriptions. Over time, there is a possibility for these features to be made accessible to free Workspace users, according to Barnes.
During the I/O event, Google unveiled additional features for Gmail. Gemini will assist users in managing their inboxes, enabling commands such as deleting unread emails from specific senders, which will be released more broadly in the third quarter. Furthermore, when scheduling meetings, Gmail will use Gemini to suggest availability based on users’ calendars.
Other updates coming to Google Workspace products include speech translation features in Google Meet, AI avatars in Google Vids, and enhanced capabilities for Gemini to extract information from linked documents in Google Docs for improved writing assistance.
