Google rolls out Gemini AI features in Gmail, with opt-out by default

Google is expanding the use of its Gemini artificial intelligence across Gmail, introducing new features that will be switched on by default for some users, requiring them to opt out if they do not want the AI tools in their inbox.

The update, which will roll out in phases, adds AI-generated summaries of long email threads and more advanced response suggestions, Google said on Thursday. The changes apply to Gmail’s user base of more than three billion people, making it one of the largest deployments of generative AI in a consumer communication product.

“When you open an email with dozens of replies, Gmail synthesises the entire conversation into a concise summary of key points,” the company said in a blog post announcing the update.

Among the new additions is an expanded version of “Suggested Replies”, which uses the context of previous emails to generate one-click responses. The feature builds on Google’s earlier “Smart Replies” tool and aims to provide more tailored and relevant responses. Gmail is also upgrading its proofreading tools, allowing users to make messages more concise and improve tone and grammar.

Some of the features will appear automatically at the top of inboxes, similar to Google’s AI Overviews in search, which summarise information above traditional results. Users who prefer not to use the tools will need to manually disable them in their settings.

The move reflects Google’s broader strategy of embedding Gemini across its consumer and enterprise products as competition intensifies in the generative AI market. The company is positioning its vast user base as a key advantage as it competes with rivals such as OpenAI and Anthropic, according to CNBC.

Google began integrating Gemini into Gmail last year, enabling functions such as searching messages, drafting emails from prompts and generating custom responses. The latest update marks a shift from optional AI assistance to default activation, a change that is likely to renew debate around user choice, data usage and the role of AI in everyday productivity tools.

The announcement comes amid heightened competition among technology companies investing heavily in AI. Reuters reported that Alphabet, Google’s parent company, recently overtook Apple in market capitalisation for the first time since 2019, while AI-focused rivals have attracted soaring private valuations.

As Google accelerates Gemini’s rollout, how users respond to AI features being enabled by default could shape the next phase of AI adoption in consumer software.