Gemini-powered sidebar for Gmail rolls out; how to enable the AI tool on your devices

Google just introduced AI tools that will help you sort, organise and respond to emails effortlessly. Web users, for one, will soon be able to use a Gemini-driven sidebar to summarise their emails, generate responses or find answers to their specific questions. The features, which were already observed in Google Docs, Sheets and Slides, will be powered by the Gemini 1.5 Pro model. Check out the features that will soon come to your inboxes along with how to use them:

3 Gemini-powered features that are making their way to Gmail

Google, in a blog post, mentioned how it is introducing three AI-powered features for Gmail users intending to enhance productivity and give users a better view of their inbox. Here’s what they are:

Email summarisation: The next time you’re back from a long leave and have no idea what’s going on in that long, exhaustive email thread, Gemini will be able to give you a summary to help you catch up. So, whether it is ten or twenty emails, the AI tool will ensure you don’t miss out on what’s important.

Retrieve information: If you’ve found yourself scouring through the mailbox looking for your PAN number before, this feature will fetch it for you minus all the hassle. All you have to do is type “What is my PAN number?” in the search bar for Gemini to retrieve it from your emails. This is especially helpful if you’re looking for it while drafting a response, or are on the go and need information urgently.

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Apart from these features, Google is also reportedly working on more AI features for Gmail, including Contextual Smart Response, which will bring in ‘detailed or nuanced’ responses to your emails. However, more information is awaited and Google hasn’t mentioned when they will be available for everyone.

Response suggestions and drafting assistance: Gemini will help you with response suggestions based on your email. Secondarily, if you need your emails to sound more professional, it also brings drafting assistance to compose and format replies better.

While the features help you save time and get information across faster, it is always better to cross-check your responses or emails before sending them across.

How to enable Gemini-powered tools on Gmail

Before you go ahead and use Gemini-powered tools on Gmail, make sure smart features and personalisation are switched on in the Admin console panel. Post this, users will be able to access Gemini by clicking on the ‘Ask Gemini’ star button on the top right corner of Gmail.

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For smartphone app users, Gemini can be accessed by tapping on the ‘summarise this email’ button found in an email thread.

Gemini for Gmail: When will the AI tools be available for everyone?

Gemini features for web as well as Android and iOS smartphone users have already begun rolling out starting June 24. However, they will only be accessible if you or your organisation is a Google Workspace customer. Apart from this, you will also require a Gemini Business/Enterprise add-on, a Gemini Education, a Gemini Education or an Education Premium add-on.

Alternatively, you will also be able to access these features if you’re a Google One AI Premium subscriber. That said, if they don’t immediately show up for you on Gmail, don’t fret. The brand seems to be rolling it out to a larger audience in a phased manner, and it could take a week or two to reach you.