Google brings AI Inbox to Gmail’s bottom bar: Here's what it means for users

Google has now introduced a new AI Inbox in Gmail’s bottom navigation bar on both Android and iOS operating systems. As reported by 9to5Google, this new addition offer direct access to AI-powered task management. The feature shifts the focus of Gamil from traditional message-first organisation to a task-first approach, allowing users to prioritise actions over scanning through emails.

The AI Inbox is placed alongside Mail, Chat and Meet in the bottom bar. When opened, it greets users with a recap of to-dos and topic to catch up on, mirroring the desktop experience. Instead of presenting a list of emails, the Inbox highlights actionable items and summaries, cutting through clutter and also streamlining productivity.

Key features

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• li1Suggested To-Dos: AI surfaces tasks directly from emails, reducing manual tracking.
• li1Topics to Catch Up On: Summarizes conversations and updates across threads.
• li1Help Me Write Integration: Drafts can now pull details from Google Drive and Gmail, automatically inserting relevant information.
• li1Tone Matching: Drafts can be tailored to match the style of past emails, ensuring consistency.

Productivity use cases

Google says the AI Inbox is designed to simplify common workflows, such as:

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• li1Responding to customer inquiries
• li1Sharing project milestones with leadership
• li1Distributing documents to collaborators
• li1Drafting team announcements or proposals

By embedding AI into Gmail’s mobile experience, Google aims to make email less about managing messages and more about managing outcomes.

The AI Inbox is currently in beta for Google AI Ultra subscribers, while the updated Help Me Write features are available to Google AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra subscribers, as well as Business and Education add-ons. A wider rollout is expected later this year.