Gemini AI will now automatically summarize long emails in Gmail

Google is taking another significant step in integrating artificial intelligence into everyday digital experiences by expanding the capabilities of its Gemini AI assistant in Gmail. In a recent announcement, the company revealed that Gemini will now automatically summarize long emails directly within users’ inboxes through “email summary cards,” removing the need for manual activation. These summaries will appear at the top of emails and offer a condensed version of the content, keeping users informed without requiring them to scroll through lengthy threads.

This change marks a shift from Gemini’s initial launch within Gmail’s side panel last year, where AI tools were offered as optional enhancements. Among them was a summarization feature that users could activate as needed. Now, with this latest update, Google is moving toward a more proactive AI role, enabling summaries by default in many regions.

The automatic summaries aim to streamline email management, especially in inboxes crowded with lengthy threads and time-consuming back-and-forth replies. Gemini will not only summarize the initial email but also update the synopsis as new responses are added, keeping the user abreast of ongoing developments within the conversation.

However, the integration is not without caveats. Google acknowledges that users will still have access to the original summarization button, which remains available as a clickable chip at the top of emails and in the Gemini side panel. This dual approach allows users to either rely on automation or take a more hands-on route, depending on their preferences.

Despite these advancements, questions remain about the reliability of AI-generated summaries. Similar features launched by other tech giants have faced criticism for inaccuracies. Apple, for example, had to pause its AI summary functionality for push notifications in news apps after multiple errors were discovered, including misinterpretation of headlines. Google itself has not been immune to such issues. Its AI Overviews feature in Search has occasionally provided low-quality or misleading results, raising concerns about the overall trustworthiness of automated content summarization.

Currently, the Gemini email summary cards are available only for emails in English, with rollout status dependent on the user’s region. In areas such as the European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Japan, smart features are disabled by default due to stricter privacy regulations. Elsewhere, users can manage this functionality via Gmail settings under “Smart features,” with the ability to enable or disable the summaries. Additionally, workplace administrators can control the availability of personalization settings through the Admin console, giving organizations oversight over how AI is used within their environments.