Google integrates advanced AI features into Gmail and its platforms

Google has announced the integration of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) features into its web and mobile platforms. These enhancements are primarily focused on improving user experience in text writing and refining tasks. While aimed at business users, they offer a hint at tools that will soon be available to professional writers.

Among the newly introduced functionalities are the ‘Help Me Write’ and ‘Polish’ shortcuts. Both features aim to assist users in crafting and improving written text across various platforms, including Google’s widely used email service, Gmail.

The ‘Help Me Write’ shortcut is specifically designed to aid users in composing emails by suggesting complete sentences and text improvements. When opening a new email draft on the web version of Gmail, users will now see this shortcut appear prominently in the email body if the draft is initially empty. For mobile users, the feature’s placement remains consistent with previous versions. This tool allows users to input prompts, such as phrases, questions, or instructions, to guide the AI in generating text that aligns with their intended message.

In addition to the writing assistance, Google has introduced the ‘Polish’ shortcut aimed at refining existing text. This enhancement becomes available in drafts that contain more than twelve words. Users can easily access this feature by swiping right on the shortcut, which triggers the AI to offer a polished version of the text. Additionally, the feature supports the use of the Control+H keyboard shortcut for refinement. Users are provided with three predefined options to tailor the text to their needs: Formalise, Elaborate, or Shorten.

One notable aspect of these AI-powered features is that they are automatically enabled by default, and there are no admin controls available to disable them. This indicates Google’s commitment to enhancing its user interfaces with intelligent automation tools, though it may also suggest a shift towards a more standardised user experience across platforms.

The rollout of these AI features is targeted at Google Workspace customers who have specific subscriptions such as the Gemini Business and Enterprise add-on, the Gemini Education and Education Premium add-on, and Google One AI Premium subscribers. The deployment is being executed gradually across both Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. According to Google, users can expect to see these features appearing within the next 15 days, although the exact timing may vary.

These developments represent Google’s ongoing efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into its suite of tools, highlighting the company’s pursuit of innovation in enhancing productivity and user convenience through technological advancements.

Source: Noah Wire Services