Gmail launches personalized AI Inbox and AI Search Overviews

Google is significantly reshaping how people manage email as Gmail enters what the company calls its Gemini era, introducing a wave of AI-powered features designed to reduce inbox overload and surface the information that matters most. 

With more than 3 billion users relying on Gmail daily, Google is positioning the inbox not just as a place to read messages, but as a proactive assistant that understands tasks, context, and priorities. The updates include a new AI Inbox, expanded AI Overviews, advanced writing assistance, and broader access to tools that were previously locked behind paid tiers (TechCrunch).

At the center of these changes is the new AI Inbox, a dedicated tab that provides a personalized snapshot of what users need to act on. Instead of scanning dozens of emails, users see two main sections: “Suggested to-dos” and “Topics to catch up on.” Suggested to-dos highlight time-sensitive or action-oriented messages, such as an upcoming bill payment or a reminder to confirm personal information with a healthcare provider. Topics to catch up on summarize informational updates like package deliveries, returns, or financial statements, grouped into categories such as Finances and Purchases. According to Google VP of Product Blake Barnes, this view is meant to “cut through the noise” while still allowing users to toggle back to the traditional inbox at any time. AI Inbox is currently rolling out to trusted testers, with broader availability planned in the coming months (Yahoo Tech).

Another major enhancement is the expansion of AI Overviews within Gmail, powered by Google’s Gemini models. These overviews allow users to ask natural language questions directly within their inbox, transforming scattered emails into clear answers. For example, instead of searching manually, a user can ask, “Who was the plumber that gave me a quote for the bathroom renovation last year?” and receive a concise summary pulled from relevant emails. AI Overviews also summarize long email threads by extracting key points from conversations with dozens of replies, saving users from reading each message individually. Conversation summaries are rolling out to all users at no cost, while the ability to ask direct questions of the inbox is available to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers (Google).

Gmail’s writing tools are also getting a significant upgrade. Help Me Write, which can draft emails from a single prompt or refine existing text, is now available to all users for free. Suggested Replies, an evolution of Smart Replies, use conversation context to generate responses that better match a user’s tone and writing style, making quick replies feel more personal. In addition, Google has introduced a new Proofread feature that offers Grammarly-like suggestions for clarity, conciseness, grammar, and word choice. It can flag incorrect word usage, suggest active voice, and simplify complex sentences, helping users polish messages before sending. Proofread is currently available to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers, while Help Me Write and Suggested Replies are free for everyone (Yahoo Tech).

Privacy remains a central focus as Gmail becomes more AI-driven. Google emphasizes that all AI features are optional, personal email content is not used to train foundational models, and data is processed in a strictly isolated environment. For AI Inbox specifically, prioritization signals such as frequent contacts or inferred relationships are analyzed securely, keeping user data under their control. Looking ahead, Google also plans to further personalize Help Me Write by incorporating context from other Google apps, reinforcing its vision of Gmail as a proactive, intelligent assistant rather than a passive inbox (Google).

This article was written by the Covertly.AI team. Covertly.AI is a secure, anonymous AI chat that protects your privacy. Connect to advanced AI models without tracking, logging, or exposure of your data. Whether you’re an individual who values privacy or a business seeking enterprise-grade data protection, Covertly.AI helps you stay secure and anonymous when using AI. With Covertly.AI, you get seamless access to all popular large language models - without compromising your identity or data privacy.

Try Covertly.AI today for free at www.covertly.ai, or contact us to learn more about custom privacy and security solutions for your business.  

Works Cited

Google. “Gmail Is Entering the Gemini Era.” Google Blog, https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/gmail/gmail-is-entering-the-gemini-era/.

Perez, Sarah. “Gmail Debuts a Personalized AI Inbox, AI Overviews in Search, and More.” TechCrunch, 8 Jan. 2026, https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/08/gmail-debuts-a-personalized-ai-inbox-ai-overviews-in-search-and-more/.

Yahoo Tech. “Gmail Debuts a Personalized AI Inbox, AI Overviews in Search, and More.” Yahoo Tech, https://tech.yahoo.com/ai/gemini/articles/gmail-debuts-personalized-ai-inbox-130000493.html.

PCMag. “Gmail Tips That Will Help You Conquer Email.” PCMag, https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/gmail-tips-that-will-help-you-conquer-email.