Google has announced a suite of new AI-powered features for Gmail, calling it the platform's entry into "the Gemini era." The updates, announced on January 8, 2026, focus on helping users manage information and email volume.

New Features Rolling Out

The announcement highlighted several capabilities,with varying availability:

· AI Overviews for Summaries: This feature automatically synthesizes lengthy email threads into concise summaries of key points. This capability is rolling out to all users at no cost.

· Ask Your Inbox: Users can ask their inbox natural language questions (e.g., “Who was the plumber that gave me a quote last year?”) to pull answers from past emails. This question-answering capability is available to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.

· Help Me Write & Suggested Replies: The "Help Me Write" tool for drafting and polishing emails and the updated "Suggested Replies" are rolling out to everyone at no cost.

· Proofread: A new tool for advanced grammar, tone, and style checks is available for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.

· AI Inbox: A new filtering tool designed to prioritize important emails and surface key to-dos. This feature is currently available to trusted testers, with a broader rollout planned for the coming months.

Availability and Technology

These improvements are powered by the Gemini 3 model. The new capabilities begin rolling out today in the U.S. for Gmail users and Google AI Pro/Ultra subscribers, starting with English. Google states it plans to expand to more regions and languages in the coming months.