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Google's canned "Smart Reply" options in Gmail have been around for almost a decade, but the company is now giving them an AI upgrade with Contextual Smart Replies, which promise "more detailed responses to fully capture the intent of your message."
With Smart Reply, Google will scan your emails to offer up possible responses you can select and send with two taps. But the suggestions tend to be bland: "Yes, I'll be there," "Will do, thanks!" and the like. By applying Google's Gemini AI, the upgraded contextual smart replies can prepare responses addressing multiple queries.
Once available and enabled, users can tap and hold each suggestion to preview the reply and pick the best fit. AI-generated responses can be edited before hitting send.
At launch, contextual Smart Replies are only available to Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, or Education Premium account holders and Google One AI Premium subscribers. Additionally, you must enable "Smart features and personalization" in Gmail Settings.
The feature begins rolling out today, but it might take a few weeks for it to hit your inbox.
Google first teased contextual smart replies in June, when it made Gemini available as a side panel in Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Gmail.