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Gmail 'Smart Reply' Writes Emails for You

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

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Staying on top of email is about to get a little easier on the Gmail Inbox app.

Google on Tuesday announced a new feature called Smart Reply, which uses machine learning technology to determine which emails can be answered with a short reply, then prepares a few possible responses for you to consider. In other words, you can now reply to email with just two taps, no typing required.

Smart Reply suggests up to three responses based on emails you get. If you receive an email asking if you have a certain document, for instance, it might suggest "I don't, sorry;" "I will have to look for it;" and "I'll send it to you." Of, if you get a dinner invite, it might suggest the possible responses: "Count us in!;" "We'll be there!;" and "Sorry, we won't be able to make it."

From there, you just tap the reply that you like, change it up or add more text if you need to, and tap send.

"For those emails that only need a quick response, it can take care of the thinking and save precious time spent typing," Google Software Engineer Bálint Miklós wrote in a blog post. "And for those emails that require a bit more thought, it gives you a jump start so you can respond right away."

Miklós added that the feature will get better over time, based on the responses you choose (and don't choose). Smart Reply will be rolling out later this week to Inbox by Gmail for iOS and Android in English.

Google's Inbox by Gmail app, which launched on an invitation-only basis in October 2014 and opened up to everyone in May, aims to bring more organization to your inbox. It bundles similar types of mail together and highlights important information like flight itineraries, event information, and photos and documents from friends and family.

For more, check out PCMag's full review of Inbox for Gmail.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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