Gmail introduces Gemini-powered Contextual Smart Replies

Contextual Smart Replies by Gemini in the Gmail app

Following the announcement at I/O 2024, Google is now rolling out Contextual Smart Replies to Gmail for Android and iOS. In 2017, Smart Reply in Gmail was introduced, a feature which utilizes machine learning to suggest three quick responses to emails based on the email's content. Thanks to this feature, users have saved time, especially when on the go, by easily responding to emails with minimal effort. Now, compared to Smart Reply, the contextual version is “meant for detailed responses.” Gemini “can analyse the context of an email” and suggest replies that are “tailored to your conversation.”

However, we realize there are scenarios in which users would like to respond with more than a simple “Sounds good to me!” or a “Yes, I’m working on it”. As a result, we’re excited to announce a new Gemini in Gmail feature, contextual Smart Replies, that will offer more detailed responses to fully capture the intent of your message. The three Smart Replies appear in a carousel, with the first line noting the high-level direction of each generated option and how they differ from one another. You can long-press on “each response to get a quick preview of the text.” Tapping inserts the suggestion, which includes a greeting and closing, into the body of the email for you to make further edits.

After initiating an email reply, users will see a few response options at the bottom of their screen that take the full content of the email thread into consideration. Hover over each response to get a quick preview of the text, select the one that feels right for the situation, and edit it as you see fit or send the response immediately. As a start, only English is supported. Contextual Smart Replies are rolling out starting today and will be fully available in the near future. It joins the Summarize feature that now works on individual emails (instead of just threads) and Gmail Q&A, which is the desktop side panel for mobile. 

Who’s impacted 

End users 

Why it’s important 

The contextual Smart Reply feature saves time and makes inbox management easier. 

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 

End users: Make sure “Smart features and personalization” is enabled in Gmail to access this feature. Visit the Help Center to learn more about smart features & controls and contextual Smart Reply in Gmail. 

Rollout pace 

Web & Mobile: 

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on 26 Sep, 2024 

Availability 

Available for Google Workspace customers with these add-ons: 

Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, Education Premium 

Google One AI Premium