Google’s New AI Summaries are Reshaping Gmail
Remember that email you intended to read later? Chances are, Google’s Gemini has already summarized it for you. The tech giant is now incorporating summary cards at the top of your inbox, providing AI-generated overviews right in Gmail—no clicks or prompts required.
AI Summaries: A Game Changer for Gmail
Google is frequently updating Gmail with exciting new features powered by Gemini. One of the latest additions allows this AI to summarize your emails automatically within the Gmail app for both iPhone and Android users. The recaps appear at the top of lengthy emails without any input needed from you.
If you think this sounds familiar, it’s because Gemini already existed in the side panel of Gmail, offering functionalities like draft suggestions and quick replies. However, now these summary cards will surface on their own when Gmail determines that an email is lengthy enough to merit one.
In theory, this could save you a lot of time. You can still use the manual “Summarize this email” option for shorter messages if you prefer. The side panel tools remain available, but this update makes Gemini more of an active participant in your email interactions rather than just an optional assistant.
Privacy Concerns and AI Reliability
Whether you see this as a useful upgrade or a privacy invasion depends on your comfort level with AI anticipating your needs. Apple attempted something similar by using AI to summarize app notifications, but it led to numerous errors—especially with news summaries—which eventually forced Apple to stop the feature for news apps altogether. That’s one reason I remain skeptical about Apple’s AI capabilities.
Google has its share of issues too. Its AI-generated summaries in search results have occasionally produced misleading or nonsensical information. While Gemini’s email summaries are unlikely to make bizarre suggestions, the accuracy of these auto-generated snippets is certainly a concern. A slightly off-base summary could misrepresent tone or meaning, especially in sensitive or professional emails.
How to Disable Auto Summaries
Currently, this feature only supports emails written in English. Depending on your location, it may be enabled or disabled by default; it’s turned off in the EU, U.K., Switzerland, and Japan due to stricter privacy regulations. If you reside outside these areas, you’ll have to manually turn it off.
In a Google Workspace setting, your administrator can disable the feature entirely. As it stands, you can’t turn off the summaries individually; you’ll need to opt out of all personalized Gmail features by switching off Smart Features. For specific guidance on disabling these features, check Google’s support page.
I personally advise turning this feature off to safeguard your email privacy. Allowing AI more access to potentially sensitive correspondence feels uncomfortable to me.
For Google, this is just another way to integrate AI into the daily products you use. For busy individuals overwhelmed with emails, this might feel like a blessing. However, for those who prioritize privacy, it’s important to be cautious—perhaps even consider alternatives like Proton Mail or similar services.
Regardless, Google has announced the rollout of this feature to Gmail, so it’s only a matter of time before it appears in your inbox.
