The Gmail AI Inbox I dreaded turned into the best email change I've had in years
Android Police 2026-07-09 15:15:11
Context: Ben Khalesi, an Android-focused journalist with a background in IT and AI, initially had reservations about Google's AI Inbox feature in Gmail but found it to be a valuable tool after using it. The AI Inbox, now in beta on mobile, uses Gemini AI to categorize and prioritize emails, helping users manage their inboxes more efficiently. This feature is available to users with specific subscriptions and regional access.
Key Facts
- The AI Inbox feature in Gmail uses Gemini AI to create two sections: "Suggested to-dos" which highlights high-priority items and flags tasks, and "Topics to catch up on" which summarizes scattered threads into a single update.
- Access to the AI Inbox is gated behind a subscription, requiring Google's AI tiers, such as Plus, Pro, or Ultra for personal accounts, and Workspace Enterprise Plus with Gemini Alpha switched on for businesses.
- The AI Inbox feature currently only works in the United States and in English, with the prerequisite of turning on Smart features and personalization, which allows Google's models to read user emails.
- Google claims that the models read emails only to populate the AI Inbox and do not use the data for training Gemini, unlike LLM training which permanently bakes data into the model.
- The AI Inbox feature has some limitations, including blind spots such as not being able to see attachments, encrypted messages, and delegated inboxes, and may also produce false alarms or miss genuine requests.