Gmail has changed more in 2026 than in the previous decade. Since January, Gemini summarises long threads, writes and polishes your replies, answers questions about your inbox, and on some plans sorts your mail into to-dos with the new AI Inbox. Some of it is free for everyone, some needs Google AI Pro or Ultra, and some is US-only or Workspace-only, which makes it confusing. This guide lays out every Gemini feature in Gmail as of November 2026, what plan you need, exactly how to use each one, and how to turn the AI off if you don’t want it.
- Free for everyone: Help Me Write (now with @ Drive files), Suggested Replies and AI Overviews that summarise long threads.
- Google AI Pro / Ultra: ask your inbox questions in plain language (AI Overviews in search) and Proofread for tone, clarity and grammar.
- AI Inbox (suggested to-dos and topics to catch up on): AI Ultra in the US since April 2026, gradually Pro and Plus; US paid Workspace plans since October 2026.
- Gmail Live: voice questions to your inbox, rolling out from summer 2026 starting with top-tier plans.
- Language and region: many features started in the US in English and are expanding.
- Turn off: Gmail Settings > See all settings > General > Smart features. Workspace admins control it for work accounts.
Every Gemini Feature in Gmail
| Feature | What it does | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Help Me Write | Drafts an email from a short instruction, or rewrites your draft (formalise, shorten, elaborate) | Compose window, pencil-sparkle icon |
| Suggested Replies | Context-aware reply drafts that try to match your style (the upgrade to Smart Reply) | Bottom of an open email |
| AI Overviews (threads) | Key points from long email conversations | Top of a long thread |
| AI Overviews (search) | Answers plain-language questions about your inbox | Gmail search bar |
| Proofread | Clarity, active voice, word choice and sentence length suggestions | Compose window |
| Help me schedule | Spots scheduling in a thread and proposes calendar slots | Compose and reply |
| AI Inbox | Suggested to-dos and topics to catch up on, sorted by priority | Gmail menu (desktop and mobile) |
| Gmail Live | Ask your inbox questions by voice, with follow-ups | Gmail app |
Which Plan Gets What
| Feature | Free Gmail | Google AI Plus | Google AI Pro | Google AI Ultra | Workspace (paid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Help Me Write, Suggested Replies | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (if admin allows) |
| Thread summaries | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ask your inbox (search Overviews) | No | Varies | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Proofread | No | Varies | Yes (English, US for personal accounts) | Yes | Yes (global) |
| AI Inbox | No | Gradually | Gradually | Yes (US, since Apr 2026) | US Business, Enterprise, Frontline Plus and AI Pro for Education (Oct 2026) |
| Gmail Live (voice) | No | Later | Rolling out | Yes, first | Preview |
Google keeps moving features down the plan ladder, so check your own Gmail. Plan prices and the other Gemini perks are in Google AI Plus vs Pro vs Ultra.
Help Me Write
- Click Compose (or Reply).
- Click the Help me write icon (pencil with a sparkle) or, on mobile, tap the sparkle at the top.
- Type an instruction, for example: “Polite note to my landlord asking when the boiler will be fixed, mention it’s been 5 days.”
- To include a document, type @ and pick a Google Drive file. Gemini uses it as context.
- Click Create. Then use Refine: Formalise, Elaborate, Shorten, or write your own tweak.
- Edit the draft yourself, then click Send. Gemini never sends email for you.
Since February 2026, Help Me Write can personalise drafts with context from other Google apps, so it can match how you normally write and reference relevant details. Always check names, dates and figures before sending.
AI Overviews: Thread Summaries and Inbox Questions
Summarise a thread (free)
Open a long email conversation. An AI Overview with the key points appears at the top. Click to expand or collapse it. It works best on threads with many replies, like a group trip plan or a project with several people.
Ask your inbox (AI Pro and Ultra)
- Click the Gmail search bar.
- Type a question rather than keywords: “Who was the plumber who quoted for the bathroom last year?” or “When does my car insurance renew?”
- Read the AI Overview answer, with links to the emails it used.
- Click a linked email to check the source.
Suggested Replies and Proofread
Suggested Replies appear at the bottom of an email. Unlike the old one-line Smart Replies, these are full reply drafts based on the conversation. Click one, edit it, and send.
Proofread (AI Pro/Ultra; English) checks a draft you’ve already written for clarity, active voice, word choice and sentence length. In Compose, open the Help me write menu and choose Proofread, then accept or reject each suggestion.
AI Inbox
AI Inbox is a separate view of Gmail that sorts by priority instead of date. It has two main sections:
- Suggested to-dos: action items, deliverables and deadlines pulled from your emails (“Pay the electricity bill by Friday”, “Send Sam the deck”).
- Topics to catch up on: summaries of fast-moving threads, including recent decisions and status changes.
Newer versions add contextual reply drafts, links to related Docs, Sheets and Slides files, and task management. To open it, look for AI Inbox in the Gmail menu on desktop or in the mobile app. It’s currently US-only, for AI Ultra subscribers (since April 2026), rolling out gradually to AI Pro and Plus, and for US paid Workspace Business, Enterprise, Frontline Plus and AI Pro for Education users (since mid-October 2026).
Gmail Live Voice Search
Announced at Google I/O 2026, Gmail Live lets you speak questions to your inbox (“What time is my dentist appointment and did they send a form?”) and ask follow-ups, like a conversation. It complements normal search rather than replacing it. Rollout started in summer 2026 with Google’s top plan first, followed by AI Pro and a Workspace preview.
12 Prompts That Work Well
| Goal | Prompt |
|---|---|
| Chase a late reply | “Friendly follow-up to Priya about the invoice from 12 Oct, short and polite” |
| Say no nicely | “Decline this meeting invite, suggest async notes instead” |
| Complaint | “Firm but polite complaint to the airline about a lost bag, flight number in this thread” |
| Job application | “Short cover email for the attached CV, applying for the marketing role, @CV file” |
| Thank you | “Warm thank-you to my team for finishing the launch early” |
| Price negotiation | “Ask the supplier for a 10% discount on a 12-month order, keep it friendly” |
| Inbox question | “What did the school say about the trip payment deadline?” |
| Inbox question | “Find the Wi-Fi details from the Airbnb host” |
| Inbox question | “Which subscriptions renew this month?” |
| Catch up | “Summarise what was decided in this thread and what I need to do” |
| Translate | “Reply in Spanish, saying I’ll arrive at 7 pm” |
| Tone fix | Write your draft, then Refine > Formalise or Shorten |
Privacy and How to Turn It Off
- Training: Google says it does not use your Gmail content to train its Gemini models.
- When it runs: Gemini features act when you open a message, search or click a button. They only work on the account you’re signed in to.
- Turn off on a personal account: Gmail on the web > Settings (gear) > See all settings > General > Smart features, and the setting for smart features in other Google products. Untick and save. This also disables older features like smart categories and package tracking.
- Work or school accounts: your administrator decides whether Gemini features are on. You can’t override it.
- Gemini app connection: the separate Gemini app only reads Gmail if you connect it. Disconnect under Gemini > Settings > Apps.
Feature Missing? Fixes
No Help Me Write button
Check Smart features are on (above) and your Gmail language is set to a supported language. On mobile, update the Gmail app. Some features are still rolling out by country.
I pay for AI Pro but can’t ask my inbox questions
Make sure you’re signed in with the same Google account that holds the subscription, Smart features and Keep Activity are on, and your language is English. Some AI Pro subscribers have seen the “Ask Gemini” side panel replaced by inline features in search.
AI Inbox doesn’t appear
It’s US-only and plan-limited for now. On Workspace, ask your admin whether it’s enabled for your edition.
Summaries are wrong or miss details
Open the original messages linked in the overview to check. For important decisions, never rely on a summary alone.
Proofread is greyed out
Proofread is English-only and, on personal accounts, US-only. Write a draft first; it works on existing text.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gemini in Gmail free?
Partly. Help Me Write, Suggested Replies and thread summaries are free. Asking your inbox questions, Proofread, AI Inbox and Gmail Live need Google AI Pro, Ultra or an eligible Workspace plan.
How do I use Help Me Write in Gmail?
Open Compose, click the Help me write icon, type an instruction, click Create, refine the draft and send it yourself. You can type @ to add a Google Drive file as context.
What is AI Inbox in Gmail?
A priority view that shows suggested to-dos and topics to catch up on from your email. It’s US-only for now, on AI Ultra, gradually Pro and Plus, and paid Workspace plans.
Does Google use my emails to train Gemini?
Google says it does not use your Gmail content to train Gemini models.
How do I turn off Gemini in Gmail?
On the web, go to Settings, See all settings, General and turn off Smart features. For work or school accounts, your administrator controls it.
Can Gemini send emails for me?
No. Gemini drafts and suggests, but you always review and click Send yourself.
Is Gemini in Gmail available outside the US?
Help Me Write and summaries are widely available, but several features started in the US in English and are expanding to more countries and languages over time.
Final Thoughts
For most people the free features are already worth using: thread summaries save real time on busy group emails, and Help Me Write with an @ file is a great way to start a tricky message. If you live in your inbox, AI Pro’s inbox questions and Proofread are the upgrade I’d notice most. Whatever you use, read before you send.
More Google AI: Gemini in Chrome, NotebookLM (Gemini Notebook) and Google Photos AI features. Comparing with Microsoft? See Copilot in Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Sources
- Google blog: Gmail is entering the Gemini era (8 Jan 2026)
- The Tech Outlook: AI Inbox rolling out to paid Workspace users in the US (17 Oct 2026)
- EmailLabs: New Gmail AI features from Google I/O 2026
- Carly: Gemini in Gmail, what every feature does (13 Aug 2026)
- Windows Central: Gmail’s AI Inbox and Google’s training statement