Google's Gemini AI Enters Gmail — Are Your Private Emails Now Being Read?

Google's mail platform, Gmail, is the latest to be integrated with artificial intelligence (AI). Rolling out a major update, Google has integrated its Gemini AI model to personalize and enhance inboxes. Email tasks like drafting messages, organising inboxes, and even summarising threads will now be a regular occurrence in the mail. Google Mail introduces the new 'AI inbox' tab, which is still currently in the testing (beta) phase.

While Google considers these AI features efficiency-centred, generative AI integrated in mailboxes is sparking public concern, particularly over user privacy and the amount of access AI will have to private communications.

Gmail's overhaul consists of changes in writing responses, prioritising tasks, and summarising lengthy threads with a quick view. With Gmail users reaching the 3 billion mark, Google launched AI features available as of yesterday, 8 January, to make Gemini a 'personal, proactive inbox assistant'.

The Gemini Era

In Google's official announcement, the 'AI Overviews' feature lets users ask their inbox questions, much like asking Google Search. Gemini then generates an AI overview. This replaces previous search functions wherein users simply key in search terms and scour for answers.

'AI Overview conversation summaries are rolling out today for everyone at no cost. The ability to ask your inbox questions with AI Overviews is available to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers', the announcement stated.

Another feature Google rolled out is the 'Help Me Write' feature which polishes email drafts and responses, and 'Suggested Replies' replacing 'Smart Replies' that provide one-click responses. Capping off the new writing features is the new 'Proofread' feature for quick advanced checks before users hit send.

'Help Me Write' is set to receive an update next month as it gets integrated with other Google apps for improved personalisation. Both 'Help Me Write' and 'Suggested Replies' are available to all Gmail users for free, while the Proofread feature is available only to subscribers of Google AI Pro and Ultra, starting at $20 (£15) per month.

AI Access and Privacy

These new features give Gmail users productivity benefits, yet AI requires access to all inbox content by design to offer AI-generated replies and suggestions. This prompted users to question Google's ability to look into private emails and how it processes this content.

In response to concerns over user privacy, Google has openly denied using email data to train Gemini's foundational models. Back in November, when Google was under fire for Gmail accessing private messages to train AI models, Google spokesperson Jenny Thomson clarified, 'these reports are misleading – we have not changed anyone's settings, Gmail Smart Features have existed for many years, and we do not use your Gmail content for training our Gemini AI model', per The Verge.

Google looks at users' emails to help with personalisation but Gmail does not look into emails to train Gemini AI, a key distinction that ensures privacy, and that private messages are only checked to provide personal experience instead of using it as a broader AI-training material. Google reiterates these AI features can be disabled via the Gmail settings should they choose not to give AI access to their inbox.

Efficiency vs Privacy

Integrating Gemini AI to Gmail is Google's take on the growing industry trend of integrating AI into everyday tools. The benefits of smarter mail management and time-efficient responses can be helpful for many, but the growing concern of data access and privacy is just as real.

The evolution of technology herald tech firms prioritising users' trust and understanding how their tools and enhancements continue to protect users against risks in AI-driven environments.