Gmail users will now see AI-generated summary cards appear by default at the top of long emails, thanks to an automatic update to Google’s Gemini assistant.
Google Doubles Down on Inbox AI
Google has announced that as of 29 May 2025, its Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) assistant will automatically summarise long email threads in Gmail, without waiting for a prompt or tap from the user. The update, initially rolling out to mobile users on Android and iOS, is part of a move towards integrating AI more seamlessly (and visibly) into everyday productivity tools.
Until now, users could choose to trigger a summary by tapping a button labelled “Summarise this email.” However, with this change, Gemini summary cards will start appearing by default on eligible emails, unless the user has opted out of smart features or is in a region where they are disabled by default.
The move by Google could be seen as less of a visual tweak, and more of a subtle but significant change in the relationship between users, their inboxes, and Google’s AI.
What Is Gemini, and Why Does It Matter?
Gemini is Google’s suite of generative AI tools, positioned as a direct competitor to Microsoft Copilot and other AI assistants. It spans across multiple Google Workspace apps including Docs, Sheets, and Gmail, offering assistance with drafting content, summarising information, and generating replies.
Originally introduced under the “Duet AI” brand in 2023, Gemini was rebranded and expanded in early 2024 as part of Google’s wider AI push. Its integration into Gmail’s side panel was one of the first widely adopted use cases, giving users access to email-specific tools like drafting responses, summarising lengthy threads, and generating replies using natural language.
Up to now, Gemini’s role in Gmail has largely been opt-in, with users having to initiate actions themselves.
From Passive Tool to Active Assistant
With the new update, Gemini becomes more assertive. For example, long or complex emails, especially those that form part of back-and-forth threads, will now automatically display a summary card at the top of the message. The card outlines the key points of the conversation so far and will update dynamically as new replies come in.
Google says this move is intended to save users time and reduce email fatigue, a problem that has long plagued busy professionals. For example, according to a 2024 McKinsey report, workers still spend around 28 per cent of their workweek reading and responding to emails. Google is, therefore, betting that AI summaries can streamline this process, especially on mobile, where skimming a long message chain is often more tedious.
In an announcement on its Workspace Updates blog, Google said the feature “will synthesise all the key points from the email thread, and any replies thereafter will also be a part of the synopsis, keeping all summaries up to date.”
Who Gets It and When?
The feature began rolling out on 29 May 2025 to Rapid Release domains and is now gradually being deployed across Scheduled Release domains over a 15-day window. It’s available to the following Google Workspace editions:
– Business Starter, Standard, and Plus.
– Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus.
– Google One AI Premium.
– Gemini Business and Enterprise customers (existing add-ons).
– Gemini Education and Education Premium add-on users.
The feature is currently limited to English-language emails, and Google has not yet announced support for other languages.
Smart Features
Importantly, Gemini summary cards are only visible to users who have smart features and personalisation turned on in Gmail. These settings control whether Google can use AI to offer tailored features based on content in a user’s inbox.
In some regions, including the UK, EU, Switzerland, and Japan, smart features are turned off by default due to local data protection laws. Users in these areas would need to manually enable the feature in Gmail’s settings to start seeing the summary cards.
How to Opt Out or Take Back Control
For users who’d rather not have Gemini skimming their emails on their behalf, there are ways to disable the feature. For example, users can:
– Go to Gmail Settings > See all settings > Smart features and personalisation.
– Toggle off “Smart features” to prevent summary cards and other AI-based tools from appearing.
– Disable “Smart features in Gmail, Chat and Meet” for more comprehensive opt-out control.
Admins of Google Workspace domains can also manage these settings at a policy level from the Admin Console, giving organisations central control over the feature’s rollout.
It’s worth noting here that, even with the automatic summaries in place, the manual “Summarise this email” chip still remains, both at the top of eligible emails and in the Gemini side panel. This means that users who want to selectively invoke AI help can still do so.
Automation or Overreach?
While Google pitches the change as a productivity boost, not everyone is celebrating the move. For example, one key concern is accuracy. AI summaries, particularly those generated in real time from nuanced human conversations, are notoriously hit-and-miss. Even Google’s own AI Overviews in Search have come under fire for offering incorrect or misleading answers, as recently highlighted in a series of viral screenshots on social media.
Google’s not alone in being criticised for this. For example, it’s also been reported that Apple’s push-notification summaries, based on similar AI technology, repeatedly misinterpreted news headlines. Apple has since paused that feature for news apps, pending a fix.
It seems that a similar level of scepticism now surrounds Gmail’s automatic summaries. Critics argue that important context can easily be lost or misrepresented by an AI synopsis, especially in complex or emotionally nuanced threads.
As highlighted by Dr Jenna McCarthy, a digital communications researcher at the University of Manchester: “This kind of automation risks giving people a false sense of understanding,” adding that “Summaries might look slick, but in business or legal emails, the devil is often in the detail.”
It’s worth noting here that Google itself actually appears to acknowledge this limitation. For example, in its support documentation, the company stresses that the summaries are meant to complement human reading, not replace it.
Privacy and Trust Still Under Scrutiny
Alongside concerns about accuracy, privacy remains a hot topic. Although Google insists that all AI interactions respect user data protection rules and don’t expose personal content to human reviewers, the idea of automated scanning, even for benign purposes like summarising, may raise some eyebrows among privacy-conscious users.
Google directs users to its Privacy Hub for more information, but as with other AI features, transparency is key. Users are likely to expect more clarity around how data is used, stored, and processed when features like this are switched on by default.
Part of a Move Towards Embedded AI
Google’s update also reflects a broader industry direction, i.e. AI tools are increasingly moving from optional add-ons to proactive, built-in features. Rather than waiting for user prompts, systems like Gemini are starting to anticipate needs and take action automatically.
In Google’s case, the aim appears to be to create a more seamless experience across Workspace, where AI quietly handles repetitive or time-consuming tasks like summarising threads, without disrupting the user’s workflow. This aligns with recent updates across other Workspace apps, where Gemini is being positioned as a default productivity layer rather than a separate tool.
However, the effectiveness of this approach will depend heavily on how much trust users place in the AI’s accuracy and judgement—and how much control they feel they still have over their own inbox.
What Does This Mean For Your Business?
While the arrival of automatic Gemini summaries may seem like a small design tweak, the implications actually go much deeper. By removing the need for users to actively request a summary, Google is signalling a shift towards AI that no longer waits in the wings, but steps forward by default. For some, that may be welcome, especially for those managing high volumes of email who are eager to shave precious minutes off their working day. However, for others, the change may raise fresh concerns around trust, data processing, and the growing opacity of algorithmic decision-making in everyday tools.
For UK businesses, the move could offer real productivity gains, particularly in fast-paced environments where clarity and speed of communication are key. Admins can tailor how the feature is used across teams, allowing for top-down management of when and where AI steps in. But the benefits must be weighed carefully against the risks, especially when dealing with sensitive conversations, contractual details, or any context where nuance really matters. There is a clear responsibility on organisations to communicate how these features work, and to ensure staff feel confident in knowing when to rely on AI and when to override it.
It’s also likely to prompt fresh conversations among regulators, particularly in the UK and across Europe where smart features are already turned off by default. The tension between helpful automation and meaningful consent is growing sharper as more tools cross that line from optional to ambient. For users, the key will be staying informed, knowing not just what AI is doing, but how to retain agency and control in the process.
Ultimately, Gemini’s automatic summaries are part of a broader evolution in how AI is being woven into our daily workflows. The question now is not just whether the technology works, but whether people trust it enough to let it work for them.
