Finding a specific email among countless others can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Gmail’s search functionality has had its challenges, but now Google is harnessing artificial intelligence to improve the accuracy of your results.
Google Introduces an AI Search Feature for Gmail
Guess what? More AI is on the way! Following the introduction of a new Gemini feature for better scheduling in Gmail, Google is launching an AI-enhanced search tool for the email platform. According to The Keyword, you’ll soon have the option to choose between Most relevant and Most recent results, allowing you to have greater control over how you search for and filter your emails.
Previously, Gmail offered a list of emails that matched your search words in chronological order. Now, with the help of AI, search results will not only consider your keywords but also prioritize emails from people you communicate with frequently. Google articulates this enhancement as follows:
Rather than simply listing emails by date related to your keywords, Gmail search results will now highlight factors like recency, the most-clicked emails, and frequent contacts. With this change, you’re much more likely to find the emails you need at the top of your search results—saving you time and making it easier to locate essential information.
For instance, I was recently on the hunt for my cat’s next food delivery date. When I searched using the term “chicken,” the first six emails that appeared were either promotional messages (looking at you, Whole Foods) or newsletters I rarely open. The auto-ship notice from my pet food supplier, Chewy, was buried further down the list.
While the new Most relevant search feature isn’t visible to me yet, I imagine the new AI functionality would recognize my interactions with Chewy far exceed those with Whole Foods. Consequently, it should have prioritized the email I was truly seeking at the top of the search results.
Timeline for Gmail’s “Most Relevant” Search Feature
If you use a personal Gmail account, you can expect to see the Most relevant search filter rolling out to you very soon, as Google is making this feature available worldwide. It will be accessible via web or the Gmail app on both Android and iOS devices.
Google indicated that the feature will be available for business accounts shortly after personal accounts.
More AI Coming from Google
While I consider this feature to be beneficial, I’m still somewhat wary of incorporating more AI into my daily routine. Ideally, I prefer these AI enhancements to be optional tools that I can turn off if desired. Fortunately, it seems that the new Gmail AI search option will be available as an option. You can choose to stick with the traditional Most recent filter and handle your email searches manually.
However, I’m uncertain about what the default setting will be for Gmail. For example, will there be a clearly visible button to select your desired search mode before conducting a search? Will it be buried in advanced search options, or only adjustable after the fact? If it’s the latter, that means AI will be analyzing our emails at least once regardless of our preferences.
I truly hope that Google grants users comprehensive control over this new AI feature that will review their emails. If we look at how other companies have launched similar AI tools, there’s reason for optimism. For instance, when Microsoft integrated Copilot into its Office 365 apps, there was a clear opt-out option available. However, Google’s track record with user privacy isn’t always the best.
