Gemini Can Now Answer Questions About Your Gmail Inbox on Android
Back in June , Google announced Gemini was coming to the sidebar in Google Docs and Gmail for Workspace users. Among other things, the new feature allows you to ask Gemini questions about your Gmail inbox. You can ask for information that you know is in specific emails, such as “What are the forecasts for this quarter?” or “What is my client’s phone number?” and Gemini should look through your email to find the information they need.
While this feature is theoretically a useful application of generative AI, it is quite limited. First, it only works with certain Google Workspace clients. If you, your work, or your school don’t subscribe to one of these plans, you won’t see Gemini in the sidebar at all. It was also a desktop exclusive. Even if you paid for the Workspace plan, you had to sit at your computer to ask Gemini about your mailbox. Log into the same Google account on your mobile phone and you’ll be out of luck.
Now the situation is changing. Google announced Thursday that it is bringing Gmail’s Q&A feature to Android devices . While this is a shame for those of us who use iPhones, Google says the feature is coming to iOS “soon.”
The feature works much the same as it does on a desktop computer: Open the Gmail app, then either tap the black Gemini star in the top right corner or tap the “Summarize this email” option that may appear. You can choose from three preset hints or enter your own hint in the provided text field. Whether you select a Google suggestion or type in a specific question, click the Submit button and Gemini will attempt to fulfill that request. According to Google, Gemini can scan both your inbox and your Drive, so if the information in question is stored somewhere in Google storage, Gemini can try to find it there as well.
Just like on desktop, this feature requires the GeminiBusiness, Enterprise, Education, or Education Premium add-on for Google Workspace or an active Google One AI Premium subscription. If you meet these requirements but still don’t see this option in your Gmail app on Android, it may take a while for your account to be accessed. Google began rolling out the feature on August 29 and says it may take up to 15 days for it to appear in all accounts.