Google Expands AI-Powered Email Writing Features to Gmail Web

Gmail web now allows you to write amazing emails thanks to Gemini - Softonic

Subscribe to the Softonic newsletter and get the latest in tech, gaming, entertainment and deals right in your inbox. With this expansion, users can now benefit both on mobile and web from the "Help Me Write" feature, a writing assistant that allows you to create emails from scratch by simply giving it simple instructions. In addition to "Help Me Write," Google has included a new feature called "Polish" both on the web and mobile, replacing the old "Refine My Draft." Although its functionality remains the same, the "Polish" option is automatically activated when a draft of more than 12 words is detected, helping to improve style and clarity easily. With this change, Google aims to streamline the process and facilitate more effective writing in daily life. The "Polish" function uses Gemini's AI, refining email drafts and allowing them to be evaluated before inserting them directly into the body of the message. Once the improvement is finished, the user can choose the "Replace" option to easily and quickly include the polished text in their email. In the mobile version, shortcuts for these functions have been enabled, so that "Help Me Write" appears in empty drafts, while "Polish" is suggested for longer texts. Previously, "Refine My Draft" offered specific options like Polish, Formalize, Elaborate, Shorten, and Write a draft. Now, Google has integrated the "Polish" option into the writing process to simplify the workflow.

Gmail will now help you write an email on the web with AI

Google is expanding "Help me write" to Gmail on the web, allowing users to whip up or tweak emails using Gemini AI. Just like on mobile, users will see a prompt to use the feature when opening a blank draft in Gmail. Google's "Help me write" feature is only available to users who subscribe to Google One AI Premium or have the Gemini add-on for Workspace. In addition to generating an email draft, "Help me write" can also provide suggestions on how to formalize, elaborate, or shorten a message. Google is also adding a shortcut for the "polish" option available within its "Help me write" toolset, which will appear on drafts with over 12 words. For Gmail on the web, users can click the shortcut or type Ctrl + H to quickly refine an email. On mobile, the option will replace the existing "Refine my draft" shortcut. Instead of swiping to see options to polish, formalize, elaborate, or shorten an email, the app will automatically refine the message when the "polish" shortcut is swiped. Users can then tweak the message further with Google's other AI editing tools. Google will gradually roll out "Help me write" on the web, along with its new "polish" shortcut starting today.

Gmail rolls out "Help me write," an AI-driven tool for e-mails

AI Bloat: Google is making a strong push to integrate its Gemini AI across its vast network of internet services. The chatbot is gradually being introduced into various Google products, starting with Gmail, which serves over 1.8 billion users worldwide. In 2023, Google introduced the Gemini-based "Help me write" feature, giving users an easy way to compose or enhance emails. With Gemini AI's capabilities, Help me write can quickly draft repetitive messages and replies to routine conversations, freeing up time for more complex tasks and detailed emails. Initially available only on mobile devices, Google is now expanding the feature to the web version of Gmail. In the webmail interface, a new "Help me write" shortcut will appear in empty drafts, building on Gmail's original "smart reply" function to generate more comprehensive (and ideally, error-free) responses with a single click. If a draft contains more than 12 words, a "Polish" shortcut will also appear, allowing users to refine their existing text. This new Polish option replaces the "Refine my draft" tool previously available on Gmail for mobile devices. Users can further edit the AI-enhanced draft before sending the message. The new Help me write capabilities will be available for both Gemini for Google Workspace customers and individual users with Gemini AI access. The feature will be enabled by default, according to Google, without specific admin controls through the Workspace service or a simple way to disable it. The gradual rollout of Help me write is under way and should be completed within a couple of weeks. Android and iOS Gmail apps already have access to the new AI capabilities. Google is also providing additional documentation for both Google Workspace customers and Gmail webmail users. According to Google's official documentation, Help me write can generate a complete email draft based on a "free form" prompt or refine a previously drafted email. Google explains that Gemini AI can be used to create anything from a polished birthday invitation to a formal introduction for a business contact, ensuring the message is "fully formal" if the main points are already included.

Need a hand? Gmail's 'Help me write' comes to web users -- everything you need to know

Google is finally bringing one of its most popular Workspace Gmail app features to desktop users, alongside a new shortcut to help you improve your writing. Google has been working to improve how we write emails, with a specific focus on mobile users. One of the better features released for the Gmail app recently was Help me write, which uses AI to write an email. Recently, Help me write saw an improvement thanks to improved shortcuts. However, the app's desktop version was curiously missing these features, but that looks to be changing. Google recently announced in its Workspace Update Blog (via Android Police), that it would be bringing the Help me write shortcut to its web browser. Google also announced that it is bringing a new "Polish" option for both web and mobile. On inspection, Polish appears to simply be a new name for Refine my draft and will appear on any draft with 12+ words. When the option's available press the shortcut keys (CTRL+H) to see the polished version of your email. The new Polish feature is also coming to the mobile app alongside Help me write, replacing the Refine my draft feature. For now, on drafts with more than 12 words, the Polish shortcut will appear just below the text, allowing you swipe to quickly see a more refined version of the email. From there users can tap a refinement chip to edit the draft, as well as make it more formal, elaborate on a point or shorten it. Google has been working to improve all elements of its user experience with Gmail, including on the iPhone. It was recently reported that the iOS Gmail app would get Gemini support before Apple Intelligence, which recently launched its first set of features in iOS 18.1. While the Gemini features were locked behind workspace accounts, it was still a surprising reveal at the time. Gmail is arguably one of the best email services currently available and used by millions of people around the world. Anything Google can do to improve the service is a win for the user, but it should be noted that you will require the Gemini Business and Enterprise add-on, Gemini Education and Education Premium add-on or Google One AI Premium to make use of the new features.

Gmail's new shortcut can let you refine drafts in an instant

Key Takeaways Gmail's 'Help me write' shortcut is finally making it to the web, Google said. Google also announced a 'Polish' shortcut, which could be a new name for the previous 'Refine my draft' tool. These generative AI-based features are limited to customers of the Google One AI Premium plan and those on Gemini business/enterprise and education add-ons. ✕ Remove Ads While generative AI may have its downsides, one of the many positives to come out of it is making everyday tasks that much easier, like drafting coherent emails when the words just aren't flowing in your mind. Gmail's 'Help me write' feature is at the forefront of this, allowing users to either compose a well-drafted email or refine what they've already written with little to no effort. A couple of months ago, Gmail announced new shortcuts for Help me write and 'Refine my draft' on mobile. Now, the company is bringing the former to the web version of the email client along with another feature addition. Related Gmail: What is Help Me Write and how do I use it? Gmail's Help Me Write feature is an AI composer that could help your email strategy ✕ Remove Ads Announcing the changes in its Workspace Updates Blog, Google said that besides expanding the Help me write shortcut to the web, there's also a 'Polish' shortcut making it to the web and mobile devices. While this Polish shortcut may seem new based on Google's phrasing, a closer look suggests this is essentially a new name for the previous Refine my draft feature, albeit with different functionalities. Same feature but with a new name Close Gmail's Polish shortcut on the web and mobile The Help me write shortcut on the web works just as it does on mobile, with Google saying it will be visible in the email body when you haven't written anything yet. Meanwhile, the Polish shortcut, similar to the Refine my draft shortcut from August, will be visible when you've written 12+ words in the email body, Google says. ✕ Remove Ads In its previous form, accessing the Refine my draft shortcut would allow users to choose between Polish, Formalize, Elaborate, Shorten, and Write a draft. But thanks to this new inclusion, getting your email draft refined is a much faster process. Web users can also use the Ctrl+H keyboard shortcut for Polish, while mobile users can simply swipe right to achieve the same result. When you've triggered the Polish shortcut, you will see Google Gemini getting to work on refining the email. If you're happy with the output, you can instantly add it to your draft using the Replace button on the bottom right of the window. Interestingly, the Polish menu on the web uses an Insert button instead of Replace, though we expect this inconsistency to be fixed in a future update. ✕ Remove Ads Google says it could take up to a couple of weeks for the 'Polish' shortcut to appear on the web version of Gmail, but they should be live on the Android and iOS mobile apps already. These Gmail features are exclusively available to subscribers of the Google One AI Premium plan, as well as to those with the Gemini Business and Enterprise add-on or the Gemini Education and Education Premium add-on.

No need to polish your writing skills, Google's AI will now make your sound smarter on Gmail.

Google's "HelpMe Write" tool is also expanding to Gmail on the web. Google is expanding the "Help Me Write" shortcut to Gmail on the web and introducing a new "Polish" shortcut for both the web and mobile platforms. Starting today, "Help Me Write" -- Google's AI-powered writing tool designed to assist users in drafting emails or documents more efficiently -- will appear directly within the body of an email when the draft is empty, making it easy for users to generate emails from scratch using AI. Meanwhile, the "Polish" tool is designed for Gmail drafts that have 12 or more words. As the name suggests, it allows users to automatically refine their emails with more polished, AI-generated suggestions. Gmail on web users can access the Polish shortcut by clicking the text or pressing "Ctrl+H." The feature is also rolling out to the Gmail Android app, and mobile users can swipe the shortcut (see above) to see a refined draft of their emails. Users will also have quick options like "Formalize," "Elaborate," and "Shorten" to edit the email draft in place.

Google Brings Help Me Write and This Other AI Shortcut to the Web

Google is rolling out features powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to the web and mobile, including new shortcuts. Following the latest Workspace updates, the Mountain View-based tech giant brings a new 'Help Me Write' shortcut which leverages AI to provide writing suggestions when writing or refining text in open text fields on the web. Additionally, another shortcut for the 'Polish' feature has been added to the mobile and web platforms. In a blog post, Google highlighted the expansion of the 'Help Me Write' and 'Polish' shortcuts to the web. The Help Me Write shortcut will now appear in the body of the email when its draft is empty on the web. Meanwhile, its placement on Gmail for mobile will remain the same. Meanwhile, the Polish shortcut will now appear for drafts with more than 12 words, as per Google. Users will need to swipe right on the shortcut to get a polished email output. Alternatively, they can use the Control+H keyboard shortcut for the same. They can further refine the draft with three preset options: Formalise, Elaborate or Shorten. With Help Me Write, users can provide prompts to fine-tune the text. It can be a phrase, question, instruction, or sentence, as per Google. To rewrite the existing text, users can highlight the text they want to rewrite and then right-click on it. Google says this feature is already turned on by default and there is no admin control for it. Furthermore, it cannot be disabled by users. It is available for Google Workspace customers with Gemini Business and Enterprise add-on, Gemini Education and Education Premium add-on and Google One AI Premium subscribers. It is being rolled out gradually for both Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. The company says it might take up to 15 days for it to be visible to all Gmail users.