If you use Gmail, AI is already in your inbox: use it for long threads
Gemini is built right into Gmail and Google Docs for many accounts. Use it to summarise a 30-message email thread, draft replies, and find "what did I promise to whom", without opening another app.
If you use Gmail, look for the Gemini star icon at the top of an email or in the side panel. If it's there, you have an assistant in your inbox.
Three uses that really save time:
- Long threads: "Summarise this thread. What decisions have been made, and what is still pending?"
- Quick replies: "Draft a reply that agrees with their proposal but asks for the deadline to be extended by a week. Professional tone, in English."
- Find commitments: "In my emails this week, what did I promise to send to people, and by when?"
In Google Docs, the same icon can "write a draft" or "polish" the part you select.
Can't see the icon? It depends on your account type and region. Alternative: copy the thread and paste it into Gemini or ChatGPT with the same question.
Try it now: open the longest thread in your inbox and ask for a summary and a list of action items.
Tool comparison: ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini.