At Wednesday’s Google Cloud Next conference, the company announced a number of updates focused on Workspace, including the addition of AI overview features to Gmail. The feature currently uses AI to summarize Google search results, and will soon do the same for Gmail users at work.
According to Google, this will allow Gmail users to use natural language to ask questions in search and get concise answers without having to open and read another email.
The company suggests that you can use this feature to ask business-related questions and get honest answers about topics typically shared over email, such as improving performance, project milestones, invoices, comments on materials, and travel details.
AI Summary creates an instant summary extracted from multiple emails and conversations.
While not everyone likes using AI as the first step to finding answers, it is quickly becoming the norm both within Google’s products and elsewhere on the web.
In this case, Google says that if a business has enabled Gemini for Workspace in Gmail and Workspace Intelligence access to Gmail is enabled, AI Overview in Gmail will be the default setting. (End users must also enable Smart Features for Gmail, Chat, and Meet and Smart Features for Google Workspace.)
This feature was previously available to consumers with Google AI Pro and Ultra subscriptions. Google says it will now also serve business, enterprise, and education customers through the following products:
tech crunch event
San Francisco, California
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October 13-15, 2026
Business: Business Starter, Standard, Plus Enterprise: Enterprise Starter, Standard, Plus Consumer: Google AI Pro and Ultra Other editions: Frontline Plus AI add-on: Google AI Pro for Education
To coincide with this release, Google announced that AI Overviews in Drive will be widely available on eligible Workspace and Google AI plans. It was previously in beta.
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