Gmail will soon let all end users get AI assistance writing subject lines based on the already-in-place Smart Compose features, based on a recently announced change noticed rolling out for the ‘Rapid Release’ segment of the service. The feature will work similarly to that other tool offering up a quick auto-suggestion based on users’ own language use and personality. A quick tap or press of the tab key — based on the example provided by Google — will insert the suggested text, which can be fine-tuned after the fact.
The primary difference is that it will also take advantage of the fact that Smart Compose is working in the body of an email’s text too. That means that the suggestions will be based on the context and content of the email itself instead of just randomly generated. Smart Compose already does something similar when users are responding to an email but the suggestions will obviously be geared more heavily toward summarizing the contents.
Users in the more commonly used ‘Scheduled Release’ audience will begin seeing the change as early as April 23. The rollout is set to be gradual, so it could take up to 15 days from that date before every user sees Smart Compose in their subject lines.
The latest update to Gmail will likely land on the Android variant at some point in the near future, following Google’s push to keep the experience consistent across each platform.
Other recent Gmail changes
Smart Compose was first added to Gmail last year via Inbox and the new announcement marks just one of several big changes made by Google in light of the recent shuttering of its popular organization-focused offering. Among other alterations made to the service, the company has also added smart replies, nudges, and the ability to swipe to “snooze” an email for viewing later on via a reminder. The latter of those features also moves the email back to the top of the pile so it isn’t lost in a wave of new messages.
One other feature that’s been added is the ability to schedule emails for sending, letting those who use the tool for business stay ahead of their communication workload.
Catering to the needs of the inexperienced and indecisive
A good subject line for an email can be likened to the title of a novel in that it can be a key determining factor in whether the email itself is ever opened and read. So the biggest advantage of the new Smart Compose feature will likely be found by users who have a difficult time devising a cohesive title for complex messages. its usefulness for those who have a difficult time devising a coherent title for complex emails.
In particular, it will likely prove most useful to business users who need to grab a potential clients attention but don’t have an inordinate amount of time to spend on that task or who aren’t experienced with that.
Smart Compose for subject lines may also come in handy for those who simply need to write a title fast and want to spend the bulk of their time on the important contents of an email itself.
Just how useful end users find the feature, given that many Gmail users are now waiting on Inbox features to make their way over following that service’s shutdown, remains to be seen.