At its Google Cloud Next conference on Wednesday, the company unveiled a series of updates centered on Workspace, notably bringing its AI Overviews feature to Gmail. This tool, which currently employs AI to condense Google Search results, will now perform a similar function for professional Gmail accounts. Google explains that this enables users to pose questions in search using everyday language and receive brief answers without needing to open and sift through individual emails.

The company proposes that the feature could address business inquiries typically handled via email, such as questions about performance enhancements, project milestones, invoices, feedback on presentations, travel details, and more, delivering clear responses. The AI Overview will instantly generate a summary drawn from various emails and conversations.

Although not everyone favors using AI as their initial step for finding information, this approach is quickly becoming standard, both within Google's ecosystem and across the wider web. For this feature, Google states that AI Overviews in Gmail will be activated by default if the organization has enabled Gemini for Workspace in Gmail and granted Workspace Intelligence access to Gmail. Individual users must also have "Smart features in Gmail, Chat, and Meet" and "Google Workspace smart features" turned on.

Previously, this functionality was accessible to consumers with Google AI Pro and Ultra subscriptions. Google now announces it will extend to business, enterprise, and education customers through these specific products:

Business: Business Starter, Standard, and Plus Enterprise: Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus Consumers: Google AI Pro and Ultra Other Editions: Frontline Plus AI Add-ons: Google AI Pro for Education

Concurrently with this rollout, Google mentioned it is also making AI Overviews in Drive widely available to eligible Workspace and Google AI plans, moving it out of its previous beta phase.