Google Introduces AI-Powered ‘Help Me Write’ and ‘Polish’ Shortcuts in Gmail
Google is enhancing Gmail’s user experience with new AI-powered features, introducing the ‘Help Me Write’ and ‘Polish’ shortcuts on both web and mobile platforms. These tools, announced in recent Workspace updates, aim to streamline the writing process by offering suggestions and improvements when composing or editing text in Gmail.
New ‘Help Me Write’ Shortcut for Easy Drafting
The ‘Help Me Write’ shortcut is now available on the web version of Gmail, making it easier to start drafting emails. When a draft is empty, this shortcut will appear directly in the email body, allowing users to instantly access AI-powered writing suggestions. On the mobile version, the shortcut placement remains unchanged, allowing users to tap into Google’s AI for drafting assistance.
Enhanced ‘Polish’ Feature for Text Refinement
In addition to ‘Help Me Write,’ the ‘Polish’ feature has also been upgraded. For drafts containing more than 12 words, users can activate the ‘Polish’ option by swiping right on the shortcut to produce a refined email. Alternatively, a Control+H keyboard shortcut is available for a quick polish. Users can further customize their emails with three specific options: Formalize, Elaborate, or Shorten.
Streamlined Draft Refinement on Mobile
The mobile version of Gmail also sees an upgrade with the ‘Refine my draft’ feature. Previously, users had to swipe through various options, but the new ‘Polish’ shortcut now provides a streamlined, single-swipe enhancement. Additional adjustments, like formalization or elaboration, remain accessible through Google’s AI editing suite, allowing for a more tailored experience.
Availability and Access for Google Workspace and Google One Users
These AI tools are currently turned on by default and cannot be disabled by users or administrators. The features are accessible to Google Workspace customers with the Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, and Education Premium add-ons, as well as Google One AI Premium subscribers. Google is rolling out the features gradually across Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains, with full availability expected within 15 days.
