Google announced on Thursday that Gmail will now use AI to prioritize emails based on factors such as recency, most-clicked messages, and frequent contacts, making it easier for users to find relevant emails.
Previously, Gmail’s search function displayed results in chronological order based on keyword matches.
“With this update, the emails you’re looking for are far more likely to be at the top of your search results — saving you valuable time and helping you find important information more easily,” Google stated in a blog post.
Alongside this enhancement, Google is introducing a new toggle that allows users to switch between “Most relevant” and “Most recent” emails in search results. This feature accommodates users who prefer the traditional chronological display over the AI-driven relevance sorting.
The update is rolling out globally to users with personal Google accounts and is available on the web as well as in the Gmail app for Android and iOS. Google plans to extend this feature to business users in the future.
This AI-powered search improvement is part of Google’s broader effort to refine its email services and compete with Apple’s Mail app, which introduced several Gmail-like features with iOS 18 last year.
In recent months, Gmail has introduced additional functionalities, including a Gemini-powered feature that lets users add events to Google Calendar directly from an email. Additionally, Gmail rolled out “Summary cards,” which enable users to track packages, check-in for flights, set reminders, and mark bills as paid, among other tasks.
Google has also integrated its AI assistant, Gemini, into Gmail, allowing users to chat with the AI about their inbox directly within the app on both iOS and Android.
As Google continues to enhance Gmail’s functionality, these updates highlight the company’s commitment to improving email efficiency through AI-driven innovations.
