Google has introduced a new update for Gmail aimed at helping users locate specific emails more efficiently. The company announced on Thursday that it will now incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) to take into account factors such as the recency of emails, most-clicked messages, and frequent contacts when delivering search results based on user queries.
Previously, Gmail’s search results were organized in a chronological order determined by keywords.
According to Google’s blog post, this update is designed to ensure that the desired emails appear at the top of search results, thus saving users time and enabling them to find important information more easily.
Additionally, Google is implementing a new toggle feature that allows users to choose between “Most relevant” or “Most recent” emails on the search results page. This feature caters to those who prefer viewing search results in chronological order, rather than the new default setting of “Most relevant.”
The update is being made available globally to users with personal Google accounts, accessible both on the web and through the Gmail app for Android and iOS. Google intends to extend this feature to business users later.
This new search functionality comes as part of Google’s efforts to enhance its email services to better compete with Apple’s Mail app, which received numerous Gmail-like features with the iOS 18 update last year. For example, Gmail recently introduced a feature powered by Gemini, allowing users to add events to Google Calendar directly from an email.
Earlier, Gmail also launched “Summary cards,” enabling users to perform various actions within their inbox, such as tracking packages, checking in for flights, setting reminders, and marking bills as paid.
Moreover, Gmail has introduced an interactive feature that allows users to communicate with Gemini about their emails directly within the app on both iOS and Android platforms.
