Google is reshaping how artificial intelligence works inside Gmail, and the changes are already visible for some users. Following the rollout of new “in-line AI experiences” this week, the Gemini side panel is disappearing for AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in the US, marking a shift away from the traditional chatbot-style interface.
Until now, Gemini in Gmail lived in a dedicated side panel on the web. Users could open it by tapping the Gemini spark icon next to their profile picture in the top right corner. This panel functioned like a familiar chat assistant and supported a wide range of actions, including summarising long email threads, suggesting replies, drafting new emails, pulling information from past messages, searching Google Drive files, checking calendar events, and even creating new entries in Google Calendar.
With the new approach, Google says it wants to make it easier to use AI directly inside Gmail, without needing to open a separate panel. As a result, AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in the US may no longer see the “Ask Gemini in Gmail” option or be able to access the Gemini side panel on the web. Instead, most of its capabilities are now embedded directly into the Gmail interface.
The biggest change is how AI assistance appears contextually, exactly where it is needed. Email summaries are now handled through AI Overviews, which can automatically condense longer and more complex threads. Reply suggestions have also been upgraded, with Suggested Replies now taking into account the full context of the conversation rather than relying on generic responses. This makes them more relevant, especially in longer back-and-forth exchanges.
Help Me Write remains available and largely unchanged, continuing to assist users with drafting emails from scratch or refining rough ideas. Proofread, however, has quietly become more powerful. It now goes beyond basic spelling and grammar checks, offering style and tone suggestions that feel closer to a lightweight editor than a simple correction tool.
Search inside Gmail is also becoming more intelligent. The new AI Overviews in search aim to provide a more integrated experience by summarising information where users would naturally expect it, rather than forcing them to ask a chatbot separately. This aligns with Google’s broader push to surface AI responses directly within products instead of behind standalone prompts.
At the moment, the change appears limited to the web version of Gmail. On accounts that already have the new in-line AI features enabled, the Gemini side panel has disappeared entirely. On mobile, particularly on Android, the side panel is still present, suggesting that the transition is being rolled out gradually and may follow a different timeline on phones.
Importantly, there are no changes for Google Workspace users. The availability of the Gemini side panel in Gmail remains the same for Workspace plans, indicating that Google is experimenting primarily within its consumer AI subscription tiers.
While the removal of the side panel may frustrate users who preferred a dedicated AI space, the new in-line approach reflects a broader design philosophy. Google appears to be betting that AI works best when it blends into existing workflows rather than sitting off to the side. For many users, this could result in faster, more natural interactions. For others, it may take some adjustment as Gmail quietly becomes a very different kind of AI-powered inbox.
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