Google has unveiled a new AI-driven feature, Help Me Write, in the mobile version of Gmail, enabling users to compose emails more effectively on their smartphones. The announcement came during the recent Google I/O conference, where developers introduced a range of AI tools that will enhance user experience across Google's services.
Previously available for testing on the desktop version of Gmail, the Help Me Write tool utilizes neural network technology. Now, this feature has been extended to the Android and iOS versions of Gmail. Users can take advantage of Help Me Write to edit already drafted emails, enabling them to condense lengthy messages, add formality, or adopt a more casual tone.
From Smart Reply ➡️ “Help me write” in Gmail 🧵↓#GoogleIO pic.twitter.com/u0ILECSMN4
— Google (@Google) May 10, 2023
For users who are pressed for time and require assistance in writing complete emails, Help Me Write allows them to provide a prompt, upon which the AI algorithm generates a detailed message. The resulting text can be manually edited or refined using the assistant's options.
The new Help Me Write feature builds upon Google's existing AI-powered email tools, including Smart Compose and Smart Reply. While Smart Reply offers basic automated responses and Smart Compose provides suggestions as users type, Help Me Write takes it a step further by generating full emails from simple prompts.
To begin using Help Me Write in Gmail, users need to join Google's Workspace Labs program, which grants access to AI capabilities for composing text in Gmail and Google Docs. By visiting labs.withgoogle.com and signing up for the program, users can access the Help Me Write icon—a pencil with a star above it—which appears when drafting a new email in Gmail or creating a document in Google Docs.
Clicking on the Help Me Write button opens a prompt window where users can describe their requirements for the AI-generated text. Examples of prompts include "Craft a glowing review for a team member" or "Send well wishes to my friend recovering in the hospital." After entering the prompt and clicking "Create," Help Me Write generates the text. Users can then insert the generated text into their email and further customize it as desired.