The search giant introduced a new feature to help Gmail users find their messages faster, but it has not been warmly welcomed by everyone
Google has announced a significant free update to Gmail promising users a far easier experience in finding important emails in their stuffed inboxes. The tech giant has rolled out smart AI-powered search capabilities to inboxes worldwide, designed to speed up the process of finding messages.
However, the launch of the updated app received a mixed reaction from some users not happy with AI seeping through into their lives. In a recent blog post announcing the Gmail update, Google said: “If you’ve ever struggled with finding information in your overflowing inbox, you’re not alone. That’s why Gmail is rolling out a smarter search feature powered by AI to show you the most relevant results, faster.”
The tech giant assured users that once the update was implemented, the most pertinent emails will be more visible during searches. Gmail’s search functionality will no longer just display emails in chronological order based on keywords.
It will now also consider factors such as recency, frequency of email interactions, and common contacts, reports the Express. “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
The rollout began last week, while Google confirmed that the “Most relevant” search results feature is being released globally to users with personal Google accounts and will be available on the web, as well as in the official Gmail app for Android and iOS devices. Once it’s available in your account, you’ll be able to toggle between “most relevant” and “most recent” results.
However, the update did not go down well with some Gmail users, many of whom claimed it was unnecessary. On the r/technology channel on Reddit, one user said rather bluntly: “Hate it already.”
Another user expressed frustration at Gmail’s new search function, saying: “It sucks. Now when I check to see a new work email on my phone, it shows something 3 days old rather than the most recent in the chain.”
A third user was far more vocal with their response, commenting: “3/4 of the time Google chooses to do things that nobody ******g wants.”
A fourth person chimed in and expressed gratitude at ditching Gmail for another provider, saying: “So glad I just moved away from Gmail after 20 years.”