- Google launches AI Gmail Inbox and UCP, integrating AI agents into email and shopping workflows seamlessly.
- AI Overviews summarize conversations and find key information, saving users time on complex email threads.
- UCP enables AI shopping agents to interact across platforms, simplifying discovery, payments, and post-purchase services.
Google is expanding AI across both email and commerce, introducing AI tools for Gmail alongside the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP). The new features aim to make managing emails and online shopping faster and smarter for individuals and businesses.
With email volumes higher than ever, Google is using its Gemini AI models to make Gmail more proactive. AI Overviews now provide concise summaries of long email threads. Users can also ask natural language questions, like identifying a past service provider, and get instant, precise answers. Furthermore, these AI-driven summaries are free for all Gmail users. However, asking questions with AI Overviews requires a Google AI Pro or Ultra subscription.
Alongside summarization, Google has updated tools like Help Me Write, Suggested Replies, and Proofread. Users can draft, polish, or respond to emails quickly. Responses can match individual tone and style, making professional communication more efficient. Moreover, next month, Google plans to enhance personalization by integrating context from other apps.
UCP
The Gmail updates sit alongside Google’s larger push into agentic commerce. The Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) is an open standard for AI shopping agents. It allows agents to manage discovery, payments, and post-purchase interactions across multiple platforms and retailers. UCP works with existing protocols, including Agent2Agent (A2A) and Agent Payments Protocol (AP2).
UCP was developed with Shopify, Etsy, Wayfair, Target, and Walmart, and endorsed by more than 20 companies, including Visa, Mastercard, Flipkart, and Home Depot. The goal is to create a unified ecosystem where AI agents can act on behalf of users and businesses seamlessly.
Google’s dual focus, Gmail AI for productivity and UCP for commerce, shows how AI is evolving from a concept into practical tools for professionals and consumers.
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