Google is expanding the functionality of Gmail summary cardAI-driven contextual snippets of services are extracted from incoming packages and more. Starting today, it will include cards for purchases, events, bills, and travel. Additionally, a new “Coming Soon” section will appear at the top of your inbox displaying upcoming time-sensitive cards. The company says it’s making this change because “email habits continue to evolve.”
A new “Upcoming” section delivers “timely” summary cards to the top of your inbox. For example, when you open Gmail, you might see a card saying that something you ordered last week will be delivered today. Google says all summary cards are dynamic and update in real time.
Optionally, the summary card also includes action buttons. Google says the appeal of the action button is that it “removes the need to search for hidden links.”
Purchase summary cards allow you to track your packages, view order details, and monitor your online orders. Event cards allow you to see upcoming events, invite friends, and get directions to the venue. You can use the bill summary to see and pay your bills (or even set a payment reminder in your Google Tasks list). Finally, the trip summary card allows you to manage your reservations, check in for flights, check details such as hotel check-in and check-out times, and more.
Google’s new feature release schedule is a bit complicated. The individual email purchase summary card will start rolling out “gradually” on Android and iOS starting today (some users are already reporting seeing it earlier this week). Other categories of personalized emails and cards in the “Coming Soon” section will arrive “in the coming months.” And four ubiquitous card categories (individual emails, Gmail search, and coming soon) are coming “in the future.” Therefore, you should wait patiently before trying out all the features of Google’s Overview Card.
