Google expands Gmail AI with conversational voice search at IO 2026

Google has announced the expansion of its Gmail AI Inbox with a new feature called Gmail Live, unveiled at its IO 2026 developer conference. Powered by the Gemini AI model, the tool enables users to utilise natural language voice commands to search their inbox, locate specific details such as flight times, appointment codes, or event information, and ask follow-up questions. The feature supports topic pivots and is scheduled to roll out later in the summer, initially limited to Google AI Ultra subscribers.

Devanshi Bhandari, product lead for Gmail, briefed reporters on the functionality ahead of the conference, demonstrating how the AI handles nuanced queries. In a live demonstration, Bhandari asked the tool about a child’s show-and-tell project, a class trip, and travel details for a trip to Detroit. The system successfully distinguished between terms like “field trip” and “trip,” inferred people not explicitly named in the query, and pulled granular details such as hotel room numbers from email threads.

The announcement comes as Google seeks to demonstrate the practical value of artificial intelligence amid broader public questioning regarding its economic and environmental impact, particularly concerning the construction of new data centres. By focusing on everyday use cases like email retrieval, the company aims to highlight tangible improvements to products used by millions, contrasting with previous AI initiatives that faced significant backlash.

Gmail Live does not replace traditional search functionality but adds a conversational layer to the experience. This cautious approach follows the company’s experience with AI-powered search in Google Photos, which was rolled back to optional status after users complained about the replacement of traditional search. Google is now positioning Gmail Live as an additional option rather than a mandatory overhaul of the user interface.

In addition to the voice search capabilities, the AI Inbox is expanding its subscriber base. While Gmail Live remains exclusive to AI Ultra subscribers at launch, other updates including ready-to-send drafts, instant file access, and task management capabilities will expand to Google AI Pro and Plus subscribers. Voice technology for this functionality is also coming to Google Keep, the company’s to-do list app.

CEO Sundar Pichai described the current period for the company as one of “hyper progress,” with a focus on embedding AI agents into critical services including Search, YouTube, Docs, and Chrome. The initial AI Inbox experience launched earlier this year, and these latest updates represent a continued effort to integrate AI agents into the core Google ecosystem while maintaining user control over the technology.

The rollout of Gmail Live later this summer represents a significant step in Google’s strategy to refine its AI offerings. By allowing users to interact with their email through natural language, the company hopes to streamline information retrieval and reduce the friction associated with keyword-based searches. The feature’s ability to handle follow-up questions and pivot mid-conversation suggests a move towards more sophisticated, agent-like interactions within everyday productivity tools.