5 things Gmail needs to fix

Gmail needs to fix a few things. Sure, it’s a great email service, perhaps the best there is. Nearlytwo billion peopleuse it every day. But some of its features arebecoming a little aged, while others are downright frustrating. Inboxes are getting cluttered, and the mobile app leaves a lot to be desired. Search could be a lot better, and third-party services could be better integrated. Maybe AI will fix some of these issues.

Spam, scams, and shams amidst your Gmail inboxes.

Odds are you’re a Gmail user, but how much do you really know about the platform?

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1Inbox Clutter

It’s time to simplify the inbox

Gmail’s tabs are weird and always have been. The default inbox sorting is by Primary, Promotions, Updates, and Forums. This should be turned into two tabs at the most, kind of like how Outlook has Focused and Other. Are forums even a thing anymore?

The new layout in a Gmail inbox

you’re able to turn off these tabs by going intoSettings, thenSee all settings, and then clicking onInbox. You’ll seeCategoriesand can check or uncheck the boxes here to rearrange how your inbox looks. But why should we have to jump through hoops?

A smartphone with the Gmail app open displaying emails

Also, when messagespile up in Gmail, it can get cluttered quickly. And why do the same messages appear in Primary and Updates? Other apps, such as Spark or Google’s old Inbox, have shown us that a cleaner and more focused inbox is possible.

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AI Solution:

Android phone next to window with display showing gmail app.

Expect Google to use AI to improve email sorting in Gmail any day now. Gemini is about to drop in Gmail, and whilewe have reservations, it could begin to help with the clutter.

The Gmail logo against rows of orange chevrons

2Fix the mobile app

The Gmail mobile app is just plain bad

The Gmail app is a weird hybrid of a desktop web app and a mobile app, yet fails at both. A lot of this comes back to those nonsensical categories, which Google insists on porting over to the mobile app. Only you need to open a side menu and tap through each category tab to see them. The mobile version often separates different accounts into their own inboxes, and if you’re using another provider with Gmail, such as Outlook or Protonmail, you’re able to’t snooze or do anything else with their emails. It’s a frustrating experience.

Swipe action in Gmail for Android

AI Solution:

Gmail on the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE

Google could use Gemini to learn how you use your Gmail app on your phone and then personalize your layout. For example, it could put your most used inboxes front and center. Maybe it could predict which emails you need to see first and auto-sort your entire email list based on past behavior. That would be cool.

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Gmail’s search functionality isn’t all that great

Gmail’s search often has trouble finding emails you know are in there. Considering Gmail’s unique take on filing, using tags and archives rather than a hierarchy of folders, you’d think Google would make email searching the strongest part of the experience. Yet it’s 2024, and Gmail’s search still misses emails, especially older emails buried in the archive folder.

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Don’t get me wrong; Gmail is still the best at searching through an inbox. No other email provider comes close. But considering it’s the world’s biggest email service from the world’s biggest search company, we expect perfection.

Gmail app in the Google Play Store showing an update is available.

AI Solution:

A player jumps across rooftops in the new Skate

Search results could be more relevant if Gmail leveraged AI to understand the meaning behind your search terms. Rather than having to input exact words or remember the sender’s name, you could type “The guy who asked about the Pixel 5 I was selling,” and Gmail would know what you’re talking about and surface those emails.

Woman recording a nightly voice journal on her smartphone, with voice transcription and audio icons overlaid on the screen

4More third-party integration

Gmail needs to come out of its mobile silo

Gmail’s web version for desktop has a fantastic suite of third-party integrations through the sidebar. With a click on the plus button, you get handy tools such as Slack, Dropbox, and built-in CRMs. But it’s different over on the mobile side.

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The Gmail mobile app lacks a lot of the same connectivity to third-party tools. Many work, but many also require leaving the app to save an attachment or add a task, for instance.

AI Solution:

Gemini could analyze the contents of your emails and suggest relevant actions from integrated third-party apps. This would take a lot of work for Google to open up the mobile code, but it would go a long way towards improving the mobile Gmail experience.

Change these settings for a better Gmail experience on your Android phone

5Better spam reporting

It’s not easy to report spam that slips through

Gmail is one of the best email services when it comes to filtering out spam. Our inboxes stay surprisingly clean. But scammers never rest and sometimes phishing attempts make it past Google’s security. And when that happens, it’s hard to report them as phishing.

Sure, you’re able to report the spam, but we love Outlook’s take on reporting, where there’s a dedicated choice to report an email as mere spam (aka advertising) or as phishing, which is much more malicious and intentional. The more people who can report phishing emails, the better the world is for everyone.

AI Solution:

AI could easily make spam and phishing reporting easier. It could scan our inboxes, and if it detects anything suspicious, it could ask us about it the next time we log in. Perhaps AI could surface a little “Yes, report as phishing” or “No, it’s fine” box when it detects suspicious emails.

Gmail’s next chapter is AI-powered, and we want to see things improved

Gmail is already one of the best email services in the world, but it could be better. There are a few things Google needs to fix, such as a smarter andleaner inbox, a better mobile experience, and a search function that is reliable all the time. We would also love to see AI-powered phishing reporting. Artificial intelligence is going to transform our Gmail experience. We would like to see it improve our inboxes, as well.

Let’s circle back and take a nostalgic trip down email memory lane

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