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Hi, {{first_name|friend}}. 👋
Welcome to Issue #222 of All About Email!
Last year, (it’s a terrible joke, I know…🤣) I expanded on my sunset automation so you can put something in place for 2026 or maybe tweak an existing automation.
So, if you’ve not read the last issue, it’s perfect reading for the start of the New Year.
This week, we discuss Google’s latest AI announcement for Gmail with the integration of Gemini and where Gmail is going in 2026.
Let’s go! 👇
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Quick Note!
💡 Before we go any further, these new Gmail capabilities are already rolling out in the U.S. to Gmail users and to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.
Google is starting with English and is excited to roll out more languages and regions in the coming months (no defined timeline for the rollout to other regions).
Gemini in Gmail’s New Features
🚀 Gmail is getting a major AI upgrade. Let’s take a look.
AI Overviews
(Yes, like the ones in search results) - Now summarise long email threads and answer questions about your inbox. **
💡 ** (AI Overviews in Search Results are terrible and not to be confused with the excellent AI Mode from Google, so it will be interesting to see how good AI Overviews are in Gmail.)
AI (Gemini)
Can help you write better emails with features like:
New AI Inbox
Will filter out unimportant emails, so you see what matters most.
My Thoughts
I’m actually not going to share my thoughts on this issue (yet), controversial…I know. 🤭
That’s not an easy out either (or me being lazy); I’ve just not had time to think and reflect to give an answer that would be worthy of you lovely readers.
The other issue is that, being in the UK, I don’t have access to this new feature yet, so I can’t test it, but my thoughts will come (maybe even as soon as next week 🤷♂️).
However, I don’t want to leave you without some expert insight. 👇
Community Thoughts
Google made the announcement on January 8th (2026), so there has already been a flurry of thoughts from the community:
Travis Hazlewood - See the announcement as a turning point.
Jaina Mistry - Three things to consider.
Al Iverson - Do better, and you will be rewarded.
Make sure you read the comments for Travis and Jaina; they contain additional insights.
What are your thoughts, {{first_name|friend}}?
Please reply and let me know.
That’s it for this week! 👋
Curiosity Corner
Welcome to Curiosity Corner! Each week, I throw one question your way…not always about email marketing, but always worth a reply.
This week’s question is the last of 2025. 👇
How are You feeling about the AI Inbox from Gmail?
All About Email - Playlist 🎧
Every week, as I write this newsletter, I'll share the track of the moment to create an unbelievably eclectic playlist just for your inbox.
We’re running a super short survey to see if our newsletter ads are being noticed. It takes about 20 seconds and there's just a few easy questions.
Your feedback helps us make smarter, better ads.
Sponsorship Opportunities
🚨 If you’re interested in sponsoring the “All About Email” newsletter, you can find all the details in this Google Doc.
Classifieds
Free cheat sheet (by EmailTooltester): Essential Ecommerce Workflows: step-by-step setup, tool tips, cart recovery and more. Download now.
Email Marketing News & Tips
This week's excellent and insightful email news & tips:
A World First - Introducing The Email Inactives Benchmark Survey. (Dela Quist)
28+ Billion Emails - The state of newsletters 2026. (Beehiiv)
Changes - January 2026 Microsoft SNDS Updates. (Spam Resource)
90+ Pages - The Email Design Handbook. (Beth O’Malley)
Inbox Optimization - Why the Future of Email Belongs to Humans and Machines. (Alison Gootee & Mailgun)
Semantics? - Newsletters ≠ Email Marketing. (Dylan Redekop)
First Issue Out Now! - “Content™” made to make HTML email accessibility accessible, achievable and affordable. (Paul Airy)
Referral Programs - The Strategy That 2x’d The Dink’s Daily Subscriber Rate. (Growth in Reverse)
Staying Relevant - What I Learned About Newsletters in 2025. (The Inbox Collective)
DMARC RUA - What it is and how to use it. (Valimail)
If you have any questions about this email or email marketing, please reply, and I will answer you as soon as possible.
I hope you have a great week! 👋
The web version of this issue contains a screenshot taken from a video published by Google as part of its official launch announcement for Gemini in Gmail (source).