Major Gmail Overhaul Rolls Out in July

In an announcement on Monday, Google confirmed that major changes to its popular electronic mail service, Gmail, will roll out in July.

Google G Suite services get updates from time to time, but the set of patches and changes set to arrive in Gmail next month seem to be a big deal. In fact, Google has been repeatedly calling it the “new Gmail.”

There was no exact date given for the release of the major updates. Note that as of July 2017, there have already been a recorded 1.2 billion monthly active Gmail users, which means it could be impractical to have a very specific timeline for releasing the updates.

Once the updates become available for G Suite administrators, they can instantly transition users to the new Gmail. But admins, by default, can give users the option to temporarily opt out and join the updated platform whenever they want.

However, it is important to note that avoiding the Gmail makeover cannot be done forever. Google said, “Approximately 12 weeks after the GA announcement in July, any users who’ve opted out of the new Gmail will be automatically migrated to the new experience, with no option to opt out. Users who’ve already transitioned to the new Gmail will lose the ability to opt out.”

The upcoming Gmail updates are poised to bring enhanced security features, incorporate artificial intelligence and provide more convenient controls.

The new Gmail will add the “confidential mode,” which will let users add authentication via text messages before opening an email that they deem very sensitive. Google will introduce AI-powered functions like “Nudging,” which will notify users about unanswered messages.

In the new Gmail inbox, access to commonly used controls will be made more convenient. Once a user moves the cursor over a message preview, the Archive, Delete, Mark as Read and Snooze buttons will appear.