Easier Email Drafts with Gmail's Help me write AI Feature

Have you ever stared at a blank email, unsure how to start, or struggled to find the right words to make your message clear and polite? Gmail's Help me write feature is here to make those moments a lot easier. It integrates artificial intelligence directly into your email drafting process, helping you generate new text or polish what you've already written.

What is Gmail's 'Help me write' and How it Works

A while ago, Gmail introduced Help me write, a clever tool designed to assist you with email composition. It uses an LLM (large language model — the kind of AI engine behind tools like ChatGPT) to understand your instructions and generate text.

When you're writing an email in Gmail, you'll see the Help me write button, usually marked with a sparkle icon, at the bottom of your compose window. Once you've typed a few words or a subject, this button becomes active. Clicking it gives you options to either create a first draft from scratch or refine an existing one. It's like having a writing assistant ready to lend a hand whenever you need it.

Your AI Email Assistant: Getting Started and Giving Instructions

The real power of Help me write comes from giving it clear instructions, also known as prompts (the specific direction you give to an AI).

Here’s a step-by-step guide to using it effectively:

1. Open a new email in Gmail. Start composing your message as you normally would. You can type a few keywords, a brief sentence, or even leave it mostly empty if you want the AI to generate a full draft.
2. Click the 'Help me write' sparkle icon. This button is usually found at the bottom of your compose window.
3. Choose a preset option or type a custom instruction.
   • If your email is almost empty, the AI might suggest options to "Generate a draft" based on your subject line or a short idea.
   • If you've already written some text, you'll see suggestions like "Formalise," "Elaborate," "Shorten," or "Rewrite."
   • For more precise changes, type your own specific prompt into the instruction bar.
     • Example prompt for a new draft: "Write an email inviting neighbours to a BBQ on Saturday afternoon."
     • Example prompt for refining: "Make this paragraph sound more confident and professional."
     • Example prompt for adding detail: "Add a sentence explaining the benefits of early bird registration for the workshop."
     • Example prompt for changing tone: "Rewrite the opening to be more empathetic about their situation."
4. Review the AI's suggestions. The AI will present a revised version or a new draft. You can then accept the changes, discard them, or undo them if you want to try a different prompt. Feel free to manually edit the AI's output or continue refining it with new instructions.

Tips for Getting the Best Results

To make the most of this AI tool, treat it like a helpful, but sometimes needs-guidance, assistant:

• Be specific in your prompts: Instead of "Make it better," try "Suggest three possible dates for our next meeting" or "Change the tone to be more encouraging."
• Keep prompts concise: Often, a short, direct sentence is all it needs. Avoid overly complex requests.
• Use natural language: Write your instructions as you would speak to a person. There's no special "AI language" to learn.
• Iterate your requests: If you have several changes in mind, tackle them one by one. This helps the AI focus on each request accurately and makes it easier to track changes.

Wrap-up

Gmail's Help me write feature puts an intelligent assistant right inside your inbox, helping you craft better emails with less effort. Whether you're sending a quick personal message or a detailed professional update, this AI tool can help you find the right words, refine your tone, and ensure clarity. The next time you're composing an email, give the sparkle icon a click and see how it can simplify your writing process.