Gmail users across the UK have been left scratching their heads after encountering a mysterious new feature called 'Summarise This Email' that appears to have materialised without warning or explanation from Google.
The Phantom Feature
Numerous reports have surfaced of Gmail accounts displaying this unexpected option, which appears as a small icon at the top of certain emails. When clicked, it generates what appears to be an AI-powered summary of the message's content.
User Reactions
"I first noticed it yesterday morning," said London-based marketing executive Sarah Chen. "There was this strange new button I'd never seen before. When I clicked it, Gmail gave me a bullet-point summary of a client email. I didn't ask for this feature and can't find any official announcement about it."
Google's Silence
What's particularly puzzling is Google's complete silence on the matter. The tech giant hasn't acknowledged the feature's existence through any official channels, leading to speculation that this might be:
- An accidental rollout of an upcoming feature
- A limited test that escaped the lab
- A genuine bug in the Gmail system
Expert Analysis
Tech analysts suggest this could be part of Google's broader AI integration strategy. "We've seen Google gradually implementing more AI features across its products," noted digital technology expert Dr. James Wilson. "The sudden appearance without warning is unusual though - typically Google announces these things with fanfare."
What Users Should Do
For those encountering this mysterious feature:
- Don't panic - it appears to be harmless
- The summaries generated seem reasonably accurate
- There's currently no way to disable it if it appears
- Standard email security precautions still apply
As the tech community waits for an official explanation, one thing is clear: Google's AI ambitions are becoming increasingly visible in our everyday tools, whether we're ready for them or not.
