Gmail tweaks how you launch Help me write and might add ‘voice compose’

Abner Li | Oct 24 2023 - 11:56 am PT

Gmail for Android and iOS is changing how you initiate Duet AI’s “Help me write” capability, while Google might be expanding it with “voice compose” in the future.

About APK Insight: In this “APK Insight” post, we’ve decompiled the latest version of an application that Google uploaded to the Play Store. When we decompile these files (called APKs, in the case of Android apps), we’re able to see various lines of code within that hint at possible future features. Keep in mind that Google may or may not ever ship these features, and our interpretation of what they are may be imperfect. We’ll try to enable those that are closer to being finished, however, to show you how they’ll look in case that they do ship. With that in mind, read on.

Previously, Gmail on Android and iOS used a bottom-right corner FAB to launch “Help me write” on the Compose screen. The pen with a sparkle icon has now been moved to the toolbar next to the attachment, send, and overflow menu buttons.

If the email is blank, this will let you enter a prompt. Otherwise, tapping the button opens a “Refine my message” sheet with Formalize, Elaborate, and Shorten, as well as Write a draft to get back the prompt field.

This change is rolled out on Gmail for Android and iOS today.

Meanwhile, version 2023.10.15.x of Gmail for Android reveals work on the ability to draft emails with just your voice that looks to be an extension of Help me write.

<string name=”smart_draft_voice_compose_chip_text”>Draft email with voice</string>

This could be a dedicated voice experience for Google Workspace’s Duet AI that’s optimized on the long-form nature of emails. Meanwhile, it sounds like Gboard’s Assistant voice typing, which is exclusive to Pixel devices. By adding a subset of those features to Duet, all Workspace users could have something similar.

Thanks to JEB Decompiler, from which some APK Insight teardowns benefit.