Google DeepMind is developing an AI assistant that will live inside users' inboxes and reply to emails on their behalf.
The AI is trained to learn users' writing style, tone, email priorities, and how they interact with messages.
The system aims to replicate users' writing and decision-making processes, essentially cloning them in text form.
The AI assistant will be capable of making low-level decisions, acting like an executive assistant who never forgets any information.
This AI assistant is described as more personal and powerful than existing smart reply systems, potentially changing how people communicate.
There are concerns about privacy, over-reliance on the AI, and the possibility of mistakes in tone affecting trust.
Google plans to introduce safeguards like opt-in controls and transparency dashboards to address these concerns.
The future of AI in email communication may involve AI not just assisting in writing emails but also making decisions and communicating on behalf of users.
For some, this development may be desirable, while others see it as potentially problematic.
The advancement in AI for emails could result in quieter inboxes, but the question remains whether the communication will still reflect the users' identities.