Gmail continues its journey of becoming more intuitive and user-friendly with the latest update that introduces exciting calendar features directly within the email platform. Building upon the remarkable AI-powered functionalities unveiled at Google I/O this year, Gmail now empowers users to seamlessly share their availability with recipients right from the compose section of an email.
Previously, users had to resort to third-party applications like calendly or follow intricate steps to communicate their availability. However, Gmail revolutionizes the process by placing a calendar icon at the bottom of the conversation view, presenting two convenient options: “Create an event” and “Offer times you’re free.” The latter option brings newfound ease to sharing availability.
The “Create an Event” feature streamlines an existing functionality, making it more accessible to users. With this feature, users can effortlessly create an event where the subject of the email automatically becomes the event title, while email recipients are instantly added as participants. Furthermore, all the essential meeting details are automatically generated within the email body, simplifying the process of joining. Although this capability was already available, its relocation to a more convenient location enhances its usability.
Introducing something entirely fresh, the “Offer times you’re free” feature allows users to share their availability with all recipients of the email, making it visible to everyone. Users can easily select specific time slots they wish to disclose, granting recipients a comprehensive view of their open schedules. It’s worth noting that while multiple individuals can receive availability options in a single email, the first person to accept a slot will be automatically added to the invite.
This highly anticipated functionality has been a longstanding request from users, who previously relied on external platforms such as calendly to fulfill their availability-sharing needs. With Gmail’s integration of these calendar features, users can now streamline their scheduling process and enjoy a more seamless and efficient communication experience within the email platform.
