Gmail's revolutionary Smart Compose feature is bleeding to other Android devices after first launching on mobile as a Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL exclusive.
Smart Compose uses artificial intelligence to predict what the user intends to write and fills the rest of the sentence for them. It's not perfect, but it's a great time-saver especially for those who just want to write quick and simple responses to their co-workers and friends. It takes into account the person's email writing patterns and blends that with commonly used phrases to make suggestions, which the user can accept or just ignore.
Gmail Smart Compose
Google first rolled out Smart Compose to desktops as an experimental feature and then added it to G Suite accounts shortly thereafter. At the Pixel 3 launch event in October last year, Google confirmed Smart Compose will be coming to smartphones, as well — but only on Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. Yes, even the Pixel 2 and the original Pixel were off the list.
That changes now. First spotted by Android Police, Smart Compose is now live on the Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, OnePlus 6T, Samsung Galaxy S9, and basically any Android device that runs the Gmail app. It's hard to say for sure whether all phones are supported, but a variety of sources have confirmed the feature is now live and functional on many different handsets.
How To Use Gmail Smart Compose
Non-Pixel 3 users should expect a popup explaining what the feature is when they start composing an email and it automatically triggers. After writing a few words, a suggestion will surface — simply swipe on the text to accept it, or continue typing to ignore.
The feature is on by default, but users can turn it off if they don't want pesky suggestions cluttering their compose screen. Simply go to Gmail's settings page, select an account, and tick off the Smart Compose box. For those who aren't seeing the feature yet, make sure that Gmail is updated to version 9.2.3.
Have you been able to try Smart Compose? As always, if you have anything to share, feel free to sound them off in the comments section below!
