Google Smart Compose: What is it, how to turn it off

Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty ImagesMatt Cardy/Getty Images

• Google has rolled out its “Smart Compose” feature for Gmail. 
• The AI-powered tool predicts common phrases and addresses for users — saving keyboard strokes and ultimately, time. 
• Some are celebrating the time it can save, while others can’t get past the creepiness of having Google talk to your friends and colleagues on your behalf.

We may have all seen an increase in email productivity over the past week, but is that a good thing? 

The bump in speed comes thanks (or no thanks — depending on your stance) to Gmail’s “Smart Compose” feature, rolled out to Gmail users as part of the recent redesign.

Like the name implies, the AI-powered feature recommends words to finish sentences so users don’t have to. Just review the text that Google suggest and press “tab” to accept. If you want to turn it on, go to your Settings in Gmail, and in the “General” tab, turn “Writing Suggests On.” You can turn it off the same way, 

Google said that to start, the Smart Compose feature will simply “fill in common phrases and relevant addresses, like that of your home and office” as you type. Over time, however, the company said, “it will get smarter—learning your most-used greetings.”

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban — who famously responds to every email he receives — recently told Popular Science that he “absolutely loves” Smart Compose and that “it adds at least 30 minutes to my day.” Many across the internet share in Cuban’s affinity for the AI product that’s saving them time.

Still, not everybody is sold that speed doesn’t come at a cost or outweigh the creepy-factor. Some are heated over the prospect of a robot writing your personal messages. Interestingly, many seem concerned over what happens to human language when everybody uses the same exact AI-suggested wording. 

Here are a few of our favorite reactions so far: 

Some like it, but know it’s definitely a sign that the robots are coming. 

Paul English, the co-founder and former CTO of Kayak, just wants Smart Compose to take over his email responses completely so he can take some time off. 

Others are feeling like it’s getting a little too personal. Why should Google be commenting on our social lives (or lack thereof)? 

For most, however, it’s still too early to tell. 

Google declined to comment on the future of the feature, beyond what’s in a blog entry it shared earlier this year.

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