Yahoo Mail Introduces AI Bot to Assist Users with Email Management
Yahoo Mail has unveiled its own AI bot, designed to help users compose, respond to, and manage their emails. In a news release on Monday, Yahoo outlined the key features of the new AI, which aims to assist users who may be struggling with handling their emails. Currently in beta mode, the AI is only available for Yahoo Mail iOS and desktop users in the US. To gain access, users can visit the Sign up page, enter their Yahoo username in the Request to join the beta field, and click Next.
Upon submitting my request, I received access in less than a day. Once users are granted access, they can explore the AI’s four main features: Writing Assistant, Message Summary, Search, and Shopper Saver.
The Writing Assistant feature offers to compose new emails based on a user’s description or suggest replies that match their writing tone and style. To use this feature, users can open the New Message window to create a new email, or open an incoming email and click the Reply button. By clicking in the area below the prompt that says “Write something below to create a draft,” users can describe the purpose of the email and click Create. For example, if a user wants to request a raise, they can write “I want to ask my manager for a raise based on all the projects I’ve completed ahead of schedule this past year.” The AI then generates a potential draft, which users can edit, add references to, or make other changes before sending it. Users can also choose from suggested options at the bottom to polish, shorten, make it friendlier, or make it more formal. Further revisions can be made by selecting specific text, describing the desired changes, and clicking the Change button. Once satisfied with the final version, the email can be sent.
Another feature offered by the AI is Message Summary, which provides users with summaries of their emails, including dates, times, action items, and other relevant information. Depending on the email, this feature may suggest follow-up tasks or calendar events.
The AI-powered search tool now accepts natural language queries, making it easier for users to find specific messages. Instead of using abstract keywords, users can simply ask a question or submit a request. By clicking in the Search field and typing something like “Show me all messages from Lance Whitney,” users can view all corresponding emails. To further narrow down the search, users can ask specific questions like “Where does Lance want to meet me on Sunday?” The search tool will then retrieve the specific message with the relevant information. Users can also refine their searches by selecting advanced factors such as sender, subject, date, and more.
Yahoo Mail has also introduced an option called Shopper Saver, where the AI bot scans users’ emails for unused gift cards, discount codes, store credits, and similar items. The aim is to help users find any savings bonuses that they may have forgotten to use before they expire. A recent survey by Bankrate revealed that nearly half of adults in the US have at least one unused gift card or store credit.
The new AI features in Yahoo Mail are supported by Google Cloud’s AI technology, showcasing the collaboration between the two companies in the field of Artificial Intelligence.
Overall, Yahoo Mail’s new AI bot aims to enhance the email experience for users, providing assistance in composing emails, summarizing messages, conducting searches, and finding potential savings. With the integration of AI technology, Yahoo Mail is positioning itself as a competitive player in the email management space.
