Yahoo Mail has announced the introduction of innovative AI tools, including the all-new Shopping Saver feature, aiming to redefine the inbox experience and assist users in saving both time and money. This tool, exclusive to Yahoo, identifies forgotten gift cards, discount codes, and store credits in users' inboxes. It also drafts messages to vendors, suggesting the application of these savings even after a purchase has been completed.
As highlighted in the official announcement, “Nearly half of U.S. adults have at least one unused gift card, gift voucher or store credit.” Josh Jacobson, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Yahoo Mail, emphasized the potential savings, noting that “US consumers have $23 billion in unused gift cards and credits.”
Enhanced Search and Writing Capabilities
Yahoo Mail's AI-powered search function has been revamped to be more intuitive. Instead of solely relying on keywords, users can now pose questions or select from a list of suggested queries relevant to their search terms. For instance, users can ask, “how much did I spend on groceries last week?” and the system will retrieve the relevant emails. Additionally, the Writing Assistant feature has been enhanced to draft replies in the user's voice, determining the most suitable tone for the conversation based on context clues from existing email chains. The range of available tones has been expanded, allowing users to select tones such as urgent, grateful, or apologetic.
Message Summaries and AI Beta Expansion
Another innovative feature is the Message Summary, which provides high-level summaries of emails, highlighting essential details like dates, times, and action items. This tool also suggests tasks, calendar events, and follow-up topics based on the content of the emails. The AI beta, which was initially available to iOS users, has now been expanded to web browsers. This expansion, powered by Google Cloud AI technology, is in preparation for a broader public release. Adaire Fox-Martin, President of Google Cloud Go-to-Market, expressed excitement about Yahoo's use of Google Cloud's AI platform to enhance Yahoo Mail.
About Yahoo Mail's Evolution
Yahoo Mail's recent advancements are part of a broader trend of integrating AI into email services. Other tech giants, such as Google Gmail and Microsoft Outlook, have also incorporated AI-powered features into their email platforms. Yahoo's initiative to bring innovation to the inbox is a testament to the company's commitment to improving user experience and staying competitive in the evolving tech landscape.
