Short answer: Gmail's AI Inbox is a view you open. It lists suggested to-dos and summaries of topics you need to catch up on. Jace is an assistant that works in the background: it labels new mail, writes draft replies in your voice and drafts a follow-up when nobody has answered. They overlap on "what needs my attention" and differ on what happens next. AI Inbox tells you what is waiting. Jace also does part of the work and leaves it in your Drafts folder. You can use both.
This page was written on 10 November 2026 from Google's own announcement, linked at the end. We make Jace, so we cover it last and say what it lacks. We have not run timed tests of AI Inbox.
What Gmail's AI Inbox does
Google announced on 15 October 2026 that AI Inbox is rolling out to paid Workspace users. Google says it has two core parts:
- Suggested to-dos: it extracts action items, deliverables and deadlines from email conversations.
- Topics to catch up on: it summarizes your most important topics across long threads and fast back-and-forth discussions.
You open it from the menu in the Gmail desktop client or the mobile app. Google lists no admin control for it.
Who gets it today
From the same announcement:
- Plans: Business Starter, Standard and Plus, Enterprise Starter, Standard and Plus, AI Pro for Education and Frontline Plus. Google also says it will roll out later to Starter and Education editions "in the coming months", so check your own account.
- Region and language: only users in the US with English (US) as their language for now.
- Timing: a gradual rollout of up to 15 days. It started on 12 October 2026 for Rapid Release domains and starts on 26 October 2026 for Scheduled Release domains.
If your Workspace is outside the US, uses another language, or is on a plan Google has not reached yet, you may not see it.
What it doesn't do, going by Google's description
Google's announcement describes to-dos and summaries. It does not say AI Inbox labels new mail, writes draft replies for you or follows up when a thread goes quiet. Google's separate Gemini in Gmail features can summarize threads and help you draft when you ask.
Gmail AI Inbox vs Jace
| Gmail AI Inbox | Jace | |
|---|---|---|
| How you use it | You open the AI Inbox view | Works in the background in your inbox |
| What it gives you | Suggested to-dos, topic summaries | Labels, draft replies, follow-up drafts |
| Drafts replies in your voice | Not part of Google's announcement | Yes, saved in your Drafts folder |
| Follow-ups | Not part of Google's announcement | Drafts a follow-up after 3 days without a reply |
| Works with | Gmail (Workspace) | Gmail, Google Workspace and Outlook |
| Availability | Paid Workspace plans, US English, rolling out | Any Gmail or Outlook account |
| Price | Part of eligible Workspace plans | $20 a month billed yearly, $25 monthly, 7-day free trial |
Where Jace fits
Jace is an AI email assistant for Gmail and Outlook. It sorts new mail with labels, writes draft replies in your voice and leaves them in your Drafts folder for review. It drafts a follow-up when a thread has had no reply for 3 days. Setup guides: Jace for Gmail and Jace for Outlook. It suits people who answer their own client email, such as lawyers and consultants.
Jace also has Flows, plain-English automations such as "when an invoice arrives, file the PDF and draft a reply", and connects to Slack, Google Drive and OneDrive. Details are on the integrations page.
What Jace lacks: no meeting notetaker, no native mobile app, and it drafts by default, so you still send each reply unless you turn on auto-send for a label. It is not a replacement for a summary view of everything in your day.
If you work in both Gmail and Outlook, Google's AI Inbox covers only Gmail. Our Gmail and Outlook comparison covers that case, and the best AI email assistants for Gmail lists the other options.
Which should you use?
Use AI Inbox if you are on an eligible US Workspace plan and want a quick view of to-dos and what you missed.
Add Jace if you want replies drafted and follow-ups prepared before you open the inbox, or if you also use Outlook.
Use both if you want the summary view and the drafts. They work on different parts of the job.
Connect Gmail and compare Jace's drafts with AI Inbox's to-dos on the same inbox for 7 days. Start your free Jace trial, or compare plans first.
FAQ
What is Gmail's AI Inbox? A Gmail view that shows suggested to-dos and topic summaries from your email. Google announced it for paid Workspace users on 15 October 2026.
Who can use Gmail's AI Inbox? Users on eligible paid Google Workspace plans in the US with English (US) as their language. Google says it is a gradual rollout of up to 15 days, with Starter and Education editions later.
Does AI Inbox write replies for me? Google's announcement lists suggested to-dos and topic summaries. It does not describe AI Inbox drafting replies. Gemini in Gmail can help you draft when you ask.
Is Jace the same as AI Inbox? No. AI Inbox is a view inside Gmail. Jace is an assistant that labels mail, drafts replies in your voice and drafts follow-ups in the background, in Gmail or Outlook.
Can I use Jace and AI Inbox together? Yes. Jace works in your Gmail account and AI Inbox is a Gmail view, so one does not block the other.
How much does Jace cost? $20 a month billed yearly or $25 billed monthly, with a 7-day free trial. See pricing.
Sources
- Google Workspace Updates, 15 October 2026: Gmail's AI Inbox is rolling out to paid Workspace users
- Google Help: Collaborate with Gemini in Gmail
- Jace: pricing, Flows, integrations
