Email suddenly feel different? You’re not imagining it — Gmail has quietly changed.

In this episode, Ginny Deerin breaks down what’s new inside Gmail, what features are free, what you only get if you pay for Gemini Pro, and — most importantly — where to look so Gmail actually works for you again.

Before diving into Gmail, Ginny also covers two timely AI news stories that explain why these changes are happening now — and why AI is starting to show up everywhere.

🔍 AI in the News

Ads Are Coming to ChatGPT

OpenAI has announced it’s testing ads inside ChatGPT for free and budget-tier users. Paid subscribers are supposed to remain ad-free — but Ginny shares why she’s skeptical and what this shift says about the rising cost of AI.

AI Is Becoming the Invisible Layer of Shopping

Retailers are rapidly adopting AI — from smart carts and checkout systems to product recommendations and loss prevention. Reporting from The New York Times shows how companies like Google and Instacart are shaping what we see, buy, and sometimes even pay — often without us realizing it.

📧 Main Topic: What’s Actually New in Gmail

Ginny walks through Gmail’s AI features step by step, with real examples and no jargon:

What You Get for Free

• Email thread summaries (a lifesaver for long family or group emails)
• “Help Me Write” — AI-assisted drafting that helps you get started, not just fix typos

What Changes If You Pay for Gemini Pro

• Access to the Gemini sidebar inside Gmail
• The ability to ask full questions instead of searching by keywords
• Faster answers pulled directly from your inbox

The One Thing to Remember

The search bar is for keywords

• Gemini (if you have it) is for questions

Ginny also talks candidly about permissions and privacy — what you have to allow, what you can turn off, and how she personally thinks about the tradeoffs.

🎧 Bonus Content: ChatGPT vs. Gemini (Toddler Edition)

Ginny put two AI tools head-to-head by asking them to write short audio stories for her toddler grandson:

• ChatGPT: The Lego Tower
• Gemini: The Great Skate-Off on Saturn’s Rings

Both stories are available as bonus audio on the aiGED podcast feed. Even if you don’t have a toddler, take a listen and decide who won.

📝 Homework

If you use Gmail:

• Notice what AI features you already have
• Try summaries and “Help Me Write”
• Look for (or don’t look for!) the Gemini sidebar
• Decide whether a paid subscription is worth it for you

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating or review — and share it with a friend, especially someone in the 65+ crowd who’s wondering why their email suddenly feels different.

Remember: it’s never too late to learn something new — especially when it makes life easier.

aiGED: AI for the 65+ crowd