Google Chrome adds Gemini autofill for Gmail order and flight details

Expanding the reach of autofill

Google is introducing a new layer of functionality to the standard autofill system within the Chrome browser. While the traditional system handles static information like saved addresses, passwords, and payment cards, this update reaches into your personal communications. As gHacks reported, the tool is designed to suggest specific details like order numbers and flight bookings.

The technology behind this update is Gemini with Personal Intelligence. This system allows the browser to identify relevant information within your Gmail inbox to populate web forms automatically. For example, when you are checking in for a flight, the browser can find the booking code in your confirmation email and fill it in for you.

This rollout represents a shift toward more proactive assistance in web navigation. Instead of requiring users to manually search through their emails to find a specific string of characters, the browser attempts to anticipate the data needed for the current task. This integration aims to streamline the process of completing transactions and travel check-ins.

How the feature works in practice

The new functionality is currently available on desktop, Android, and iPhone for eligible users. On Android devices, suggestions that are pulled from Gmail are clearly marked with a Gemini icon above the keyboard. This visual cue helps users distinguish between standard autofill data and information pulled from their emails.

Google has implemented specific controls to help users manage these suggestions. If a user sees a suggestion they do not want to use, they can long-press it on an Android device to open a menu. This menu provides two distinct options: viewing the source or removing the suggestion.

Selecting the view sources option will open the original email in a new tab so the user can verify the information is correct. If a user chooses to remove a suggestion, it is dismissed from the autofill list without deleting the underlying email from their Gmail inbox. A suggestion only disappears permanently if the user deletes the original email from their account.

Privacy and data limitations

Google states that all sensitive data used for these suggestions is encrypted. The company emphasizes that users maintain control over what information is shared with the autofill system. This is part of a broader effort to integrate Personal Intelligence into everyday tasks while adhering to updated privacy policies for Gmail data.

It is important to note that this public release is narrower than a previous test version. While the earlier test, known as "Find and Fill with Gemini," was able to draw on data from Google Photos and other connected apps, the current release uses Gmail as its only data source. This means the tool is currently limited to information that has arrived via email, such as shipping confirmations.

Users who prefer not to have Chrome scan their email content for form suggestions have the option to opt out. The enhanced autofill experience can be switched off entirely within the Chrome settings. This allows individuals to decide whether they want the convenience of automated data pulling or prefer to keep their email content private from the autofill system.

Availability and future scope

The rollout is currently restricted to adult users in the United States who have specifically turned on Personal Intelligence. This means that users in other countries or those using different account types may not see these features yet. Google has not provided a specific timeline for when the tool will expand to other regions or languages.

Because the current version is limited to Gmail, the variety of suggestions is tied to the types of emails a user receives. This includes airline booking messages, retail shipping updates, and other confirmation receipts. The tool is specifically designed to handle these types of high-frequency, data-heavy interactions that often require copying and pasting from an inbox.

While the test version included broader app integration, the public launch focuses on the most common use case of email-based confirmations. Whether the Google Photos support from the test phase will return to the public version remains unannounced. For now, the focus remains on creating a more seamless connection between Gmail data and web form completion for U.S. residents.