Practice summarizing a Gmail thread and drafting a reply with Gemini
Maitz

The people, project, messages and amounts in this file are fictional. The answer key and sample reply were written for this exercise; they are not outputs from a live Gemini test. No accuracy score or time-saving result is claimed.

How to use this file
1. Read the three messages and identify the current dates and decisions yourself.
2. If Ask Gemini is available in an account you are authorized to use, start a fresh conversation and paste the summary prompt followed by the three messages. You do not need to import email, send messages or enter personal information. You can also complete the exercise manually.
3. Compare the response with the answer key. Supplying text checks how the tool handles that text; it does not test Gmail's retrieval of a real thread.
4. After correcting the facts, use the reply prompt. Compare the draft with the sample reply and check for added commitments. Request text only; do not send anything or approve an unexpected action card.
5. Every time in the exercise is UTC. Preserve the time zone rather than silently treating it as local time.

Availability and language
This exercise is for adults aged 18+. Availability depends on the account, plan, country and rollout. Supported languages differ between the Gemini side panel and other Gmail AI features, so check your language for each feature. You do not need to buy a subscription, change settings or join an experimental program to read and check the exercise.


The three fictional messages

Subject: Cedar brochure review

E1 — October 12, 2026, 09:00 UTC — Maya to Noam and Lior
Please prepare a three-page brochure PDF. Noam will own the file. Send it by October 13 at 16:00 UTC for our review on October 16 at 14:00 UTC. USD 600 is an initial estimate only; spending is not approved.

E2 — October 12, 2026, 11:00 UTC — Noam to Maya and Lior
Lior has agreed to take over the PDF from me. Could we move the review to October 19 at 14:00 UTC? Could we also add a landing-page banner? That extra item needs a separate decision.

E3 — October 12, 2026, 15:00 UTC — Maya to Noam and Lior
Confirmed: the review moves to October 19 at 14:00 UTC, replacing October 16. Lior's PDF deadline is now October 15 at 12:00 UTC, replacing October 13. Scope remains the three-page PDF only. The banner is undecided. USD 600 remains an estimate, with no spending approval. Please acknowledge the updated plan.


Summary prompt

Use only the Cedar brochure review thread. For this practice exercise, use only the three messages pasted below.
List the current deliverable, owner, file deadline and review time. Show superseded dates separately. Separate confirmed decisions, estimates and unresolved requests. For every item, name the supporting message and sender; flag contradictions or missing evidence.
Do not infer approval, promise a delivery, create a task or event, or send anything. Return a short factual summary first, not a reply.


Answer key

- Deliverable: three-page brochure PDF only. E1 establishes it; E3 preserves that scope.
- Owner: Lior, replacing Noam. E2 records the handover; E3 confirms Lior's deadline.
- File deadline: October 15, 2026, 12:00 UTC. E3 replaces October 13, 16:00 UTC.
- Review: October 19, 2026, 14:00 UTC. E3 replaces October 16, 14:00 UTC.
- Money: USD 600 is an estimate. There is no spending approval.
- Banner: requested in E2, still undecided in E3. It is not an agreed deliverable.


Reply prompt

Draft a concise reply from Noam to Maya, with Lior copied, acknowledging the checked plan. Mention the current PDF deadline and review time, including UTC. Keep the banner undecided and USD 600 an unapproved estimate. Do not add promises, attachments, costs, meetings or new work. Return only editable draft text. Do not send it.


Sample reply written for the exercise

Hi Maya,

Thanks for the update. I understand that Lior owns the three-page PDF, due October 15 at 12:00 UTC, and the review is October 19 at 14:00 UTC. The banner remains undecided, and USD 600 is still an estimate without spending approval.

Noam
