Elon Musk, the billionaire, recently unveiled his own version of ChatGPT and has now announced the upcoming release of ‘Xmail’, leading to discussions about its ability to rival Google’s Gmail service.
Elon Musk has announced the upcoming release of ‘Xmail’. This photo is from Reuters.
During a discussion on his social media platform X, Musk announced that a product called ‘XMail’ is on the way.
The announcement is in response to recent rumors about Google possibly shutting down Gmail due to a fake image circulating on social media.
Elon Musk has not shared any more information about the service, so it’s unclear when it will be available. Yet, it is expected to be incorporated into the X app.
Confirmation was received after Nathan McGrady, a senior member of X’s Security Engineering team, inquired about Xmail’s launch date. Elon Musk confirmed that the service is in development, setting the stage for a potential major shakeup in the email service industry.
“When will we be creating XMail?” he asked.
Musk responded with a simple, “It’s on its way.”
Meanwhile, a user quickly commented, “I lost trust in Gmail.” It’s time to switch to Xmail as soon as possible! “I will start using my Gmail like I currently use my Hotmail for junk,” another person mentioned.
It’s coming
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 23, 2024
Gmail vs Xmail
Gmail is the most widely used email service globally, boasting over 1.8 billion active users as of 2024, according to Demand Sage.
Commenting on the news, social media strategist Rhea Freeman mentioned that X’s version of Gmail “might happen”, and if it does, “it’ll be interesting to see the uptake”.
“Elon has made significant changes to Twitter and it appears that public opinion is not in favor, so it will be interesting to see if people will trust X with their email management,” Freeman told MailOnline.
Elon Musk has previously mentioned his long-term vision for X is to transform it into a “everything app”.
It is possible that XMail is being developed at xAI, a company founded by Musk a year ago that focuses on artificial intelligence.
Google responds to Gmail shutdown rumors
A post that went viral on X, suggesting that Gmail would be shut down, has caused concern among internet users. A screenshot of a Google email with the subject line ‘Google is sunsetting Gmail’ quickly spread across the internet.
After many years of connecting people all over the world, facilitating smooth communication, and creating numerous relationships, the Gmail journey is coming to an end. On August 1, 2024, Gmail will be officially sunsetted, marking the end of its service,” the message states.
As of this date, Gmail will no longer support sending, receiving, or storing emails. We have decided to discontinue Gmail after carefully evaluating the changing digital environment and our dedication to offering top-notch, cutting-edge solutions that cater to our users’ needs,” the statement said.
The tweet generated a lot of discussion among Gmail users, attracting over 4 million views of the screenshot.
Google announced on X on Friday that Gmail is not going away and will continue to be available. Google recently updated the default Gmail interface from ‘basic HTML’ to a new, more colorful design. The modification took place in January 2024.
