Skip to main contentSkip to user menuSkip to navigation

Gmail Smart Compose Architecture

Design Gmail Smart Compose system: real-time inference, context processing, personalization, and production deployment at Google scale

75 min readAdvanced
Not Started
Loading...

Gmail Smart Compose System Overview

Gmail Smart Compose serves over 1.5 billion users with real-time email completion suggestions. The system must provide contextually relevant, personalized suggestions within 100ms while maintaining privacy and supporting multiple languages.

Scale Requirements

  • 1.5B+ users globally
  • 100+ languages supported
  • <100ms latency target
  • 99.9% uptime requirement
  • Multi-region deployment

Technical Challenges

  • Real-time inference at scale
  • Context understanding across emails
  • Personalization without compromising privacy
  • Multi-modal input (text + metadata)
  • Quality consistency across languages

Business Impact

  • 20% faster email composition
  • Improved UX and engagement
  • Reduced typos and errors
  • Accessibility benefits
  • Competitive advantage in productivity

System Features Deep Dive

Real-time Inference Architecture

Achieving sub-100ms latency for 1.5B+ users requires sophisticated optimization across the entire stack, from model architecture to infrastructure deployment.

Latency Breakdown:

  • Network latency: 10-20ms (regional deployment)
  • Context processing: 5-10ms (optimized parsing)
  • Model inference: 30-50ms (batched execution)
  • Post-processing: 5-15ms (ranking, filtering)
  • Total target: <100ms end-to-end
class RealTimeInferenceEngine:
    def __init__(self, config):
        self.model = self.load_optimized_model()
        self.request_batcher = RequestBatcher(
            max_batch_size=32,
            max_latency_ms=50  # Strict latency requirement
        )
        self.context_cache = ContextCache(ttl_ms=5000)
        
    async def generate_suggestion(self, context: EmailContext) -> List[Suggestion]:
        """Generate suggestion with strict latency requirements"""
        
        start_time = time.time()
        
        # Fast path: check cache first
        cache_key = self.create_cache_key(context)
        cached_result = await self.context_cache.get(cache_key)
        if cached_result:
            return cached_result
        
        # Batch inference for efficiency
        result = await self.request_batcher.process(
            context,
            timeout_ms=80  # Leave 20ms buffer for processing
        )
        
        # Cache result for similar contexts
        await self.context_cache.set(cache_key, result)
        
        total_latency = (time.time() - start_time) * 1000
        if total_latency > 100:
            logger.warning(f"Latency SLA violated: {total_latency:.1f}ms")
        
        return result
        
    def load_optimized_model(self):
        """Load model with aggressive optimizations"""
        
        # Use distilled model for speed
        model = AutoModelForCausalLM.from_pretrained(
            "gmail-smart-compose-distilled-v3",
            torch_dtype=torch.float16,  # FP16 for speed
            trust_remote_code=True
        )
        
        # Apply optimizations
        model = torch.compile(model, mode="reduce-overhead")
        model.eval()
        
        # Warm up with typical inputs
        self.warmup_model(model)
        
        return model
        
    def warmup_model(self, model):
        """Warm up model to avoid cold start latency"""
        
        typical_contexts = [
            "Thank you for",
            "I hope this email finds you well",
            "Please let me know if",
            "Looking forward to",
            "Best regards"
        ]
        
        for context in typical_contexts:
            dummy_input = self.tokenizer.encode(context, return_tensors='pt')
            with torch.inference_mode():
                _ = model.generate(dummy_input, max_new_tokens=5, do_sample=False)

class RequestBatcher:
    """Intelligent request batching with latency constraints"""
    
    def __init__(self, max_batch_size: int = 32, max_latency_ms: int = 50):
        self.max_batch_size = max_batch_size
        self.max_latency_ms = max_latency_ms
        self.pending_requests = []
        self.processing = False
        
        # Start batching loop
        asyncio.create_task(self.batching_loop())
    
    async def process(self, context: EmailContext, timeout_ms: int = 80) -> List[Suggestion]:
        """Add request to batch and wait for result"""
        
        future = asyncio.Future()
        request = BatchRequest(
            context=context,
            future=future,
            timestamp=time.time()
        )
        
        self.pending_requests.append(request)
        
        try:
            return await asyncio.wait_for(future, timeout=timeout_ms/1000)
        except asyncio.TimeoutError:
            # Remove from pending requests
            if request in self.pending_requests:
                self.pending_requests.remove(request)
            raise TimeoutError(f"Request timed out after {timeout_ms}ms")
    
    async def batching_loop(self):
        """Main batching loop with strict latency requirements"""
        
        while True:
            if not self.pending_requests or self.processing:
                await asyncio.sleep(0.001)  # 1ms check interval
                continue
            
            # Check if we should process batch now
            oldest_age_ms = (time.time() - self.pending_requests[0].timestamp) * 1000
            should_process = (
                len(self.pending_requests) >= self.max_batch_size or
                oldest_age_ms >= self.max_latency_ms
            )
            
            if should_process:
                await self.process_batch()
    
    async def process_batch(self):
        """Process current batch with optimized inference"""
        
        self.processing = True
        batch = self.pending_requests[:self.max_batch_size]
        self.pending_requests = self.pending_requests[self.max_batch_size:]
        
        try:
            # Prepare batch inputs
            batch_contexts = [req.context for req in batch]
            batch_inputs = self.prepare_batch_inputs(batch_contexts)
            
            # Run inference
            with torch.inference_mode():
                batch_outputs = self.model.generate(
                    **batch_inputs,
                    max_new_tokens=10,
                    num_return_sequences=3,
                    do_sample=True,
                    temperature=0.7,
                    pad_token_id=self.model.config.eos_token_id
                )
            
            # Parse outputs and return results
            for i, request in enumerate(batch):
                output_tokens = batch_outputs[i*3:(i+1)*3]  # 3 suggestions per request
                suggestions = self.decode_suggestions(output_tokens, request.context)
                request.future.set_result(suggestions)
                
        except Exception as e:
            # Return error to all requests in batch
            for request in batch:
                request.future.set_exception(e)
        finally:
            self.processing = False

Production Architecture

Input Processing

Context extraction, email parsing

Model Inference

Real-time transformer inference

Personalization

User adaptation, style matching

Response Delivery

Suggestion ranking, UI integration

Gmail Smart Compose Production Architecture
class SmartComposeService:
    def __init__(self, config):
        # Core models
        self.completion_model = self.load_completion_model()
        self.context_encoder = ContextEncoder()
        self.personalization_engine = PersonalizationEngine()
        self.quality_filter = QualityFilter()
        
        # Infrastructure
        self.cache_manager = DistributedCache()
        self.feature_store = FeatureStore()
        self.metrics_collector = MetricsCollector()
        
        # Performance optimization
        self.batch_processor = BatchProcessor(max_latency_ms=50)
        self.model_cache = ModelCache()
        
    async def generate_suggestions(self, 
                                 email_context: EmailContext,
                                 user_context: UserContext,
                                 cursor_position: int) -> List[Suggestion]:
        """Generate real-time email completion suggestions"""
        
        request_start = time.time()
        
        try:
            # Step 1: Context processing (5-10ms)
            processed_context = await self.process_context(
                email_context, user_context, cursor_position
            )
            
            # Step 2: Feature extraction (5-10ms)
            features = await self.extract_features(processed_context)
            
            # Step 3: Model inference (30-50ms)
            raw_suggestions = await self.generate_completions(
                processed_context, features
            )
            
            # Step 4: Personalization (5-10ms)
            personalized_suggestions = await self.personalization_engine.adapt(
                raw_suggestions, user_context
            )
            
            # Step 5: Quality filtering (5-10ms)
            filtered_suggestions = await self.quality_filter.filter(
                personalized_suggestions, processed_context
            )
            
            # Step 6: Ranking and selection (5ms)
            final_suggestions = self.rank_suggestions(
                filtered_suggestions, features
            )
            
            # Record metrics
            total_latency = time.time() - request_start
            await self.record_request_metrics(total_latency, len(final_suggestions))
            
            return final_suggestions[:3]  # Return top 3 suggestions
            
        except Exception as e:
            # Graceful degradation
            await self.record_error(e)
            return []  # Return empty suggestions on error
    
    async def process_context(self, 
                            email_context: EmailContext,
                            user_context: UserContext,
                            cursor_position: int) -> ProcessedContext:
        """Process email and user context for completion"""
        
        # Extract email thread context
        thread_context = await self.extract_thread_context(email_context)
        
        # Parse current email state
        current_email = self.parse_current_email(
            email_context.current_draft,
            cursor_position
        )
        
        # Extract relevant user patterns
        user_patterns = await self.feature_store.get_user_features(
            user_context.user_id,
            features=['writing_style', 'common_phrases', 'language_preference']
        )
        
        return ProcessedContext(
            thread_context=thread_context,
            current_email=current_email,
            user_patterns=user_patterns,
            recipient_context=email_context.recipients,
            timestamp=email_context.timestamp
        )
    
    async def generate_completions(self, 
                                 context: ProcessedContext,
                                 features: Dict) -> List[RawSuggestion]:
        """Generate completion suggestions using transformer model"""
        
        # Prepare model input
        model_input = self.prepare_model_input(context, features)
        
        # Check cache first
        cache_key = self.create_cache_key(model_input)
        cached_result = await self.cache_manager.get(cache_key)
        
        if cached_result:
            return cached_result
        
        # Generate suggestions with batching for efficiency
        suggestions = await self.batch_processor.process_request(
            model_input,
            generation_params={
                'max_tokens': 20,
                'temperature': 0.3,
                'top_p': 0.9,
                'num_return_sequences': 5
            }
        )
        
        # Cache results
        await self.cache_manager.set(
            cache_key, 
            suggestions, 
            ttl_seconds=300  # 5 minute cache
        )
        
        return suggestions
    
    def prepare_model_input(self, 
                          context: ProcessedContext, 
                          features: Dict) -> ModelInput:
        """Prepare input for completion model"""
        
        # Create context template
        context_template = self.build_context_template(context)
        
        # Add special tokens
        input_text = f"""
        <thread_context>{context.thread_context}</thread_context>
        <current_email>{context.current_email.text_before_cursor}</current_email>
        <recipients>{', '.join(context.recipient_context)}</recipients>
        <user_style>{context.user_patterns.get('writing_style', 'formal')}</user_style>
        <continue>
        """
        
        # Tokenize and prepare for model
        tokens = self.completion_model.tokenizer.encode(
            input_text,
            max_length=512,  # Keep context manageable
            truncation=True,
            return_tensors='pt'
        )
        
        return ModelInput(
            input_ids=tokens,
            attention_mask=torch.ones_like(tokens),
            context_features=features
        )

class BatchProcessor:
    """Efficient batch processing for real-time inference"""
    
    def __init__(self, max_latency_ms: int = 50, max_batch_size: int = 32):
        self.max_latency_ms = max_latency_ms
        self.max_batch_size = max_batch_size
        self.pending_requests = []
        self.processing = False
        
        # Start processing loop
        asyncio.create_task(self.processing_loop())
    
    async def process_request(self, model_input: ModelInput, 
                            generation_params: Dict) -> List[RawSuggestion]:
        """Add request to batch processing queue"""
        
        result_future = asyncio.Future()
        
        self.pending_requests.append(BatchRequest(
            model_input=model_input,
            generation_params=generation_params,
            result_future=result_future,
            timestamp=time.time()
        ))
        
        return await result_future
    
    async def processing_loop(self):
        """Main batch processing loop"""
        
        while True:
            if not self.pending_requests:
                await asyncio.sleep(0.001)
                continue
            
            # Check if we should process now
            oldest_request_age = time.time() - self.pending_requests[0].timestamp
            should_process = (
                len(self.pending_requests) >= self.max_batch_size or
                oldest_request_age * 1000 > self.max_latency_ms
            )
            
            if should_process and not self.processing:
                await self.process_batch()
    
    async def process_batch(self):
        """Process current batch of requests"""
        
        if not self.pending_requests:
            return
        
        self.processing = True
        
        try:
            # Extract batch
            batch = self.pending_requests[:self.max_batch_size]
            self.pending_requests = self.pending_requests[self.max_batch_size:]
            
            # Process batch
            batch_results = await self.run_inference_batch(batch)
            
            # Return results
            for request, result in zip(batch, batch_results):
                request.result_future.set_result(result)
                
        except Exception as e:
            # Return errors to all requests
            for request in batch:
                request.result_future.set_exception(e)
        finally:
            self.processing = False

Performance Optimization Strategies

Latency Optimization

  • Model Optimization:

    Quantization, pruning, knowledge distillation

  • Caching Strategy:

    Multi-level caching: context, features, completions

  • Batch Processing:

    Dynamic batching with latency constraints

  • Edge Deployment:

    Regional model deployment for reduced latency

Quality Assurance

Quality Metrics System
class QualityMetricsSystem:
    def __init__(self):
        self.metrics = {
            'acceptance_rate': RollingAverage(window=1000),
            'suggestion_relevance': RollingAverage(window=1000),
            'user_satisfaction': RollingAverage(window=100),
            'completion_accuracy': RollingAverage(window=1000)
        }
        
    async def track_suggestion_usage(self, 
                                   suggestion_id: str,
                                   user_action: str,
                                   context: Dict):
        """Track how users interact with suggestions"""
        
        if user_action == 'accepted':
            self.metrics['acceptance_rate'].add(1.0)
            
            # Track completion accuracy
            await self.measure_completion_accuracy(
                suggestion_id, context
            )
            
        elif user_action == 'rejected':
            self.metrics['acceptance_rate'].add(0.0)
            
        elif user_action == 'modified':
            # Partial acceptance
            self.metrics['acceptance_rate'].add(0.5)
            
            # Analyze modification patterns
            await self.analyze_modification_patterns(
                suggestion_id, context
            )
    
    async def measure_completion_accuracy(self, 
                                        suggestion_id: str,
                                        context: Dict):
        """Measure how accurately suggestions match user intent"""
        
        # Get the actual completion user typed
        actual_completion = context.get('actual_text', '')
        predicted_completion = context.get('suggestion_text', '')
        
        # Calculate various accuracy metrics
        edit_distance = self.calculate_edit_distance(
            predicted_completion, actual_completion
        )
        
        semantic_similarity = await self.calculate_semantic_similarity(
            predicted_completion, actual_completion
        )
        
        # Record metrics
        accuracy_score = 1.0 - (edit_distance / max(len(actual_completion), 1))
        self.metrics['completion_accuracy'].add(accuracy_score)
        
        # Store detailed metrics
        await self.store_detailed_metrics({
            'suggestion_id': suggestion_id,
            'edit_distance': edit_distance,
            'semantic_similarity': semantic_similarity,
            'accuracy_score': accuracy_score,
            'context_length': len(context.get('email_context', '')),
            'suggestion_length': len(predicted_completion)
        })

Privacy & Security Architecture

Data Protection

  • • Email content never stored
  • • Ephemeral context processing
  • • Encrypted data transmission
  • • Regular security audits

On-Device Processing

  • • Lightweight models for mobile
  • • Federated learning updates
  • • Local personalization
  • • Offline capability

Compliance

  • • GDPR compliance
  • • CCPA requirements
  • • Industry regulations
  • • User consent management
No quiz questions available
Quiz ID "gmail-smart-compose-architecture" not found