Outside the world of open-source computing, it’s getting pretty hard to escape artificial intelligence being jammed down our throats for even the most banal tasks.
When something is free to users, that's because the users are being sold to someone else, or performing some kind of uncompensated work by using the system.
In Gmail, click on the gear icon at the top of the page.
Scroll down to 'Smart Features', uncheck the box if checked; then click on the 'Manage Smart workspace feature settings' button just below. Turn everything off in there, then click 'Save'.
Then click the 'Save' button at the bottom of the page.
Any suggestions for alternative email systems?
When something is free to users, that's because the users are being sold to someone else, or performing some kind of uncompensated work by using the system.
That is a big reason I pay for my gmail.
Is there a way to opt out?
You can turn some of that shit off.
In Gmail, click on the gear icon at the top of the page.
Scroll down to 'Smart Features', uncheck the box if checked; then click on the 'Manage Smart workspace feature settings' button just below. Turn everything off in there, then click 'Save'.
Then click the 'Save' button at the bottom of the page.
Looks a little different on an Android (Samsung S25 Ultra) phone
Open Gmail
Tap on hamburger bar, scroll down and choose Settings
Tap on your email address, scroll down to Smart features
Uncheck Smart Reply, Smart Compass, and Package tracking
Uncheck Smart features
You may have to do this again if the next System update adds more features
HTH
I should have specified those settings were on Linux Mint, running Firefox.