That’s exactly what Google has done as the company has announced a new and improved UI for Gmail. According to Google, “When enabled, the new navigation menu allows you to easily switch between your inbox, important conversations, and join meetings without having to switch between tabs or open a new window.”
The company also notes, “Notification bubbles make it easy to stay on top of what immediately needs your attention. When working in Chat and Spaces, you can view a full list of conversations and Spaces within a single screen, making it easier to navigate to and engage.”
Google says that users can start to opt-in to test the new experience starting next week, and by April those who did not opt-in will start to see the new UI, but can always revert back to the previous design if they wish. However, by the end of Q2 2022, Google says that this will be the new design by default for everyone.