Elon Musk’s Xmail: The Gmail killer or a phishing playground?

Elon Musk has hit send on a new idea. Well sort of, let’s just say the message is pending delivery.

This time he’s eyeing the email industry, hinting at a new service dubbed Xmail.

While many were quick to question whether it could genuinely challenge Google’s juggernaut platform, you’ve got to give some credit to the man who disrupted space travel with SpaceX and redefined electric vehicles with Tesla.

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It all started with a casual comment on Musk’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter). One user posted “Xmail would be cool,” and Musk responded: “Yeah. On the list of things to do.”

The brief interaction sparked some speculation. Could Musk’s Xmail redefine email, much like Gmail did in the early 2000s?

Tech commentator Val Quinn says Musk’s new service could bring exciting innovations.

“If Xmail integrates AI-powered features like smarter inbox management and advanced spam filters, it could shake up the market,” he adds.

But the potential to connect email with Musk’s X ecosystem including social media, adding payments, and messaging would set it apart from anything we’ve seen before.

Massive challenge ahead

Taking on Gmail is no easy feat.

While AOL dominated the early days of email in the US and BigPond did so in Australia, Google has smoked the competition with a platform boasting over 2.5 billion users, making it the undisputed champion of inboxes.

On the flip side, Musk’s X has an estimated 600 million members, a fraction of Gmail’s reach.

The Red Flag: Security risks

And not everyone is completely on board.

Cybersecurity experts are already raising concerns about the potential for scams and phishing attacks.

Scott Taylor, a security analyst, warns that cybercriminals could exploit the excitement around Xmail to target users.

“The hype itself is risky. Scammers could send out fake emails or sign-up links claiming to offer early access to Xmail. It’s a golden opportunity for bad actors,” he said.

For now, Xmail remains a pending email waiting for delivery, just another idea on Elon Musk’s growing to-do list.

But as history has shown, Musk’s ideas, no matter how casual at first, often turn into reality.

The big question: Will Xmail revolutionise the inbox experience or fail to even get off the ground?