3 min read
Google is preparing to make its Messages app smarter with a new Insights feature powered by Gemini AI, designed to provide quick, relevant summaries of links shared in conversations. The feature, spotted in the latest Google Messages beta release, gives users concise takeaways, safety prompts, and an option to explore topics further, all directly within the chat window.
How Insights Will Work
When users tap the Insights button, Google’s Gemini will analyze the shared link’s title, description, and content, then produce a short three-point summary. Each bullet point will be under 150 characters, highlighting the key elements of the linked material whether it’s a news article, recipe, or product page.
The AI will also note whether its summary is based solely on the provided link or if it incorporated a quick web search for additional context. After presenting the summary, Gemini will include a concluding line that may serve as a safety disclaimer, a source verification reminder, or a question prompting the user to learn more.
Explore Link Topics with Gemini
A new settings toggle labeled Explore link topics with Gemini will control the visibility of the Insights button. Once enabled, users will be able to access Gemini summaries directly from their message threads. The integration aims to make reading shared links more efficient while maintaining transparency about how AI-generated content is sourced.
UI Updates and Dual SIM Improvements
Alongside the Insights rollout, Google Messages is also working on user interface refinements. For dual SIM users, the app will soon display the active SIM name directly in the Compose box, helping prevent accidental messages sent from the wrong number. Single SIM users, however, will not see any carrier name.
Google is additionally testing layout tweaks on the Chat Details page, moving individual setting stubs from a grouped card into separate lineated cards for a cleaner look.
Insights has not yet gone live, and is inactive for many users despite them receiving some strings in a recent Messages beta build. Like other Messages trials, availability is pretty hit-or-miss and subject to server-side gating and/or arbitrary country/region tiering.
If you want to be prepared for it when it lands:
- Sign up for the Google Messages beta through Play Store
Make sure you’re one of the lucky people who has access to RCS messaging
Turn on the “Show only web link previews” in settings
