What you need to know
- Google officially unveiled Gemini in Google Messages this week, announcing the feature amid a flurry of other MWC Barcelona news.
- Gemini in Google Messages is rolling out to beta testers starting this week.
- You can use Gemini in Google Messages just like the standalone Gemini app, except without generating images.
Google tries to integrate Gemini, its artificial intelligence chatbot, into almost everything it can. This week, Google officially announced that it’s bringing Gemini directly to the Google Messages app. You can already use Gemini instead of Google Assistant on Android, and now, the AI chatbot is coming for your messages too.
Chatting with Gemini on Google Messages will one day be just like texting with friends. Gemini exists in a separate chat and appears similar to standard RCS chat. However, Google isn’t trying to replace your Gemini friends in Google Messages. It’s simply an easier way to access Gemini if you don’t feel like using the standalone app or voice assistant.
Gemini in Google Messages is rolling out to Messages beta testers this week. It’s a rolling release and you need to meet a few conditions to try Gemini in Google Messages. The feature is also free to use and not locked behind the Google One AI Premium subscription plan.
These are the requirements that must be met in order to test the beta version of Gemini in Google Messages:
- Pixel 6 or later, Pixel Fold, Samsung Galaxy S22 or later, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip or Z Fold phone
- Your phone’s language must be set to English in a country where Gemini is supported or to French in Canada
- The latest beta version of Google Messages
- Personal Google Account
- RCS chats enabled
- You must be over 18 years old
Once all these conditions are met, you can try Gemini in Google Messages. You can select a Gemini chat from the message list or start a new chat by pressing Start a conversation and then Gemini. Once you start chatting, chatting with Gemini is like using chatbots on other platforms.
Namely, messages sent via Gemini in Google Messages are not end-to-end encrypted. For this reason, Google warns users not to share personal information with Gemini. Like all AI tools, the company also notes that the results won’t always be accurate.
Gemini in Google Messages is almost identical to using Gemini on other platforms, with one big exception. Image generation is not supported, and this comes after Google stopped image generation in Gemini due to flaws. It’s not clear if the feature will appear when Google reactivates it or if it will be limited to the regular Gemini app.
For now, users can try Gemini in Google Messages in beta.