Gemini is coming to Google Messages, but it will take quite some time. Only now are we getting a first look at the features.
Soon you will no longer be able to buy a smartphone without AI functions in it somewhere. Google announced last month that it is also bringing its Gemini chatbot to the Messages app on smartphones. That feature is currently being rolled out in beta, but it seems to be going slowly.
As a result, no one had an idea of how exactly the Gemini chatbot in Google Messages would work. At TheSpAndroid they have now managed to get Gemini working. There they were able to get started with the chatbot to determine exactly what functions it will have.
Image generator and extensions
One of the most striking things is that Gemini immediately supports extensions in Messages. This means that the chatbot can immediately retrieve relevant information from Google platforms such as Flights, Gmail and Maps.
Anyone who often programs from their Android phone can also ask the Gemini chatbot for help. The chat system can immediately produce scripts from Google Messages. Another code that Gemini immediately understands is that of emojis. When you send a smiley to the chatbot, it will respond immediately.
Gemini’s image generator will also be transferred to the Messages app. This allows you to ask to generate an image of something. A few moments later you will immediately see the answer. What is not possible is uploading images to Gemini via Google Messages: the system then flatly says that it cannot process those files.
RCS
This whole story comes with a major caveat: Gemini in Google Messages is not yet available in Europe. The separate Gemini app is also not yet available in Europe, but is on its way. It seems likely that Google will also incorporate Gemini into the Messages app here. In this way, Google wants to ensure that more people send RCS messages. In other words, Gemini should make Google Messages more attractive than other apps, such as Telegram and WhatsApp.
Your conversations with Gemini also go through RCS. Unlike conversations with real people, the encryption of the conversation disappears. That in itself is logical: otherwise Google would not be able to use the usage data to improve the service.
It is not known when Gemini will also be available on European Android mobile phones. Google itself does not say anything about how exactly this happens, although European privacy legislation probably has something to do with it. However, Google itself has a vested interest in Gemini also appearing on smartphones here. You can therefore safely assume that a lot of work is being done on a European rollout of the chatbot.
