Google Messages is reportedly introducing a faster way to have conversations with Gemini, the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot. While similar functionality currently exists in the Messages app, it requires quite a few actions before you can start talking. The development was reportedly found in a beta version of the app. With the feature, Google is said to streamline the process via a new floating action button (FAB) that could potentially arrive in the Messages app.
Gemini FAB in Google Posts
Android Authority, in collaboration with tipster Assemble Debug, reported that the new FAB for Gemini was spotted in the APK teardown of the Google Messages app version messages.android_20240610_01_RC00. A floating button would appear above the option to start a chat.
Gemini FAB in Google Posts
Photo credit: AssembleDebug/Android Authority
To open the Gemini conversation window now, users need to start a new chat and then select the ‘Gemini’ option. This feature is not available in India, according to Google. With the FAB in development, it could eliminate an extra step required to open the AI chatbot. Instead, users could potentially tap on the Gemini option and have conversations directly.
Gemini’s integration with Google Messages was first announced in March, but only became available in more regions last month. Regions including India, the UK, Switzerland, and the European Economic Area (EEA) were excluded from the update.
The report speculates that this feature isn’t even available to beta testers yet, and there’s no information on the rollout timeline. Notably, features spotted in APK teardowns are usually for testing purposes only, and may not make it into the final build of the app.
Editing RCS messages
On May 30, Google announced seven new features for Android, including the ability to edit RCS (Rich Communication Services) messages. This feature would be available through Google Messages.
Google said users can tap and hold on a sent RCS message to edit it. A new edit icon will appear in the top banner. Sent messages can be edited for up to 15 minutes, the company added.
