Google Messages to Introduce AI-Powered 'Insights' Feature for Smart Link Summaries

This upcoming Google Messages feature could save you a click (and time)

The feature is likely meant to provide AI-generated summaries of shared links, saving you from opening the web page yourself. Google is typically working on several new features within Google Messages at any given time. The company has been working on @mentions for a long time, and we've also spotted changes to link previews and the ability to remove group chat icons if you don't want them. Google Messages v20251006 beta includes code for another new feature called Insights. This feature is related to links that others have shared with you in personal chats and groups, and is likely powered by AI.

Google Messages is about to get a lot smarter with this AI tool

The non-functional "Insights" button was discovered via an APK teardown of a recent Google Messages beta version. Google is developing a new feature named "Insights" for its Messages application, which was identified in a recent beta version. The AI-powered tool is designed to provide summaries of web links shared within personal and group conversations, using Gemini technology. The discovery was made following an APK teardown of Google Messages version 20251006 beta, as reported by Android Authority. The publication revealed that Google is actively developing the feature to assist users in managing links shared in their conversations. The primary function appears to be providing key information from web pages directly within the messaging interface. This integration is aimed at allowing users to understand a link's content without navigating away from the app. The development points toward a focus on integrating more advanced AI capabilities into the core messaging platform. Screenshots included in the report offer a first look at the feature's user interface. An "Insights" button, which features the icon for Google's Gemini AI, is shown appearing at the bottom of web link previews within the chat. The button's placement is specific and conditional. It is intended for links a user receives and does not appear on links they share with others. Furthermore, its visibility is dependent on a specific user setting. The Insights button only shows up when the "Show only web link previews" option is enabled in the application's settings. Without this setting activated, the feature remains hidden from view. As the "Insights" feature is currently in a developmental stage and has not been officially released, its full capabilities are not yet active. When the button is tapped in the beta version, it reportedly displays a message stating, "Gemini isn't available right now." The report indicates that the intended function is to generate a quick, AI-powered summary of the content on the linked web page. This would allow users to grasp the main points of an article or site without manually opening it. Since Google has not made an official announcement regarding the feature, its exact functionality and a potential release date remain unconfirmed.