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Smart Replies come to Android Auto, they’re just not smart enough
Talking to your car is just so two miles ago
Android Auto has done a lot to make texting while driving less distracting and ultimately safer for everybody. However, there are times when you may not be able to rely on voice dictation to get your message out, and it may not be worth pulling over just to tap out a short response. Now Google is bringing the Smart Reply feature to Android Auto so it only takes a single tap to get back to somebody.
With everything going on the past few years, 2017 can feel like an eon ago. It's not, though! It was just five years ago when Google gave Google Voice a much-needed coat of paint and promised not to let it fall into disrepair again. Unlike many of Google's promises, this one has been upheld. The app still gets updates, like the one rolling out now with Smart Replies for SMS and a few other goodies.
A controversial Gmail feature is jumping over to Google Docs
Smart Reply is showing up in more places
Google introduced Smart Reply to Gmail way back in 2017, and in the years since, it's spread to even more of the company's apps. Hell, it's even stopped users from getting Rickrolled in text messages — an infinitely helpful tool, if you ask me. Google Docs is next on the list for Smart Reply, with automatic replies to suggestions and comments coming to all of your team projects just in time for a new school semester.
Gboard gets a ton of new suggestions: Stickers, smart replies, and GIF search
Soon you won't have to type anything yourself anymore
Google is constantly enhancing Gboard with new smart features, making many people question why they should even install third-party keyboards at all. These days, the app already comes with tons of intelligent suggestions for clipboard items, GIFs and stickers search, and, uh, podcasts. With the latest slew of server-side experiments and updates, Google is adding even more proactive features: Some people report seeing smart replies, and others see sticker recommendations right on top of the keyboard while typing. There are also intelligent GIF search recommendations based on the last text you sent.
In a post to its (always fascinating) AI Blog, Google has just revealed that its Smart Reply feature, previously present on apps and services like Messages and Gmail, has come to comment replies for YouTube content creators. Built right into YouTube Studio and with support for both Spanish and English, the feature will make it easier for content creators to churn out generic, low-effort replies to comments. (Like and subscribe, brah.)
Gmail's Smart Reply feature can be pretty handy for short responses, saving you a little bit of time and effort. The web version of Outlook has had a similar feature since last summer, called Suggested Replies, but it hasn't officially been available in the Android app — until now.
We've all had to switch from one app to another to complete a particular task, whether it's opening Google Maps to look up an address you've been texted, scheduling an appointment in your calendar after receiving an email, or even looking up an artist a friend has just told you about. These are simple tasks that AI can identify easily, just like Android already does when long pressing a number or an address. We recently got tipped about the fact that Q would suggest Quick Actions directly in your notifications based on a message's content, and Google has officially confirmed Android Q will automatically recognize context to recommend the next action you're likely to perform after receiving a message, saving you the trouble of switching apps.
Support for Tenor GIFs was recently added to Google's SMS messaging app, allowing you to easily add a GIF into your chats by tapping on the + and then 'GIF search.' Google really wants to encourage you to use this, it seems, as it's now offering suggestions for GIF searches based on your conversations.
Google introduced Smart Replies with its short-lived Reply app over a year ago. Since then, the tech has been added to more prominent apps from the company such as Messages, Gmail, and Hangouts Chat. The Smart Reply API was only made available to third-party developers a few days ago, but Klinker Apps has already gone ahead and incorporated it in the latest beta of its popular Pulse SMS app.
Earlier this year, Google's Area 120 — a division of the company that works on experimental products — pushed out a testing program for an app called "Reply," which added Allo-style, automatically generated smart replies to other messaging apps. That functionality has made its way into other Google apps, with native support for developer implementation of the feature in Android Pie. Based on that success, it appears Area 120 is sunsetting the old Reply app itself.
Google's been throwing its Smart Replies at pretty much every app or venue capable of accepting them, from Android Messages to Gmail. It even has a standalone app that introduces the shortcuts—and their occasionally borderline-offensive responses—to third-party app notifications. Now Gboard is testing out adding the same feature to other applications like Facebook and WhatsApp.
After several leaks, the updated Gmail interface and functionality is launching officially today for both consumers and enterprise G Suite users. There's a lot to unpack, so without further ado, here are all the new features you can expect to see.
Today marks the 7th day that Android P's first developer preview has been available. In the time since, we've spent countless hours digging through P on our phones, decorticating every feature, and checking every tip about small and large changes alike. Our full list of P features has now surpassed 50 items and we've rounded them up with a quick description in case you don't want to spend hours reading each one (though we encourage you to). The main takeaway from P so far is the new focus on privacy and security, the addition of support for new hardware features (notches, dual cams), along with small but overdue changes that refine the Android experience.
Google launched its new 'Reply' app last month, which adds smart replies to notifications from messaging apps. It's a neat idea, and many believed that the feature would eventually become a native part of Android. Now it seems that has come true, as there is a new notification type that developers can use in Android P.
One of Allo's highlight features is Smart Reply, where the app guesses what you might respond to a message with, and adds a button to send that response. A few other apps have implemented it as well, like Android Messages, but usually not in notifications. Google seems to be testing an app called 'Reply,' which adds smart replies to other messaging apps.
Google's smart replies have shown up in a few apps including Inbox (the original), Gmail, and Allo. Now, this handy feature has arrived in the Android Messages app. However, it's not for everyone. This is a feature for Project Fi subscribers only.
Yesterday brought us a new version of Gboard, bumping the version number up to 6.9. There's not much in the way of changes that you'll see right away, but there is now a semi-hidden feature that will tell you about changes when they happen. However, a deeper look into the APK does reveal plans to add a feature that provides suggested responses to go with messaging apps that implement Direct Replies. Also, the MAKE A GIF feature from the iOS version is making the jump to Android, Bitmoji support is getting baked in, and there's a universal search feature in the works.
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- As pointed out by +Chaitanya K and Prince Javier, the smart replies and vertical attachment interfaces are both shown in this official Android Messages video. We're not sure if that means they're exclusive for users with RCS on their network, but at least we know the design isn't a momentary server-side test.
A couple of months ago, Cody unearthed in his Android Messages 2.3 teardown hints of the app implementing suggested actions, something akin to Gmail and Inbox's smart replies, but more in line with Allo or Assistant in that it could suggest to share your location or open your calendar and more. The image above is our first glimpse at what one of the possible actions, smart replies, could look like.
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One of the unique features of Google's Inbox mail application was smart replies. Inbox tries to predict what the message is about, and provides three quick replies. I'll admit, I don't use it much, but it's pretty nice if you're quickly exchanging messages.