Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. News

Google introduces Allo’s Smart Replies on Android Messages

Mark Jansen
By

best messaging apps allo
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Despite being adopted by at least some users, Google’s Allo chat app hasn’t exactly been the resounding success. Thankfully, Google seems to believe in reincarnation, as some of Allo’s more useful features are being brought into other Google platforms. Announced yesterday by the Google Project Fi Twitter account, Allo’s Smart Reply feature is being brought to Android Messages — but only for phones on Project Fi, which the the company’s mobile virtual network operator.

Messaging on the go? Smart Reply for Android Messages lets you text with a tap, rolling out starting today on Project Fi. pic.twitter.com/FRYO4hu9Ah

— Project Fi (@projectfi) January 24, 2018

Android Messages is the default text messaging app on many Android phones, but bringing Allo’s Smart Reply feature only to Project Fi users means only a small group of people will be able to use it. Smart Reply suggests quick replies that show up above your keyboard that you can tap to send a response quickly and easily. It’s a small feature, but it will appeal to anyone in a rush, or anyone who lives in a cold climate — less time with fingers tapping on a screen is more time said fingers can be kept warm.

Recommended Videos

The process takes advantage of Google’s machine learning capabilities. Smart Reply analyzes your conversation, noting the tone and content of the chat, and suggests a number of replies based on what it think you’ll want to say. It can even offer up quick messages in response to photos — as the technology can understand the context of a photo. For example, if a friend sends a picture of a corgi, you may get a Smart Reply offering, “cute corgi!” These messages will improve and adapt to your chatting style over time.

Related

As we mentioned, Smart Reply support in Android Messages is restricted to phones on Google’s Project Fi network. That’s an unfortunately small pool to pick from: The Pixel smartphones, a few Nexus phones, or the Moto X4. It’s likely the feature will eventually roll out to everyone using Android Messages.

Allo was announced back in 2016 alongside three other chat apps, and despite the fact that Allo worked pretty well, Google failed to provide any real distinction between the six available chat apps that it had out at one time. It hasn’t exploded in popularity, despite desktop support and continued patches to allow for more language support.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Mark Jansen
Mark Jansen
Contributor
Mark Jansen is an avid follower of everything that beeps, bloops, or makes pretty lights. He has a degree in Ancient &…
When is my phone getting Android 14? Here’s everything we know
Android 14 logo on the Google Pixel 8 Pro.

Android 14 is out now, and as usual, the first to get it is Google's own Pixel phone family. Samsung has already released the One UI 6 update based on Android 14 for its latest flagship phones and continues to test for older devices, while Nothing is still in the beta-testing phase.

If you're rocking an Android phone that is still stuck on an old Android build, here's everything that we know about official Android 14 rollout plans for all major brands available in the U.S. market.
Google Pixel phones

Read more
Don’t update your Pixel phone — a new Android update might break it
Android 14 logo on the Google Pixel 8 Pro.

Android 14 introduced a host of convenient additions to Google’s Pixel phones, but a recent minor update has utterly broken the storage system for some users. Specifically, owners of the Google Pixel 6, Google Pixel 6 Pro, and Google Pixel 6a who run multiple profiles on their phones are reporting that their phones no longer have access to the storage pipeline for the main profile.

That means users are locked out of accessing the stored media and find themselves unable to add new files as well. A few users have reported on Reddit and Google’s official community forum that they can’t even click images using the camera app because it flashes an insufficient storage warning message. A few others say trying to install an APK package also returns a similar storage writing roadblock.

Read more
There’s something about the Google Pixel 8 that worries me
A person holding the Google Pixel 8.

Google released the next generation of Pixel devices recently, including the Google Pixel 8 and Google Pixel 8 Pro. These have been the best Pixel smartphones in a while, as they pack the improved Tensor G3 chip inside, better cameras, brighter displays, and more — all in a slightly updated design. I've been using the phones for a couple of weeks now, and I really like what Google's done with them.

But Google also added some more photo editing capabilities to the Pixel 8 lineup, with a heavy reliance on AI with the Tensor G3 chip. While these AI-heavy editing tools can help you chase perfection, they shouldn’t be relied on too heavily or abused.
The Pixel 8's AI tools are impressive ...
Magic Editor on the Google Pixel 8 Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends.

Read more