Bard expands into Google Messages with AI-assisted features
Google is introducing Bard, its AI-powered chat assistant, into the Google Messages app. The integration appears in the latest beta version of Google Messages, and users will find Bard available through a dedicated New Speech option. This interface presents as a separate chat window with the Bard emblem, rather than displaying the real person’s name.
Within Google Messages, Bard can perform a variety of tasks that enhance texting and quick planning. It can compose messages, describe images, and offer recommendations across several categories. For example, Bard can suggest books by genre, search recipes based on ingredients that are on hand, and provide other guided actions that appear as prompts or recommendations rather than direct commands.
In practical terms, Bard can craft creative content like word puzzles. A sample prompt invites Bard to generate a challenging riddle with an answer such as “sunset,” pushing for clever phrases and additional clues to help the user solve the puzzle. The goal is to spark interaction by blending playful challenges with helpful guidance.
Content created with Bard can be shared or forwarded to contacts directly within Google Messages, streamlining collaboration and message sharing. This capability makes it easy to pass along Bard-generated ideas, questions, or creative prompts to friends and family without leaving the chat flow.
Google has cautioned that Bard conversations are not protected by end-to-end encryption. As a result, AI interactions may be accessible to trained reviewers who review conversations to improve the service. Users are advised to avoid typing sensitive or private information when interacting with Bard, especially data they would not want reviewed by staff.
Official guidance notes that any verified data is not linked to a user’s account and can be stored for up to three years to support product improvements. The company emphasizes careful handling of user input and the separation between usable content and personal account data.
There has also been curiosity about Bard’s future role in public discussions, including political events in the United States. While Bard’s capabilities extend to everyday tasks and creative prompts, Google has not announced specific plans to tie Bard to election commentary in any definitive way. The focus remains on enhancing user experience by integrating AI assistance directly into messaging, utilities for information gathering, and creative collaboration within the chat interface.
In summary, Bard’s integration into Google Messages signals a broader push to infuse conversational AI into daily communication tools. Users in Canada and the United States can expect ongoing refinements, expanded prompts, and more natural interactions as the feature moves toward a general release. The combination of practical helpers, creative prompts, and easy sharing options positions Bard as a notable addition to the messaging ecosystem, while the ongoing handling of data and privacy remains a key consideration for ongoing use.