It appears that Google is taking cues from Apple’s blunders.
It appears that Google is taking cues from Apple’s blunders.
Google is set to launch an update for Pixel devices featuring a notable addition: notification summaries. Apple has faced numerous challenges with its implementation of this AI-enhanced feature, while Google is cautiously introducing it exclusively for chat interactions. This functionality will roll out with this month’s Pixel update for Pixel 9 series devices and newer — with the exception of the Pixel 9A.
Android Authority’s Mishaal Rahman provided an in-depth examination of the feature in August when it was first seen in an Android 16 beta. According to Rahman, summaries currently apply only to chat applications and exclusively for prolonged conversations. As AA’s C. Scott Brown highlights, restricting summaries to lengthier bits of information allows the system to have greater context, which may help avoid the errors previously made by Apple’s AI. Furthermore, Google indicates that the December update will proceed further by automatically organizing notifications and muting those deemed lower in priority — an issue Apple is also addressing through AI.
Earlier this year, Google broadened its scam detection capabilities in messaging apps beyond Pixel devices to include various platforms. Consequently, Pixel 6 devices and newer will extend scam detection from Google’s Messages to several third-party chat applications like Telegram and Discord. The notification will feature a badge indicating “likely scam,” and clicking the notification will prompt a system alert advising the user to proceed with caution. Google is also enhancing scam detection for calls, extending it to Pixel 9 users (excluding 9A) in the UK, Ireland, India, Australia, and Canada.
Meanwhile, within Google’s messaging application, users will have the ability to “remix” photos with AI directly in Messages. This update expands beyond Pixels to the wider Android community, though it is currently limited to English speakers in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, and New Zealand. Additionally, the Pixel 6 and later models will prioritize chat notifications from your Messages VIP contacts.
