Google bringing Smart Reply to all messaging apps in Android Q

At Google I/O 2019, the search giant gave some stage time to upcoming features within Android Q, which is currently in beta (and coming to a lot more smartphones).

One of the new features on its way to the latest Android flavor is an OS-based Smart Reply. This feature — which uses machine learning to anticipate what you are going to say before you say it — is currently available in Google-branded apps, most prominently Messages.

In Android Q, Smart Reply will work in any messaging app, such as Signal, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, etc.

In addition to anticipating what you’ll say, the OS version of Smart Reply can also anticipate your actions. As an example, say a friend of yours texts you an address. Smart Reply will assume you’ll want to check out that address in Google Maps and will make that suggestion to you automatically. If you tap the suggestion, the address opens up in Maps, allowing you to learn more about the location or navigate to that destination.

The really impressive thing about these new features is that the machine learning involved is processed on-device. This ensures your privacy as the information never hits Google’s servers.

Android Q is expected to launch in a stable form at the end of this summer.