Google Magic Compose, the new Messages feature powered by AI, has recently entered private beta. This feature is designed to simplify text messaging by providing stylized, suggested responses depending on the context of the messages. While it is a promising feature, it does come with a caveat: it sends up to 20 of your previous messages to Google’s servers. This includes emoji, reactions, URLs, and captions from images, as well as voice transcriptions, but it does not include images, voice messages, or attachments.
Google first started rolling out end-to-end encryption (E2EE) on the Messages app in 2020 and made the feature available for group chats late last year. This means that third parties, not even Google, will be able to view the messages. However, this does not necessarily apply to Magic Compose as it has the capability to send messages to Google’s servers. Google has highlighted that it does not retain conversation data used by Magic Compose, and suggested response outputs are not retained after they have been provided to the user.
By just toggling on the feature, it ensures that data is sent to Google’s servers. In addition, once users turn off Magic Compose, Google will no longer send any messages to its servers.
Google initially unveiled Magic Compose beta at its I/O event earlier this month and has since started rolling it out to users in the Google Messages beta program. Google can also be found in Microsoft’s popular keyboard app, SwiftKey, where users will see the Bing icon within the app toolbar to craft text messages and emails. Here, users have the ability to alter the tone, format and length of the suggested messages.
It appears that the feature is potentially beneficial for users. It eliminates the tedious task of typing out text messages, while maintaining users’ right to privacy. All users have to as do is remember to turn off Magic Compose to ensure that their messages still remain confidential, which does not take much effort.
