Google is adding a new optional setting called “enhanced protection” to Google Messages on Android phones. The feature uses cloud‑based Gemini AI models to evaluate messages from unknown senders and flag possible scams. It also runs a smaller on‑device Gemini Nano model to check URLs before you open them. The company says the analysis happens in an encrypted, dedicated space that only the user can access.
What else is changing?
Alongside the AI scan, Google is blocking apps from turning on call forwarding without permission and will alert you if an app tries. When you share your screen in Chrome or Android WebView, the system will automatically hide sensitive information. The original scam‑detection alerts that appeared on Pixel phones last year are being expanded to phones from Honor, Motorola, Oppo, OnePlus, Realme, Tecno, Vivo, Xiaomi and others, with “hundreds of millions of additional users” expected later this year.
Why it matters
If you get a text from an unknown number, the AI can warn you before you click a malicious link, reducing the chance of falling for phishing scams. The opt‑in design means you can try the protection without changing how your phone normally works. It’s still unclear how quickly the feature will appear on non‑Pixel devices and whether it will affect battery life.
