Google News is rolling out two new user benefits in its messaging tools. First AI chats can now show bold text and code blocks. Second, Android users may soon edit messages sent to iPhones. The first feature is limited to chats with Google’s Gemini AI. The second relies on the new Universal Profile 3.0 for cross‑device editing.
AI Replies Gain Text Styling
Google News has long offered AI help through Gemini. Now that helps gain visual polish. Gemini can wrap keywords in double asterisks to make them bold. It can also show code in backticks to separate it from plain text. The system uses Markdown syntax. This means Gemini can whisper insights and show example commands clearly.
Regular users still type plain text only. There is no menu for styling messages. The feature appears in the app’s backend and surfaces only in AI replies. It is likely limited to avoid showing formatting codes to most users. The RCS standard does not yet support styled text in a uniform way across phones. That may explain why Google kept it private for AI chats.
Android Users Can Edit Messages to iPhones
A second update is now in testing. Android phones with Google News can edit RCS messages sent to iPhones. This is new because Apple’s earlier RCS support did not allow edits. The change comes from Universal Profile 3.0. It adds message editing and end‑to‑end encryption.
When the feature is enabled, an Android user long‑presses a sent message. A pencil icon appears. Tapping it brings back the original text for revision. The edited version must be sent within fifteen minutes of the first send. On the iPhone side, the update shows as a new message marked with an asterisk. That is because iOS does not yet apply edits inline. iPhone users still cannot edit their texts back to Android.
The editing tool is in early tests and only a few users see it. It marks a step forward in cross‑platform messaging. Wider release may follow once Apple updates its Messages app.
By bringing visual styling to AI chats and message editing across devices, Google News aims to enrich the way users interact. The first feature helps readers follow AI advice. The second gives Android users more control when texting iPhones. Both moves show Google’s drive to improve daily conversations in its apps.
