Google Messages ‘Nudges’ and birthday reminders are back [U]

After introducing in 2022, Google Messages for Android has removed a “Nudges” capability that provided reply and birthday reminders.

Update 6/4: As users have noticed in recent weeks, Settings > Suggestions > Nudges are back. We’re seeing it with the latest beta (version 20240531_00_RC00).

• Suggest message reminders: Messages that may need a reply or follow up will move to the top
• Birthday reminders: Get reminders for birthdays you’ve added to contacts on your device

Google still actively advertises the capability (as seen in the cover image above) as a “helpful” Messages feature alongside voice transcription and noise cancellation.

Original 5/1: The first Nudge served as “reply reminders to follow up after a certain time to a message you sent or received.” The concept was first introduced in 2018 for Gmail (where it remains available). Google Messages would: 

• “Prompt you to reply to messages you haven’t yet replied to”
• “Show outgoing messages that you haven’t followed up on”

Machine learning models were leveraged to determine whether a follow-up was needed, with conversations moved to the top of your homescreen list for prominence.

The second suggestion type would remind you about birthdays if that date is stored in your phone’s contacts app. This occurs on-device with birthdays “not uploaded to Google servers,” though that’s a moot point depending on the app you use. 

As of the latest Google Messages beta (version 20240429_01_RC00) and stable, Nudges no longer appear in Settings > Suggestions, which is now just home to Smart Reply, Suggestions (Attach recent photos, Create event, Start video call, Share location, or GIF search), Magic Compose, and Suggested stickers. As of today, Google still advertises the capability on an Android landing page introduced in late March.

It follows Messages in 2023 removing the Assistant integration. Messages considered a replacement feature called “Spotlights,” but that never materialized. In terms of smarts, we of course have Gemini today as a chatbot.

Google Contacts has invested a lot in reminders through both notifications and as prominent cards in the “Highlights” tab. The app is a more natural home for that capability especially if you don’t talk to people over RCS/SMS. 

Meanwhile, Reply Nudges were an early example of Google applying AI to its apps with the capability receiving an I/O announcement.

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