Google Messages introduces cloud AI to screen Android texts for scams

Google Messages on Android has offered basic spam blocking for years, but the app now includes a deeper layer of security for users who want more defense against fraudulent texts.

The company began rolling out Enhanced Protection mode this week, a tier that sits above the existing Standard Protection setting.

The system uses cloud-based Gemini models to evaluate the context of message threads from unknown senders, aiming to identify scam intent more quickly than on-device tools.

Google states that this cloud approach handles novel attacks better than previous methods while keeping data private through Android's Private AI Compute system, where messages are encrypted and processed in a secure space.

A second feature combines the on-device Gemini Nano model with real-time web data to verify links before users tap them, a capability currently limited to Pixel 10 and newer, Samsung Galaxy S26 series, Galaxy Z Flip 8, and Z Fold 8 devices.

The update also changes how warnings appear for links from unsaved numbers, giving users more time and context to decide whether to open a link.

Users must manually activate the feature in the app settings under Protection and safety, where three options are now listed: Enhanced protection, Standard protection, and No protection.

The feature appeared in the latest Google Messages beta version, identified as 20261020_00_RC00, which was spotted by 9to5Google.