Google app’s new Simplify feature makes complex text easier to understand
Google’s search app for iPhone and iPad has a new AI feature, called “Simplify,” to make complex text, jargon and online writing easier to understand.
The new feature takes advantage of Gemini AI models to simplify jargon or technical concepts you’re unfamiliar with, without losing key details. Just select some complex text on a webpage and touch a new Simplify icon to get a simpler version, without leaving the webpage. The simplified text appears in a floating window; just tap to dismiss it when it’s no longer required.
Google notes that internal testing found the simplified text to be “significantly more helpful than the original complex text,” with human testers better retaining the information, according to the announcement.
The Google app can now simplify complex writing online
The feature was developed by Google Research, with a white paper available for those who want to learn more about the underlying technology. Long story short, the feature uses techniques such as Gemini-powered automatic evaluation and a prompt refinement system. The evaluation system scores text readability on a 1-10 scale.
“This prompt was iteratively refined against human judgment, enabling a more nuanced assessment of comprehension ease,” Google Research explains. The original text is turned into a simplified version in a way that ensures the meaning stays unchanged. Google conducted an internal study on 4,563 participants who could understand medical, financial, legal and technical terminology.
The study participants who tested the Simplify feature and helped train the algorithm deemed the simplified versions “significantly more helpful than the original complex text.” However, Google cautions that the study has limitations, so don’t expect the Simplify feature to be without any errors.
“We developed and rigorously validated an automated system using Gemini that iteratively learns to simplify text while maintaining fidelity to the original,” the company writes. “By demonstrably bridging the comprehension gap for complex information, this capability significantly enhances understanding and reduces cognitive load for users across critical domains.”
How to download the Google app
I read tons of documents laden with technical jargon and encounter subpar writing online daily. This feature could make my job easier by simplifying terminology. Google hasn’t said whether and when it plans to bring Simplify to its Android app.
The Google app is a free download from the App Store. The iPhone and iPad software requires iOS 15.0 and iPadOS 15.0 or later. If you have the app installed, get the latest version by choosing “Update” on its App Store page. Don’t see this option? It means tht your installed copy is already up to date.
Google also recently updated its Gemini AI app to let you prompt Gemini to perform image editing, like showing what you’d look like with a different hair color.
Source link: https://www.idownloadblog.com/2025/05/07/google-search-app-simplify-text/
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