Google’s new ‘Simplify’ feature for iOS uses AI to make dense text easier to understand 

Google’s iOS app is getting a new “Simplify” feature that uses AI to make complex or technical text on the web easier to understand, all without leaving a web page.

Simplify features a prompt refinement approach developed by Google Research, and uses Gemini to make complicated text more digestible, without losing key details. Google says its testing found that the simplified text allowed users to better understand and retain the original information.

By offering a built-in feature like Simplify, Google is likely hoping that people will stay within its ecosystem of tools and services for help with complex topics, rather than turning to popular third-party tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

You can use Simplify by selecting any text on a web page you’re visiting in the Google app and then tapping the “Simplify” icon that appears. You’ll then see a simpler version of the text to help you digest the information and allow you to continue reading.

Google’s research blog shares an example of what this feature could look like. For example, you may come across a passage that reads: “The complex pathology of this condition involves emphysematous destruction of lung parenchyma, diffuse interstitial fibrosis, changes in the composition of lung immune cells, increased production of immunomodulatory factors, and the prominent remodeling of pulmonary vasculature.”

The simplified text would then read: This complex condition involves damage to the lung tissue from emphysema, a disease that damages the air sacs in the lungs, and widespread scarring of the lung tissue, called fibrosis. The immune cells in the lungs change, and the body makes more immunomodulatory factors, substances that control the immune system. The blood vessels in the lungs also change a lot.”

Google says the idea behind the feature is to make it easier for people to grasp complex topics they might come across when trying to learn something new on the web. 

“Our goal requires models to paraphrase complex ideas accurately without introducing errors or omitting key details,” Google said in a blog post. “The rewritten text must help the reader understand challenging material without sacrificing the integrity of the original information.”

Simplify is rolling out to iOS users this week.