Google has introduced a new feature called "Simplify" in its iOS app. It is an AI-powered feature which uses Gemini to help users better understand complex texts found online.

Users may encounter jargon or complex concepts while browsing websites, and sometimes people may struggle to understand the meaning of such content. Usually, users would have to switch to a different tab or app, to learn more about the things they couldn't understand.  The Simplify function, as the name implies, is designed to make dense information more accessible, in a manner that does not sacrifice the essence of the original content. Google describes this as “minimally lossy” simplification. An important part of this feature is that it provides the easier version, without leaving the page.

To develop this feature, Google Research conducted extensive testing with approximately 4,500 participants who were selected based on their expertise in various fields, including medical research, finance, literature, law, biology, philosophy, aerospace and computer science. Some participants were given the original versions, while some were given the simplified version. They were then tested on their capability to recall the text. Results showed that those who read the simplified versions grasped the material better, and retained the information more effectively, than those who engaged with the unaltered texts.

Using the Simplify feature is straightforward: users can select any challenging text within a web page in the Google app and tap on the "Simplify" icon. This action prompts a new window to appear with a simplified version of the selected content, significantly streamlining the learning process while browsing.

This feature is currently only available for iOS users, with no specific timeline provided for its availability for Android.

Source: Android Central, Google