What Makes Google’s Allo a Smarter Approach to Messaging

Google has built artificial intelligence into its new Allo “smart messaging” app to deliver a better chatting experience. Here’s why it could challenge entrenched competitors such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

Allo has Google’s typical sparse application design, with a standard chat timeline taking up a large chunk of the screen’s real estate. At the bottom, users click on the “Say something” area, where they can choose to type out text, dictate a response or toss in some emojis. The design is intuitive.

Allo comes with a Smart Reply function that’s designed to limit the amount of time users are typing content. The feature automatically analyzes what’s being discussed in the conversation and can suggest quick responses. The app also can suggest photos or emojis that relate to what’s being said in the conversation. Smart Reply is Allo’s response to suggestions users find in other messaging apps.

Machine learning is a key component in Google Allo. The app continually analyzes what users are saying so it can suggest more relevant responses, data points and other information as conversations continue. Google wants Allo to be the “smart” chatting application, and it needs the artificial intelligence gained through machine learning to achieve that goal.

In what appears to be a growing trend in the marketplace, Allo has text bubbles that can be modified by size depending on what the user is trying to convey. So, if users are “whispering,” Allo allows them to send out small text bubbles, according to Google. Those who want to “shout” can send big text bubbles. It’s a gimmick, for sure, but it’s one that resonates with chat users.

Like other chatting applications, Allo features support for photo sharing. However, the app adds a bit more to the feature with help from doodling. After posting a picture to a chat, users can doodle on it to enhance their message. Photo sharing has become a must-have in the chatting world, and Allo offers that and a bit more.

Allo supports Google Assistant, a bot of sorts that can deliver relevant information after receiving a query. For instance, users in an Allo conversation can ask Google Assistant for nearby restaurants, get answers to questions, find points of interest or call up YouTube videos for both participants in the conversation to watch. Google was quick to note, though, that Assistant is currently in preview and will be improved as time goes on.

Those who want end-to-end encryption will find it with Allo. When users turn on the app’s Incognito mode, all conversations from that point on will feature end-to-end encryption, so not even Google can see what’s being said. The mode also supports private notifications and the ability for users to set expiration dates on chats.

Like varying sizes of text bubbles, today’s chat users expect stickers in their chatting apps. Stickers can be pinned to chat messages to add some more context to the conversation. According to Google, the stickers are designed by independent artists and studios from across the world to add “some fun to the conversation when words aren’t enough.”

Google Assistant can be used as a personal assistant in Allo. When users aren’t chatting with others, they can have a one-on-one “conversation” with Google Assistant. Users can ask Google Assistant for sports scores and weather forecasts, or find out when their airline flight leaves, for example. It will even suggest when to leave for a destination to ensure users don’t miss an important event. Anything users find out from Google Assistant can be added to their calendar as reminders or events.

Google’s Allo is available as a free download in Apple’s App Store and the Google Play marketplace. The app works with any iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch and requires iOS 9.1 or later. On the Android side, Allo requires Android 4.1 or newer. Google doesn’t say whether any Android-based smartphones or tablets are incompatible with the software, so any device running Android 4.1 or later should work with Allo.