Google Messages Adds Cloud AI Scam Detection for Android

Google has begun rolling out an Enhanced Protection mode for Android Messages to combat spam and fraudulent schemes. The update follows an announcement made earlier this month and introduces a third tier of security options for users.

Before this launch, the app only offered Standard Protection, which blocked spam and harmful links locally. The new system adds advanced detection capabilities. It relies on cloud-based Gemini models to evaluate the context of message threads. This allows the software to identify scammer intent more quickly when a user interacts with an unknown sender. Google states that this cloud approach handles novel attacks better than existing on-device detection.

Privacy measures are built into the new feature. Messages are encrypted and processed using Android's Private AI Compute system. Google describes this secure space as private to the user, meaning the data is not available to anyone else, including Google itself.

Enhanced Protection also includes improved link screening. This feature combines the on-device Gemini Nano model with real-time web signals to verify unfamiliar links before a user taps them. The capability is currently available on Pixel 10 and newer models, the Samsung Galaxy S26 series, the Galaxy Z Flip 8, and the Galaxy Z Fold 8. A redesign of warning alerts also gives users more time and context before interacting with links from unsaved numbers.

Users must manually enable the feature. They can do so by navigating to Protection and safety in the app settings. The menu now lists three choices: Enhanced protection, Standard protection, and No protection, which the app labels as not recommended. The option appeared in the latest Google Messages beta, version 20261020_00_RC00.

The rollout is underway now for beta testers. The company has not specified a general availability date for all Android users. The current beta build contains the full set of new tools.