Google Gboard on Android Likely to Gain AI Text-to-Image Feature: Here’s How it Works

Google Gboard, the keyboard app for Android users, is likely gaining a new artificial intelligence (AI) text-to-image feature, which lets users generate images based on texts.

The search engine giant has been working on the feature since last year, but it was only available in internal testing. This time, it looks like the tech juggernaut is gearing up to release it publicly via its keyboard app, Gboard.

Google is expected to offer more AI-powered features across its portfolio amid the popularity of ChatGPT and Bing, which took the world by storm.

Google Gboard AI Text-to-Image Generator

As per a report by The Verge, Google has been working on its text-to-image AI since early last year, following the emergence of a similar tool, the DALL-E program of OpenAI, which also brought us ChatGPT.

Last year, as the text-to-image AI of the search giant took its internal testing, Google boasted that it works a lot better than DALL-E. The tech firm touted that its AI tool, aptly named Imagen, produces more accurate and coherent photos

However, back then, Google only showcased AI-generated images that showed up during its internal testing. Although it sure looks pretty amazing, it has yet to be used in real life.

But it might soon get the shimmer of the spotlight in its first public rollout, the latest Gboard beta hints.

9to5 Google notes in its news story that a new potential AI feature suddenly appeared beneath the Gboard for Android. It appears that the search behemoth is now gearing up to dish out its Imagen text-to-image generator to mobile users.

The latest beta update of Gboard for Android mentions an "Imagen Keyboard" reference, suggesting that the AI text-to-image tool might start rolling out soon.

How AI Text-to-Image Feature Works

The AI text-to-image tool of Google allows its users to simply type some text to generate images right off the bat.

The Imagen keyboard tool is likely to sit alongside the provision for shortcuts, including features like Clipboard and One-handed mode, according to Android Authority.

9to5 Google suggests that the AI tool might work like how emojis and stickers do. It could likely provide expressive images to its users.

It is worth noting that the AI feature is still in development. So details of the potential text-to-image generator on Google Gboard for Android remain scant.