A new feature is coming to Google Messages: 'Selfie GIFs,' which will help users create a custom moving image to send to friends, family, or contacts on the platform.
Creating a selfie GIF would record a three-second clip from the sender, one that would end automatically as the time elapsed. Users would only be given a chance to record, restart, or end the creative process.
This new feature is not yet generally available, but it offers an intuitively creative way of engaging people to send media to their contacts.
Google Messages to Bring 'Selfie GIFs'
There is now a support article dedicated to 'Selfie GIFs,' the latest feature yet to arrive on Google Messages. This feature is meant to improve the instant messaging platform's experiences.
According to 9to5Google, the feature is not yet available in either the beta or stable releases of the app, but it is expected to arrive soon, considering it already has a dedicated support article.
The Selfie GIFs would allow users to create moving media with no audio and send it to friends or contacts on the platform. The maximum time limit would be three seconds only for the GIF.
Recording a GIF would be found alongside the Suggested action prompts, part of the text field box where users would compose messages, send photos, use Bard, and more.
Send New GIFs to Contacts and MORE
The Selfie GIFs a user makes would also automatically save on their device by default, meaning they may also use it to send on other platforms, not only Google Messages.
However, this would not be part of the recently added custom camera on the app.
Users need to long-press the camera icon in the text box to launch Selfie GIFs and start creating their new content.
Google Messages Features
Last November 2023, Google claimed that it reached over one billion users who enjoy RCS's benefits with the Google Messages app, centering on its renowned messaging service and interconnectivity for all.
With this, the company also introduced new features to Google Messages, including Photomoji with Google's AI, Voice Moods, Screen Effects, Custom Bubbles, and more.
Earlier this year, Google delivered its renowned AI chatbot, Bard, to the Messages app, which was meant to replace its long-time Allo Assistant on the platform.
Initially, the generative AI chatbot was offered through the beta testing program, offering a tool to create new messages from user prompts or simply have someone to talk to while using the app.
It is known that Google Messages has long campaigned for RCS, which is best known for its pressure against Apple to adopt the technology for their iMessage and replace the SMS and MMS.
That said, Google has been regularly updating the Messages app to add more features, including the upcoming Selfie GIFs, which allow users to create their own media and share it with the world.
