Google's iOS application is introducing a novel "Simplify" function that employs AI to clarify complex or technical online content, enabling users to grasp information more readily without navigating away from the current webpage.

Simplify employs a prompt refinement methodology pioneered by Google Research, leveraging Gemini to render complex text more accessible without sacrificing crucial information. Google's trials indicated that the simplified output facilitated enhanced comprehension and retention of the source material among users.

Google likely aims to retain users within its suite of tools and services for navigating intricate subjects by providing a native feature such as Simplify, thereby potentially reducing reliance on prominent external platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

Simplify can be activated by selecting any text within a web page viewed through the Google app and subsequently tapping the appearing "Simplify" icon, presenting a less complex iteration of the content to aid comprehension and facilitate continued reading.

Google's research blog shows an example of what this feature might look like. For instance, you might see a paragraph that says: "This condition is complicated and involves damage to the lung tissue, scarring, changes in lung immune cells, more production of factors that affect the immune system, and significant changes to the blood vessels in the lungs."

This complex condition involves damage to the lung tissue from emphysema, a disease that damages the air sacs in the lungs, and widespread scarring of the lung tissue, called fibrosis. The immune cells in the lungs change, and the body makes more substances that control the immune system. The blood vessels in the lungs also change a lot.

Google posits that the feature is intended to facilitate comprehension of intricate subjects encountered during online learning endeavors.

"Our objective necessitates models that can precisely paraphrase intricate concepts, avoiding inaccuracies or the omission of crucial information," Google stated in a blog post. "The revised text should facilitate the reader's comprehension of complex subject matter while preserving the fidelity of the initial data."

Simplify is being progressively introduced to users of the iOS operating system this week.