Gboard for Android now recognizes doodled emojis; predicts a sentence instead of just the next word

These features are expected to be rolled out to the iOS version of the app soon.

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Google s Gboard is already one of the most popular third-party keyboard apps, thanks to some interesting features such as a direct link to Google search within the keyboard, GIF search and more. And now, a new update for Gboard, which has begun to rollout only for Android users, is making the keyboard app even smarter. With the update, the Google s keyboard will now recognize hand-drawn emojis, and predict full phrases instead of just the next possible word. This update is expected to be rolled out to the iOS version of the app soon. Also Read - Google commits to provide 2.5 lakh COVID-19 vaccines to needy countries, list includes India

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Essentially, with the new emoji recognition feature, you don t need to scroll through the hundreds of emojis to look for the one you want. You can now simply doodle the emoji on the keypad, and the Gboard would suggest you the matching emoji. This feature uses Google s deep learning and reinforcement learning tech. It works similarly to Google s AI-based tool Quick, Draw!, which is a web game that guessed what you doodled on screen even when it was terribly drawn. Also Read - Latest Android 12 leak shows tons of never seen before features; here's a look

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Further, the company s AI-based tools also help improve Gboard s natural language understanding. That way, when you type a phrase like looking forward, Google understands the context and will now suggest to it or to seeing. Past versions of Gboard were only capable of suggesting possible next words using predictive engines, so this is a subtle but powerful step up.

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Besides these, Google says Gboard s search function will now show more results and also more easily link out to other apps like Google Maps and YouTube when appropriate. Google is also adding support for more languages. Users will now get suggestions and swipable gesture typing for Azerbaijani (Iran), Dhivehi, French (Belgium), Hawaiian, Maori, and Samoan. Brand-new languages being added with the update include Dzongkha, Ewe, Navajo, Tsonga, and K’iche’, though you ll only be able to type in those languages and not use any of the more powerful AI-assisted features. DON’T MISS: 5 tips to make Google Chrome run faster, save battery on your laptop

Additionally, there may be more good news for Android users. If the rumors are to believed, similar to Google Chrome s, GBoard or Google Keyboard for Android O may get an incognito mode as well, which will pop up while browsing in Google Chrome incognito tab. Why is this significant? Well, although Google Chrome Incognito mode doesn t store your browsing websites, the Google Keyboard tends to remember your inputs. Also, Android users don t even have an option to disable these keyboard suggestions while in incognito mode. ALSO READ: Incognito GBoard for Google Chrome appears in Android O Developer Preview

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