Google is quietly expanding the reach of its AI-powered features with the introduction of a new tool called “Simplify”—and, for now, it’s exclusive to iOS users. Integrated into the Google app, the feature aims to help users navigate dense or jargon-heavy text online by breaking it down into more digestible language with just a tap.
Simplify is designed to assist readers encountering technical or complex information on the web—whether that’s medical research, legal documentation, or a deep-dive into computer science. Rather than redirecting users to alternative content, the feature works in-page: tap the Simplify icon when it appears, and a simplified version of the selected text is overlaid in real time. This means users can stay within the flow of their reading without bouncing between apps or windows.
At the core of Simplify is Google’s Gemini AI model, which has been fine-tuned to perform what the company calls “minimally lossy” simplification. In other words, the goal isn’t to dumb down the content—it’s to retain the original meaning while making the language more accessible. To test this capability, Google ran a study involving around 4,500 participants from various fields of expertise. Using excerpts from traditionally complex domains such as philosophy, finance, and aerospace, the study found that users who read simplified versions of the text were significantly better at both understanding and retaining the information.
This feature has the potential to serve a broad range of users, from students and researchers to anyone curious but overwhelmed by technical language online. It could also be a meaningful accessibility improvement for users with cognitive differences or non-native English speakers navigating specialized information.
As of now, there’s no official word on when Simplify will come to Android or Chrome on other platforms. Its iOS-only status may be temporary, but it also reflects a growing trend of Google experimenting with early releases and limited rollouts before broader adoption.
For iPhone and iPad users with the latest version of the Google app, Simplify is expected to be available starting today. It’s a small but potentially powerful tool in Google’s broader push to make web content more approachable—one line of simplified text at a time.
