Gemini Can Now Read and Send iMessages on Mac

How It Works

The integration appears under Settings > Connected Apps as @messages. Once enabled, users can ask Gemini to find specific conversations, read recent messages, or compose and send replies through Apple Messages without switching apps. It works locally on the Mac, accessing the Messages database the same way other macOS apps with the right permissions can.

There is a catch: as of the update rolling out, the server-side component does not appear to be fully active. The @messages handle is visible in settings but may not yet respond in the prompt box, suggesting Google is staging the rollout.

ChatGPT Got There First

ChatGPT added Apple Messages integration to its own macOS app back on August 20 — nearly a month before Gemini. OpenAI's implementation lets users read and reply to iMessages from within ChatGPT, with the same local access approach. Gemini's version appears functionally identical, making this a fast-follow rather than a first-mover play.

The pattern is familiar: ChatGPT and Gemini have been matching each other's desktop features throughout 2026. Gemini expanded to Windows on September 10, while ChatGPT has been on Windows since earlier this year.

What It Means for Users

For Mac users who rely on both iMessage and an AI assistant, the integration removes a layer of app-switching. Asking Gemini to "find my last conversation with Sarah about dinner" or "reply to Mom's message" works without leaving the Gemini window. The value is convenience, not capability — anything the integration does, you could already do by opening Messages yourself.

The bigger question is whether Apple views these integrations neutrally or as a competitive encroachment. Both ChatGPT and Gemini are now reading Apple Messages data on Macs, which puts third-party AI assistants inside one of Apple's most guarded communication platforms. Apple has not commented on either integration.