On October 29, 2026, Barry Schwartz at Search Engine Roundtable reported that Google is expanding access to its AI-powered messaging feature for Google Business Profiles. More businesses are getting the option, and some are seeing it appear as a red dot notification on their Messages tab. The feature is free, it is powered by an AI agent, and it answers customer questions from Search and Maps directly in the phone’s native messaging app.
This is one of those features that sounds great until you think about the details. An AI agent answers routine questions instantly, at no cost, 24 hours a day. But it only works for customers on networks and phones that support RCS. Everyone else’s texts go straight to your phone, and standard text rates may apply. And the AI agent can only answer as well as your Business Profile does.
Here is what the feature does, where it works, and what to check before you turn it on.
How AI-Powered Messaging Works
The feature was first spotted in June 2026, but Google has been rolling it out more broadly this month. Claudia Tomina shared a demo on LinkedIn showing it in action. When a customer finds your business on Search or Maps, they can send a message from their phone’s native texting app. An AI agent responds instantly, answering routine questions like what are today’s specials, can I book for Saturday, or what are your hours.
In Google’s example, the agent pulls up menu items with photos and prices, then offers open reservation times. When it cannot answer something, it hands the conversation off to you, and you can jump in whenever you want. All messages are available in the Business Profile dashboard.
Mike Blumenthal shared an email he received about the rollout, which described it as early access to the AI-powered messaging pilot at no cost. The email said the agent handles common customer questions and helps with reservations, allowing your team to focus on running the business.
What to Check Before You Enable It
The single most important thing to do before turning this on is to update your Business Profile completely. The AI agent can only answer questions using the information on your profile. If your hours are wrong, the AI tells customers the wrong hours. If your menu is out of date, the AI recommends items you no longer serve. If your services list is incomplete, the AI cannot answer questions about services you actually offer.
Before you enable AI messaging, do a full audit of your profile. Update your hours, including holiday hours. Upload your current menu with prices and photos. List every service you offer with descriptions. Add your pricing if you are comfortable sharing it. The more complete your profile, the better the AI agent performs.
Also check your phone setup. The AI agent works through RCS, which is the modern replacement for SMS. Most Android phones in India support RCS through Google Messages. iPhones do not support RCS in the same way, so messages from iPhone users may go to your phone as regular SMS. Make sure someone is monitoring the phone that receives those texts.
Where AI Messaging Works and Where It Does Not
The feature is designed for routine questions. It works well for things like hours, pricing, availability, menu items, and booking. It does not work well for complex queries, custom requests, complaints, or anything requiring human judgment.
Google says the agent hands off questions it cannot answer to you. That is the key safety net. The problem is that you need to actually monitor those handoffs. If the AI agent hands off a question and nobody on your team responds for six hours, the customer has a worse experience than if they had just called.
Set up a process before you enable the feature. Decide who monitors messages, how often they check, and what the response time target is. A good starting point: check messages every two hours during business hours, and set an auto-reply for after hours that tells customers when you will respond.
How This Compares to Other Messaging Options
Google Business Profile now offers several messaging paths. The AI-powered messaging feature works through the phone’s native texting app. WhatsApp messaging works through WhatsApp, which is the dominant messaging app in India. Facebook Messenger links, which Google started adding automatically on October 28, work through Messenger.
For most businesses in Chandigarh and across India, WhatsApp is still the primary channel customers prefer. But the AI-powered messaging feature has one advantage WhatsApp does not: it is free and automated. WhatsApp Business also offers automated responses, but the AI agent from Google is more capable for routine questions like pricing and availability.
The best approach might be to enable both. Use Google’s AI messaging for the routine questions it handles well, and use WhatsApp for longer conversations and customer relationships. Our local SEO packages include messaging setup and monitoring for businesses that want it managed.
The Risks of Getting It Wrong
The biggest risk is enabling the feature with an incomplete profile and letting the AI give wrong answers. A restaurant that turns on AI messaging with an outdated menu risks the AI telling a customer they can order a dish that was removed last month. A clinic with wrong hours risks the AI telling a patient they are open on a day they are closed.
The second risk is not monitoring handoffs. If the AI hands off a question and nobody responds, the customer experience is worse than if messaging was not enabled at all. The customer expected an instant answer and got silence.
The third risk is treating AI messaging as a set-and-forget feature. Your profile changes, your menu changes, your services change. The AI agent does not know about changes unless you update the profile. Set a monthly reminder to audit your profile and make sure the AI agent has accurate information.
Should You Turn It On?
If your Business Profile is complete and accurate, and you have someone who can monitor message handoffs during business hours, yes. The feature is free, it answers routine questions instantly, and it captures customers who prefer texting over calling. For a local business in India where missed calls mean missed bookings, this is a net positive.
If your profile is incomplete or you do not have anyone to monitor messages, wait. Fix the profile first, set up a monitoring process, then enable it. An AI agent with bad information is worse than no AI agent at all.
If you want help setting up AI messaging on your Google Business Profile or auditing your profile for accuracy, get in touch or book a meeting. We work with local businesses across Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula, and the rest of India.