Google tests new way to launch Google Now-like search cards in Google Assistant

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The transition from Google Now to Google Assistant, while ultimately for the better, resulted in some useful features being dropped. The best Google Now feature that was unfortunately dropped was the predictive search cards—a stack of cards that offered personalized information and alerts. The new Google Feed hasn’t truly replaced the old predictive search card feature as it often surfaces content that many people don’t like (especially content related to certain controversial political topics), but the new “Visual Snapshot” UI promises to bring back the personalized information and proactive suggestions that made Google Now so great.

Accessing the new Visual Snapshot UI requires tapping on the small inbox icon in the top right of the Google Assistant interface. To access the history of previous Assistant commands, you can swipe up on the Assistant interface.

Old (current) Google Assistant interface

In comparison, the new UI in testing, as discovered by XDA Recognized Developer Quinny899 (Kieron Quinn of Mighty Quinn Apps) and also enabled by us, now allows you to show the Visual Snapshot UI by swiping up on the Assistant interface. Accessing the history of previous Assistant commands requires pressing the back arrow once the Google Now-like predictive search cards appear on the screen.

New (in-development) Google Assistant interface

This new UI also re-arranges the Google Lens icon by placing it on the left and reduces the amount of white space by making the Assistant logo smaller. (The “warning” logo is a debug icon that won’t be present on any release builds of the Google App.) We aren’t sure if or when this new UI will launch in the Google App. Google is always testing new features in their apps, some of which may never see the light of day, but if this one does go live we’ll let you all know. You can download the latest version of the Google App from the Google Play Store below.