This RCS and Gemini hack saved me from paying for overpriced in-flight Wi-Fi

On a current flight from Paris to Budapest, I logged into Air France’s in-flight Wi-Fi and was confronted with the identical overpriced plans I’ve seen for years now. Dozens of euros to be linked throughout a long-haul flight is likely to be justifiable if you might want to get work achieved, however for a bit of sunshine looking and messaging on a brief two-hour flight, among the airline pricing doesn’t make any sense.

I typically decide the nice compromise of the free “messaging” plan, which lets me chat on apps like WhatsApp and Google Messages (through RCS, not SMS) with out paying a cent. However this time, I wanted to do some fast last-minute analysis, so I needed some type of connectivity. Then it occurred to me: There’s Gemini in Google Messages, and it really works over RCS! Might it bypass the in-flight Wi-Fi and let me search the online and ask time-sensitive questions? Just one method to discover out.

I linked to Air France’s free messaging service, which clearly lists the restrictions of this plan: no images (extra on this later), movies, or audio recordsdata, no emails, no web looking or social media, no streaming, and no calls. Textual content messages through messaging apps are the one perk.

As soon as linked, I switched to Google Messages and tapped on the floating Gemini button to provoke a dialog with Google’s AI. I do know that the chatbot has improved lots lately and now has entry to real-time information, so I requested it the primary query that got here to thoughts: Checklist immediately’s prime 10 most fascinating Android/Google tech information. Then I held my breath.

Might I get extra particulars than only a title? I requested it to inform me extra concerning the Put on OS change that’s hinting at Gemini assist, and the record of telephones getting One UI 7 within the US. It answered all of these questions, although it listed each the telephones that’d already gotten One UI 7 every week earlier in addition to those that have been getting it then.

I used to be thrilled. This felt like getting access to the complete web with out the necessity to open a browser, and like sticking up a large center finger to overpriced in-flight Wi-Fi. Simply ask Gemini as a substitute of opening a webpage.

I saved at it, asking random questions concerning the period of my flight, the present time in Budapest, the place to purchase the 15-day public transport ticket, whether or not you say “isle” or “aisle” of a airplane, and learn how to get from the airport in Budapest to my lodge close to the Astoria space. Gemini gave me a Google Maps hyperlink for the final one, considering I needed instructions with stay bus occasions, however since I couldn’t browse to that hyperlink, I phrased my request otherwise and compelled it to present me extra basic data concerning the bus line and ticket worth.

That’s the place I felt extra comfortable and began planning a number of particulars of my journey. I knew that the climate predicted a storm for the following few days in Budapest, however I needed to go to Buda Fortress and the Fisherman’s Bastion in respectable climate. So I requested concerning the very best time to go, given the climate, and adjusted that with my current plans.

Once I obtained bored of journey planning, I pivoted to soccer, requested about ongoing La Liga video games and their scores (it obtained the rating proper, however not the participant or time), Actual Madrid’s and FC Barcelona’s subsequent video games, their doubtless line-ups, and information and rumors about Madrid accidents and transfers.

It was so enjoyable to question the web at massive in a easy messaging app — no webpages to load, no hyperlinks to click on, simply back-and-forth questions and solutions with Gemini over RCS in Google Messages. It felt like I’d hacked the system and damaged the foundations, however I used to be taking part in by them, honest and sq.. I used to be simply texting, and if the recipient of my texts occurs to be an all-knowing AI, then Air France has no management over that, proper?

The boundaries of Gemini in Google Messages as a web-browsing hack

The primary reply I acquired from Gemini left me questioning learn how to learn that humongous uniform block of textual content. Seems Gemini does format its solutions correctly, however takes a little bit of time to take action. On the gradual airplane connection, I needed to swipe out of my chat after which return in to see the identical reply with correct formatting of daring, underline, bullets, and — reward the heavens — line breaks!

Nonetheless, any hyperlinks couldn’t be tapped and even previewed. Loading previews requires a correct web connection, and that appeared to be exterior of Air France’s free Wi-Fi allocation.

I rapidly found that photographs have been engaged on this free plan, although, even when Air France’s warning clearly states they’re not. They simply took a very long time to ship and obtain in my chats with associates. So I made a decision to share photographs with Gemini too, and ask questions on them. I despatched a cat picture and requested it concerning the breed, then I gave it a screenshot of a Pebblebee Bluetooth tracker in Google Discover Gadget and requested it for assist with the precise location, together with nation and metropolis. It answered these.

Maybe the largest check, although, was to see if Gemini might ship me images. I attempted all the pieces I might consider, however it wouldn’t do it. Once more, this can be a limitation of Gemini in Google Messages, whether or not you’re on a high-speed limitless connection or a gradual, restricted in-flight plan. Google’s AI solely sends hyperlinks to images, which load small previews should you’re on a superb connection, however don’t try this on the messaging-only in-flight Wi-Fi. It doesn’t connect photographs to you, like regular people would. I hoped this is able to assist me browse the web extra fully by asking for images and even screenshots of internet sites, however alas, it didn’t work.

For what it’s value, I attempted each ChatGPT and Meta AI in WhatsApp, and so they all had a really related limitation with images, so this isn’t a Gemini problem per se. It looks like all AI chatbots can’t actually connect photographs or movies and ship them to you. They solely ship hyperlinks and depend on previews that can assist you see issues.

On my means again from Budapest to Paris, I did related exams with ChatGPT and Meta AI in WhatsApp. That’s how I might control the Europa League and Convention semi-final scores from the airplane (Meta AI obtained it proper, ChatGPT was ineffective for this), test the climate in Paris at touchdown time, and begin making weekend plans.

As soon as once more, it was all fairly a enjoyable and streamlined experiment, like speaking to the world’s know-it-all nerd over textual content messages. Clearly, there have been factual errors and a few minor hallucinations — that’s a difficulty with all AI bots, nonetheless — so I wouldn’t belief any of those solutions with my life. However for short-term planning, some mild looking and analysis, and native queries, you possibly can’t beat the free worth or immense comfort.

I plan on sticking with the free messaging-only Wi-Fi plan for my subsequent journeys, and I recommend you do too, particularly in the event that they’re shorter flights. On lengthy hauls, which I nearly by no means take, a correct connection would nonetheless be required for any respectable work or analysis. That’s, till Air France rolls out its promised free Wi-Fi for all improve this summer time, and I hope different airways observe swimsuit, too, so we don’t want hacky methods to remain linked within the air.