Google introduced a unified search experience for the Pixel Launcher in December, and a minor update has added a new Google Messages shortcut.
Previously, the Messages shortcut, like the majority of items in the Pixel Launcher’s “From your apps” section, displayed recent conversations in a list with up to three contacts. Google is currently evaluating a more compact and effective strategy that resembles a carousel.
The profile avatars in this side-by-side design are larger, but the names are smaller and sometimes shortened. You can get to it by typing “Messages” into the search bar of the Pixel Launcher. We checked this evening and only observed this change on one Pixel device (Android 13 QPR2).
In the meantime, Google recently made changes to the settings for the Assistant, causing the “At a Glance” menu item to open the Pixel Launcher page first. To get to the inclinations housed in the Google application, which is where you track down Cross Gadget Clock, look down for “See more highlights.”
It is hoped that the final strategy will be to combine the two lists on Pixel phones.