A few months after confirmationGemini for Android Automotive appears to be finally rolling out to existing vehicles.
Not to be confused with Gemini on Android Auto, the Android Automotive update is intrinsically linked to the vehicle you drive, with improved voice controls for specific areas and on-board instruments.
Previewed at I/O 2025, this has been a long time coming for many vehicles, but the launch appears to have started with existing Volvo vehicles, including the EX30. A pop-up in my own car overnight confirmed the expansion and some of the features that will be available to use with this Gemini-specific update.
If your car is eligible and runs Android Automotive, now known as “Google Built-in,” a pop-up will appear to “Start using Gemini,” which is detailed as “your AI assistant for the car.” If you prefer to use Google Assistant, you can discard it and use the previous experience.
Unlike the Android Auto experience, Gemini lives in a pill here with Automotive. There is a dedicated “Live” button that you can tap to start back-and-forth conversations. With Android Auto, this requires you to ask Gemini to “Talk Live.”
As noted, you can do a wide range of things with the Gemini here, such as adjust the air conditioning temperatures, turn on the heated seats, set the windshield wipers to turn on, and much more. However, this will depend on how integrated the manufacturer allows it.
In my brief experience, the Gemini inside my vehicle with Android Automotive is better at handling bad requests. For example, set the air conditioning to 100% power. With Assistant, you would have to be very specific with the level, such as “turn the air conditioning on 5.” Gemini can take my comment and set the temperature and fan speed accordingly.
Expect more vehicles to receive this pop-up in the coming weeks, depending on the various automakers’ update schedules.
More about Gemini:
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