Move over Google Assistant, there’s a new robot to yell at while driving.
Starting today, Google is introducing its Gemini AI Assistant to Android Auto users, giving drivers access to a “truly conversational” voice assistant that can help with directions, messages, and errands. With Gemini, “you can speak naturally, have back-and-forth conversations and perform more complex tasks,” says Gumei Kim, senior director of product and user experience for Android for Cars, in a blog post published today.
Customers need to download the Gemini app on their Android phones, which they will see on their car’s infotainment display while projecting Android Auto. They can then activate the AI assistant by saying “Hey Google,” pressing the mic button on their car screen, or long-pressing the voice control button on their steering wheel.
Of course, Gemini is not available for Apple CarPlay users, nor will it be available in the near future. Google spokeswoman Sophia Giovanello said the company had no update to share in this regard.
For months, Google has been rolling out Gemini to a number of platforms under its control, from Chrome to Google Maps to Nest and Google Home products. But Android Auto is one of the first attempts to bring AI chatbots to the world of driving. Google says vehicles with its built-in Android operating system will be next; For example, Polestar recently announced that a future software update will bring the Gemini to its lineup of electric sports cars.
Google claims that Gemini should offer a step change in the current crop of voice assistants. For example, you can ask it for help finding restaurants with a specific cuisine, ask it to message your friends with their ETA along with an added emoji, check your calendar for events, create a to-do list, and find hidden addresses in your emails. And most importantly, you can reportedly do all this while keeping your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.
Google says Geminis can also just hang out and chat if you want. According to Kim, chatbots can help you learn something new, brainstorm ideas, rehearse important moments, and more in one continuous conversation.
But will this help drivers focus on the task behind the wheel, or will it just be another distraction? Early research suggests that speech-based voice assistants in the car are associated with “moderate rather than high levels of cognitive distraction”. There’s a perception that anything that helps you stop looking at your phone while driving is an improvement, but that’s not necessarily the case. More research will be needed, especially as tech companies race to introduce more powerful, AI assistants to the in-car experience.