Dive Brief:
- Google is adding its Gemini AI-powered voice assistant to Android Auto, Patrick Brady, VP Android for Cars, announced in a May 13 blog post.
- The generative AI technology may boost safety by reducing distractions, as drivers can speak naturally on range of topics and get detailed responses without remembering specific phrases or interacting with the infotainment screen.
- Gemini will be available for vehicles that support Android Auto in the coming months, and for other models that feature Google built-in later this year, including the new Lincoln Nautilus, Honda Passport and select Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, Acura and Volvo vehicles.
Dive Insight:
The Android Auto app was announced by the Open Automotive Alliance over a decade ago during the annual Google I/O developer conference. The alliance is a coalition of OEMs and technology suppliers collaborating to integrate the Android smartphone ecosystem and apps into vehicle infotainment systems. Open Automotive Alliance automaker partners include General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Volkswagen and over 30 other vehicle brands.
Android Auto is designed to mirror features from an Android smartphone in a vehicle’s infotainment screen. There are more than 250 million vehicles on the road that support Android Auto, according to the blog post. It’s similar to Apple CarPlay for iPhone users.
Using generative AI, drivers can speak naturally on a range of topics. The technology also supports more advanced features for messaging, including setting the preferred language for specific contacts, which the system will remember in the future. Gemini can translate messages into over 40 languages, as well as help drivers craft a new message, per the release.
If a driver is using Google Maps for navigation, for example, they can ask Gemini to find restaurants along the route by cuisine, then follow up with general questions about the business. Drivers can also use Gemini to retrieve an address or other details from a Gmail inbox.
Gemini will also be added to the Android Automotive OS (AAOS) infotainment platform, which can replace a vehicle’s standard in-vehicle software with compatible hardware and software preinstalled by OEMs. The company said it worked with over a dozen car brands to launch next-generation cars with Google built-in.
The integration of Gemini into AAOS presents a significant market opportunity for OEMs to improve the in-vehicle experience for customers.
AAOS offers drivers an interface that’s optimized for a vehicle’s screen dimensions and compatible apps can be downloaded directly to the vehicle without a smartphone. Over 50 models now feature Google built-in, according to the release. Google will soon release additional apps, including games and for video streaming while a vehicle is stationary.
In addition to adding Gemini to Android Auto and the AAOS, Google says it’s also working on digital car keys for Audi, Volvo and Polestar vehicles, allowing drivers to remotely lock, unlock or start their vehicle with a smartphone app. The digital key technology, which does not require a vehicle’s key fob, will roll out to more models soon, per the release.
Google this week will showcase Android Auto with Gemini Live integration at the annual Google I/O developer conference in Mountain View, California. The demos will include both vehicles compatible with Android Auto and with Google built-in.
Other automakers are planning to add generative AI to their models. At the CES technology conference in January 2024, Volkswagen demonstrated a new AI-powered in-vehicle voice assistant for the new ID.7 electric sedan developed in partnership with software company Cerence. The technology enables drivers and passengers to control vehicle functions using their voice, such as climate controls.
In February, Stellantis announced plans to launch an AI-powered in-car assistant. The assistant will enable the driver to ask questions about vehicle features and receive immediate guidance using conversational interactions, such as what vehicle warning indicators mean or how to troubleshoot a problem with a vehicle.
Last month, Kia announced it’s rolling out a new generative AI-powered voice recognition system called “AI Assistant” for the EV3 in Europe.
