Google Gemini in Android Auto Starts Rolling Out More Widely

Google appears to be finally expanding the availability of its Gemini AI on its Android Auto platform. The new integration was initially announced in November for Android Auto users who have upgraded from Google Assistant to Gemini on their phones, but the public rollout has taken longer than expected.

As reported by Android Authority and other websites, a lot of Android Auto users recently shared on Reddit that they finally got access to the new assistant on their cars. However, not all messages are exactly positive.

In the original announcement, Google explained that Gemini on Android Auto would provide a more conversational experience, all while keeping support for existing hands-free features. Gemini Live on Android Auto supports free-flowing conversations, similar to how ChatGPT Voice now works on Apple CarPlay. However, while ChatGPT on CarPlay can’t access maps and other apps and control car features, Gemini on Android Auto can interact with Google Maps, send and edit messages, create playlists on YouTube Music or Spotify, and more.

Looking at recent comments from Reddit users, there are many complaints about Gemini being too “chatty” unless you tell the assistant to keep its answers short. Other users complained about Gemini struggling to recognize manually labelled places in Google Maps, editing out swear words in text messages, or failing to play music. Fortunately, the new Gemini integration can be disabled for Android users who prefer to stick with the existing Google Assistant.

If you’re interested in trying Gemini on Android Auto, you must already be using the Gemini app on your phone, and you’ll see a tooltip on your car display once the new assistant is available for you.