Google Gemini AI may soon be available in your car

Google is reportedly working to expand the availability of its generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) assistant, Google Gemini, on your car. A new report has said that Google may soon upgrade Android Auto, its Android-based service for car infotainment, to replace Google Assistant with Google Gemini. The AI-powered chatbot is already available on Pixel smartphones and is gradually reaching Android devices from other brands. Google’s upcoming move may prove to be the last nail in the coffin for Google Assistant.

Folks at Android Authority have spotted references to Google Gemini-based functionality in the Android Auto app in the teardown of the latest beta app. The Android Auto v12.8.143544 app has several clues that hint at upcoming AI services, but the specifics of the functionality are unclear. The teardown has also revealed the look of the Gemini app for Android Auto. It may have a monochrome app icon, which is named “kitt” in a file name. The same package also has references to different elements, including those that could allow users to start a conversation. It could essentially use the same hotword as the one for Google Assistant.

There are other several references to how Google Gemini will be integrated into Android Auto to offer AI services that users can summon with voice commands. This service is called Gemini Live, currently available only to Gemini Advanced subscribers as part of Google One AI Premium. Its Android Auto version will likely work only for paid subscribers, similarly. However, since Google Live does not need dedicated hardware, Google is bullish about its plans to expand it to devices beyond smartphones and tablets.

Google Gemini lets users take help from the company’s artificial intelligence to find out answers to various questions. The AI chatbot uses both its dataset and the internet to offer answers in different ways. Initially available on the web, Google Gemini can now be accessed on smartphones with Google Live service.