Gemini is here for Android Auto: 5 things to try
Available in over 250 million cars on the road, Android Auto is focused on making your time behind the wheel as safe, helpful and fun as possible. Now, Gemini is starting to roll out over the coming months to Android Auto users who have upgraded from Google Assistant to Gemini on their phones. Gemini will continue to provide the hands-free features you rely on, but goes way further as a truly conversational AI assistant. This means instead of having to remember the exact phrase to say what you want, with Gemini you can just speak naturally, have a back and forth conversation and get more complex tasks done.
Here are five things you can try:
1. Add stops like a local expert.
Google Maps is getting a powerful boost with Gemini, and those improvements are coming to Android Auto, too. Gemini can give you insights from reviews and answer common questions about businesses so you can discover and navigate to the hidden gems near you.
- Add the perfect stop: "Hey Google, I need your help. I'm suddenly craving barbecue. Any good spots along my route that are open now, near my destination?"
- Get the inside scoop: If a spot looks promising, continue the conversation by asking about its most popular dishes, whether the place is dog-friendly or even if its barbecue ribs get great reviews.
2. Send and edit messages with ease.
With Gemini, you don't have to dictate your text messages perfectly, start over because you forgot to add a crucial detail, or manually add your ETA. Plus, when a bunch of messages come in while you are driving, Gemini can summarize them and help you reply with confidence.
- Share your ETA with the perfect emoji: "Oops, I'm stuck in traffic. Can you let Leo know and add my ETA and a sorry emoji?"
- Adjust without starting over and translate into over 40 languages: "One more thing. Can you also ask if he wants to grab coffee after the game? And please translate the message into Spanish."
3. Stay productive on your drive with Gmail and more.
Turn your commute from "drive time" into "done time." With Gemini, you can now access your emails in Gmail while driving.
- Find info buried in your email: "Okay, I have a hotel booked for tonight. I think the address is in my email. Can you check and navigate there?"
- Catch up on your inbox: Ask for a summary of your unread emails to stay on top of things.
And of course, Gemini still helps you check your calendar, capture to-dos and take notes — now in a much more conversational way. Google Calendar, Google Tasks, Google Keep, Samsung Calendar, Samsung Reminder and Samsung Notes are supported today, with more third party apps coming over time.
4. Create the perfect vibe on the fly.
Getting the right soundtrack for your drive is now as simple as asking for it. You don't need to remember a specific song name or genre to enjoy media on YouTube Music, Spotify and more.
- Get a playlist for any occasion: "Can you give me a road trip playlist? Ideally something upbeat, about 3 hours long, that's good for both me and the kids."
- Let your imagination be the guide: Be creative and have fun with it, asking for music that fits your mood or the weather. "It's raining. Can you play songs perfect for a rainy drive?"
5. Learn, brainstorm and rehearse while you drive.
You'll be able to go Live with Gemini in beta to chat through anything on your mind. When you say "Hey Google, let's talk live," Gemini can help you learn something new, brainstorm ideas, rehearse for important moments and much more, all in one continuous conversation.
- Learn about your destination: "Alright, I'm driving to St. Louis for a wedding. Can you be my tour guide and share some fun facts about it?..."
- Brainstorm gift ideas: "...Thanks for teaching me all about St. Louis. Changing topics, The rehearsal dinner is at his parents house, and I'd like to get them a small something. What are some good ideas…"
- Rehearse so you can walk in feeling confident: "...Great, glad we got the gift settled. I am giving a wedding speech on Saturday. Let's practice..."
The new Gemini AI assistant begins rolling out on Android Auto globally today, in 45 languages. Getting started is easy: just make sure you are using the Gemini app on your phone, and you'll see a tooltip on your car display once it's available for you. Then to use it, just say “Hey Google,” press the mic button on your car screen or long press the voice control button on your steering wheel.
This is just the beginning of our journey, and we'll be adding more capabilities over time. We can't wait to see how you use it to make every drive more helpful and fun.