- Gemini is better at understanding natural conversations and can answer questions from the manual.
- Later this year, Volvo models with Android Automotive will be updated to Android 15.
- Other vehicles running Google’s infotainment system will likely get Gemini in the future.
Apple’s in-built CarPlay Ultra system generated plenty of headlines last week, but Google is keen to remind the world that Android Automotive is just as good. The technology giant has confirmed that, thanks to its partnership with Volvo, the Swedish brand’s vehicles will be updated to include Google Gemini, the innovative, conversational AI-powered voice assistant currently available on Android phones.
All new Volvo models come with the Android Automotive operating system as standard, and the inclusion of Gemini later this year will replace the existing Google Assistant system. Gemini has been designed to better understand natural conversations and should prove particularly helpful for Volvo drivers. Owners will be able to ask Gemini questions from the car’s user manual, or learn details about destinations.
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Additionally, they can use Gemini to easily craft messages and even translate them into different languages. The AI assistant can also find recipes and add ingredients to a shopping list. It can even search through your emails or messages for details about a destination you want to travel to.
Volvo, which has always been a leader in safety, says the more natural conversions possible with Gemini “reduce your cognitive load so that you can stay focused on driving, reducing distractions for everyone onboard.” The partnership between Google and Volvo extends beyond giving drivers the ability to ask Gemini what café they should stop at for their next dose of caffeine.
The brand will now serve as Google’s lead development partner for future Android Automotive features and updates. Currently, Volvo’s models run on Android 13, but later this year, they will be updated to Android 15, which was only introduced to mobile devices in late 2024. Speaking with Reuters at an event in California, Volvo head of global software engineering Alwin Bakkenes said non-Volvo models running Android Automotive may have to wait two years to get the latest operating system.
“We strive to deliver human-centric technology, and a stunning customer experience is an essential part of this. Through this partnership with Google, we are able to bring the very latest features and capabilities from the leading consumer eco-system into our products first,” Bakkenes added. “With our expanding partnership, we’re collaborating on cutting-edge solutions that shape the future of connected cars.”
