The announcement that's been making a lot of noise in recent days is undoubtedly the arrival of Gemini in the automotive ecosystem. Promising to eventually replace Google Assistant, Google's advanced AI aims to transform our interactions in the car. It promises fluid and natural conversations to find a charging station, launch navigation from an address found in an email, or even report a hazard on the road, all while keeping your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. Google announces a rollout in the coming months and is already providing developers with the tools to integrate this conversational power into their applications.
More apps and more possibilities for Android Auto
As a traveling companion for nearly 250 million drivers, Android Auto is not to be outdone and is preparing to welcome a breath of fresh air in applications. Long-awaited video applications and web browsers will soon be making their appearance. For obvious safety reasons, their use will be limited to times when the vehicle is stationary. Google specifies that video applications will require a phone running Android 16 and a compatible vehicle.
Good news also for weather enthusiasts: weather apps are now available on Android Auto and Android Automotive OS. Developers can now publish their creations to everyone, without waiting for Google's green light, provided they comply with quality guidelines. Some weather services have been available since 2023, but access conditions were more complicated.
At the same time, the catalog is further enriched with the beta launch of several application categories on Android Auto:
- Games (usable while stationary and requiring a phone running Android 15 or later) with popular titles like Angry Birds 2 or Candy Crush Soda Saga
- Enhanced multimedia applications
- Communication applications, which will benefit from simplified call integration and features such as a complete message history or a list of upcoming meetings.
With these announcements, Google reaffirms its ambition to shape the future of the connected car. The deep integration of Gemini AI and the constant expansion of the application ecosystem promise an ever more intuitive, personalized, and, Google hopes, safer driving experience. The Gemini era in our cars is only just beginning.
Also read: Google I/O 2025: here are the 5 announcements to remember from the big Google event
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