Google's Gemini Now Available on Android Auto

Starting today, Google is rolling out its Gemini AI assistant to Android Auto users, introducing a truly conversational voice assistant designed to help drivers navigate, send messages, and manage everyday tasks. With Gemini, “you can communicate naturally, engage in back-and-forth dialogue, and accomplish more complex actions,” said Guemmy Kim, Director of Product and User Experience for Android for Cars, in a blog post published today.

To access the feature, users must first install the Gemini app on their Android phone. Once Android Auto is projected to the vehicle’s infotainment display, the Gemini interface will appear there as well. Activation is possible by saying “Hey Google,” tapping the microphone icon on the car’s screen, or holding down the voice control button on the steering wheel.

Notably, Gemini is currently unavailable to Apple CarPlay users—and there are no immediate plans to support it. A Google spokesperson, Sophia Giovanello, confirmed that the company has no updates to share on this front at this time.

Over recent months, Google has been integrating Gemini across its ecosystem—from Chrome and Google Maps to Nest and Google Home devices. Android Auto stands out as one of the earliest platforms to bring an AI-powered chatbot into the driving experience. Looking ahead, vehicles with built-in Android operating systems are next in line; for instance, Polestar recently announced that upcoming software updates will incorporate Gemini into its lineup of electric performance cars.

Google claims that Gemini offers a significant leap beyond traditional voice assistants. Users can ask it to find restaurants serving a specific cuisine, draft a message to a friend complete with emojis, check calendar events, create to-do lists, or even locate a hidden address within an email—all without taking their hands off the wheel or eyes off the road.

And if you’re in the mood for casual interaction, Gemini can do that too. According to Kim, the assistant can “help you learn something new, brainstorm ideas, prepare for important moments, and more—all within a single, continuous conversation.”