The virtual assistant will be integrated into the car’s entertainment system, enabling drivers to communicate with it in a more natural way.
- Volvo will be the first automaker to use Google’s Gemini AI assistant.
- The firm from Sweden announced that an update will be rolling out before the end of the year.
- Gemini will take the place of Google Assistant.
In-car voice assistants typically perform poorly. They often sound disjointed, and it can be incredibly frustrating when you must repeat the same instruction multiple times just to get them to respond with, “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”
Google, once solely focused on searches, aims to transform how voice assistants function within vehicles.
Volvo
will be the initial automotive manufacturer to take advantage of these enhancements, as the Swedish firm’s vehicles will be among the first to receive the new Gemini AI chatbot.
The updated feature will be available via a software update for Volvo models equipped with Android Automotive OS, like the
EX30
,
EX40
and
EX90
Electric vehicles with crossover designs. These models come equipped with Google Assistant from the factory, but this feature will soon be superseded by Gemini. This new system offers enhanced capabilities, enabling both drivers and passengers to compose texts, convert messages into different languages, and pinpoint precise locations using Google Maps in an intuitive manner. Additionally, occupants can adjust various vehicle settings such as cabin temperature for improved comfort.
Volvo was among the initial car manufacturers to distribute vehicles equipped with Google’s Android operating system. This partnership will prove advantageous for both parties moving forward. As part of this collaboration, Volvo will serve as one of Google’s key hardware references for developing and assessing upcoming automotive-specific technologies, as highlighted by
The Verge
In simpler terms, Volvo vehicles will receive new features and updates prior to these being incorporated into the primary Android Automotive codebase.
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“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,” said Alwin Bakkenes, head of global software engineering at Volvo Cars. “With our expanding partnership, we’re collaborating on cutting-edge solutions that shape the future of connected cars.”
Gemini promises natural-sounding conversations that aren’t limited by certain commands, so the experience should be akin to speaking with a human instead of giving orders to a machine.
Volvo models with Google built-in will get Gemini toward the end of the year. Older Volvos that have the Sensus infotainment system won’t get the feature, but there is a workaround. If the driver or one of the passengers has an Android smartphone, Gemini will show up on the car’s main screen if the phone is connected through Android Auto.
Google said Android smartphone users will get access to the new AI assistant in the coming weeks, so earlier than cars with Android Automotive. That said, Gemini through Android Auto–that’s the mirroring system similar to
Apple’s CarPlay
—won’t be capable of controlling any of the car’s features.
