Latest news with #AndroidAutomotiveOS
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Volvo Cars, Google expand partnership to deploy Gemini AI in vehicles
This story was originally published on Automotive Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Automotive Dive newsletter. Volvo Cars is expanding its partnership with Google to rapidly deploy its Gemini AI-powered assistant to more of its vehicles featuring Google built-in, the automaker announced on May 21. As part of the expanded collaboration, Volvo vehicles will serve as one of Google's reference hardware platforms for the future deployment of Android Automotive OS (AAOS), which is designed to replace an OEM vehicle infotainment system. 'We're excited to deepen this partnership, accelerating the pace of innovation that will not only improve the driving experience for Volvo customers but also set new benchmarks for the automotive industry,' said Patrick Brady, VP of Android for Cars at Google, in the release. The more feature-rich Gemini AI-powered voice assistant will replace the current Google Assistant of Volvo vehicles later this year, making the automaker's customers among the first to access the latest version of Google's generative AI technology. Gemini allows drivers and passengers to request information about virtually any topic using natural conversations. For example, drivers can ask Gemini questions about the vehicle's user manual or request specific details about a destination before arriving. The AI-powered assistant can also help drivers draft messages, which can be translated into over 40 different languages before sending. Google has also selected Volvo Cars as its lead development partner for testing new features and updates, before adding them to the Android codebase for access to software developers. The Android codebase is known as the 'Android Open Source Project' and the software it contains is free for developers to use. The platform allows anyone to view, modify and distribute code for their own use. Google offers the developer community extensive resources and guidelines for creating Android-based apps. According to Volvo, its expanded partnership with Google will help 'accelerate advancements in the connected car space for the entire automotive industry' and for drivers globally. 'We strive to deliver human-centric technology, and a stunning customer experience is an essential part of this,' said Alwin Bakkenes, head of global software engineering at Volvo Cars, in the release. 'With our expanding partnership, we're collaborating on cutting-edge solutions that shape the future of connected cars.' The Google partnership with Volvo advances the rollout of AAOS currently used by Volvo Cars. Vehicles running AAOS do not require syncing with a smartphone for access to popular Google services. Volvo vehicles with Google built-in come with Google Play, Google Assistant, Google Maps and other popular apps. For Volvo models equipped with AAOS, the vehicle's infotainment system serves as a standalone Android device. Drivers can download and install Android or other-third party apps directly to their vehicle's infotainment system. The latest version of AAOS was released in December 2024. In addition to future Volvo vehicles, Gemini will be made available for other OEM brands featuring Google built-in later this year, including the new Lincoln Nautilus, Honda Passport and select Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC and Acura vehicles. Google also announced that it is adding Gemini to Android Auto in the coming months, which can mirror apps wirelessly on compatible models from a smartphone that's synced to a vehicle. Recommended Reading Google is adding its AI-powered Gemini voice assistant to Android Auto Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Volvo-Google partnership expansion brings Gemini AI to drivers
Volvo Cars has expanded its partnership with Google to integrate the latest Android Automotive OS innovations, including Google Gemini, into Volvo models with Google built-in. This collaboration was showcased at Google I/O 2025 with the Volvo EX90, highlighting Gemini's advanced conversational AI technology. The integration aims to enhance the driving experience by allowing natural conversations for tasks such as messaging and accessing car manuals. Google Gemini, set to replace the current Google Assistant in Volvo cars later this year, enables drivers to interact naturally with their vehicle, craft messages, translate languages, and query information. This natural conversation ability aims to reduce cognitive load, helping drivers stay focused on the road and reducing distractions. Volvo Cars global software engineering head Alwin Bakkenes said: '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. 'With our expanding partnership, we're collaborating on cutting-edge solutions that shape the future of connected cars.' This strategic move positions Volvo drivers to be among the first to experience new Android features. The expanded partnership also positions Volvo as one of Google's reference hardware platforms for future Android OS development in vehicles. Google will utilise Volvo Cars as a primary partner for developing new Android OS features, ensuring that Volvo drivers have early access to the latest technological advancements. Google Android for Cars vice president Patrick Brady said: "For years, Google and Volvo Cars have collaborated closely to bring cutting-edge technology to connected cars. 'We're excited to deepen this partnership, accelerating the pace of innovation that will not only improve the driving experience for Volvo customers but also set new benchmarks for the automotive industry." In the financial year 2024, Volvo Car Group reported a record core operating profit of Skr27bn ($2.7bn) and an all-time high revenue of Skr400.2bn ($40.02bn). The company also achieved a milestone with global sales reaching 763,389 cars, marking a record year for the automaker. "Volvo-Google partnership expansion brings Gemini AI to drivers" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Engadget
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Engadget
Volvo expands its Google partnership to bring new features like Gemini to cars sooner
Following the announcement that Gemini is coming to cars, Volvo is using I/O 2025 to announce a new expanded partnership with Google. The companies' new deal makes Volvo's cars reference hardware for future Android Automotive OS development, and means Volvo drivers will be "among the first to benefit" when Gemini fully replaces Google Assistant in cars. Volvo describes itself as Google's "lead development partner for new features and updates," making the company's cars the first to receive new updates to the Android Automotive OS. Google offers Android Auto as its CarPlay-like solution for beaming a software interface from your phone to in-car displays, but its Automotive OS is more complete, running on your vehicle locally and connected to car controls for A/C and more. You can already experience Android Automotive OS in Volvo's EX90, for example. Google's current vision for Android in cars is, perhaps unsurprisingly, focused on getting drivers to talk to Gemini. In a car with the assistant, you'll be able to ask Gemini to send a message, pull up directions, or answer the more open-ended, natural language questions that Gemini Live is designed to handle. If it works as advertised, it seems better than pecking at a screen, and Volvo notes it could "help reduce your cognitive load so that you can stay focused on driving." There's no release date for when you can expect Gemini to show up as your driving copilot, but at the very least this new partnership means it'll be in Volvos first.
Miami Herald
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Gemini AI Will Soon Power In-Car Android Auto
Artificial intelligence is already in your pocket, your home, and maybe even your wrist. Now it's making a serious push into your car. At this year's Google I/O developer conference, the company announced that Gemini - its advanced AI chatbot - is being integrated into both Android Auto and Android Automotive OS. That means by the end of 2025, millions of drivers could be chatting with their cars in far more meaningful and useful ways. First, a quick breakdown: Android Auto is the smartphone-based system that projects a Google-designed interface onto your car's screen. Android Automotive, on the other hand, is baked right into the car's software. It powers everything from maps to music using the vehicle's own hardware and internet connection. Both systems already support voice commands, but they've been relatively basic. That's where Gemini comes in. Google says Gemini will make interactions in the car feel far more fluid. Instead of issuing stiff, robotic commands - "Navigate to Starbucks" - you'll be able to speak naturally and combine multiple tasks. For example: "Text Sarah, I'm on my way, and tell me how long it'll take to get to the Thai place we went to last month." Gemini can even remember your preferences. Ask it to always send messages to your friend Carlos in Spanish, and it'll do so going forward. It can search your email, suggest restaurants, and even play songs based on vague requests like "That Grammy-winning track from 1996." Eventually, Gemini will be able to talk to your car, not just you. Google is working with automakers to let Gemini control vehicle settings like seat heaters, cabin temperature, and more. Unlike existing voice assistants that require rigid commands, Gemini will understand flexible language like "I'm cold" instead of "Turn on seat heater." Automakers will decide how much control Gemini gets, but Google hopes it'll eventually be able to answer car-specific questions, too. Need to know your vehicle's ideal tire pressure? Just ask. Google says Gemini will arrive on Android Auto through a software update in the coming months. Cars running Android Automotive will see the rollout by the end of the year, depending on the manufacturer. Just keep in mind that Gemini won't live inside your car; it'll send requests to Google's cloud servers to process your queries. Local, on-board AI is still on the horizon. Gemini's arrival in the car marks a turning point for in-vehicle tech. It's no longer just about navigation and music; it's about making your car an active, intelligent part of your daily routine. Whether you're asking for driving directions, managing communication on the go, or fine-tuning your comfort settings, Gemini aims to streamline the process with conversation that feels more human than robotic. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Motor Trend
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
Google's Gemini AI Is Coming Soon to a Dashboard Near You
While AI hasn't exactly taken over every part of our lives yet, it's certainly dominating the tech news cycle. It's also popping up in endless pseudo-intelligent artificial agents running on our phones and watches and laptop computers. About the one place AI hasn't had a significant impact so far is inside of our cars, but that's about to change in a big, big way. Today at Google I/O, a developer conference that takes place every year in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Mountain View, California–based search giant announced a significant upgrade to both Android Auto and Android Automotive OS. This will finally bring Gemini, Google's artificial intelligence chatbot, to millions of cars by the end of the year. A quick refresher because it's a little confusing: Android Auto is the projection-based infotainment experience powered by your smartphone. Plug a compatible Android device into a compatible car, or connect it wirelessly, and Android Auto provides a car-friendly way to access much of the power of your phone without actually having to touch the thing. Android Automotive OS takes that further by running Google apps natively in the car. That means full access to Google Maps or Waze, whether you have your phone or not. The experience is much the same, but in this case, Android is powering all the displays in the car, as well as apps like Spotify or YouTube Music that rely on the car's cellular data connection. This is the software that powers the interface in everything from the Rivian R1S to the Polestar 3. Both Android Auto and Android Automotive rely heavily on voice commands, letting you do things like find a nice place for dinner or text your mom that you're running a little late, all without having to tap or touch anything. Given that, you might be thinking you've already been talking to an AI of sorts, but this sort of basic, question/response interaction is about to be superseded. Gemini AI, Making Things More Natural Gemini, Google's AI chatbot, elevates that experience to a new level by offering more capabilities within the car and a far more natural experience. Going forward, voice interactions will be far more fluid and natural. Patrick Brady, VP of Android for cars at Google, walked me through some of the changes, and one of the biggest is being able to combine things, like messaging and navigation, into a single request. "I can just say, 'Hey, send a text message to Tim and ask him where he wants to meet for lunch and send him my ETA,'" Brady said. "You don't need to dictate exactly." Being able to not only send messages but find restaurants with nuanced descriptions and do it all in a single request makes this far more powerful than what we can do in cars today. That intelligence extends into other apps like YouTube Music. Instead of having to request specific songs, artists, or albums, you can say, "Play me that song that won the Grammy in 1996." "Gemini also has memory," Brady said. "You can tell Gemini, 'Hey, whenever I send a message to Carlos, send it in Spanish.'" From then on, whenever you text Carlos through Gemini, it'll send your message in Spanish, even if you don't speak the language. Gemini will also have access to other elements of your digital life, or at least those elements you've exposed to Google. If you use Gmail, for example, you could say, "What was that restaurant my wife emailed me about last month?" Those requests will be conversational, too, with Gemini remembering context and prior conversations. So, if you're sick of the "Hey, Google" call and response operation that we have today, get ready to just have a casual conversation with your car. Google calls this service Gemini Live, which you can try on your PC or smartphone today. Brady believes this will fit nicely into the way many people use their in-car time to learn new information. He said you can do everything from brainstorming recipes to getting ideas for summer vacation plans. Gemini Can Chat with Your Car Not only will you be able to talk to Gemini, but Gemini will be able to talk to your car, too. Eventually, at least. Brady said Google is working with manufacturers to expose elements of vehicle functionality to Gemini, so that you can change vehicle settings by voice. Features that Google Assistant can adjust in the car today will be supported with Gemini, like turning on seat heaters or toggling other vehicle settings. Yes, you can certainly do that by voice in plenty of cars today, but instead of having to remember the exact command that the car wants to hear, you could simply tell Gemini what you want it to do and let it figure out how to make it happen. It'll be up to the manufacturers how deeply they want to let Gemini's tendrils into the car's settings, but Google also hopes those manufacturers will teach Gemini the specifics of each car it's installed in. That would enable you to get information about your specific car. For example, instead of rummaging through the manual or squinting at the sticker inside the door frame to figure out your car's ideal tire pressures, soon you'll be able to just ask Gemini. How soon? Well, that part is a bit vague. Brady said Android Auto users will get it via an update over the next few months, while cars with built-in Google experiences will receive it later this year. Specific timing will depend on the manufacturers' update processes. It's worth noting that, even in the case of cars running Android Automotive, Gemini won't actually be running in your vehicle. It'll rely on sending requests to a Google server somewhere far away to do all the heavy number crunching. Full-bore in-car AI is coming, but that's probably a little further down the road.
