Volvo will be the first to install Google's Gemini in its cars | The Verge
Gemini can ease a driver’s “cognitive load” so they can keep their eyes on the road, the automaker says. At yesterday’s I/O conference, Google announced plans to start putting its AI chatbot, Gemini, in a variety of different places, including cars. Volvo said it was shoving its way to the front of the line to be the first to receive the new tech.
Expanding Partnership with Google
Volvo is expanding its preexisting partnership with Google to include the integration of Gemini across its model lineup. Drivers will be able to have more “natural” conversations with their car, including language translation, navigational help, and finding specific locations. They’ll even be able to ask the AI assistant to answer questions about their vehicle’s user manual. Volvo framed it as easing the driver’s “cognitive load” so they can keep their eyes on the road.
Earlier this month, Google announced that Gemini will be available to cars that support Android Auto. While Android Auto users will get access to Gemini in the coming weeks, vehicles with Android Automotive won’t get access until later this year.
Collaboration for Future Automotive Technology
Drivers and passengers will be able to use Gemini to send texts, get directions, play music, and perform various tasks that Google Assistant can do. The main difference is users won’t have to use stilted, robotic commands, instead relying on Gemini’s natural language capabilities.
Volvo will also serve as one of Google’s reference hardware platforms for the development and testing of future automotive technology. This collaboration will allow Volvo’s vehicles to get “new features and updates” from Google before they are added to the main Android codebase.
Through this partnership with Google, Volvo aims to bring the latest features and capabilities from the leading consumer ecosystem into its products first. Alwin Bakkenes, head of global software engineering at Volvo Cars, stated, “With our expanding partnership, we’re collaborating on cutting-edge solutions that shape the future of connected cars.”
Long-standing Collaboration with Google
Volvo has worked closely with Google for a number of years and is already first in line to receive product updates, including high-def maps, built-in YouTube, and voice-controlled HVAC systems. Polestar, Volvo’s former performance subbrand (now a standalone marque), was the first company to sell cars with native Android Automotive OS.
Google’s annual developer conference emphasized Gemini this year, with a focus on integrating the chatbot into vehicles. Gemini is seen as a team player with other core parts of the vehicle’s operating system, enabling seamless integration of navigation apps and custom actions using voice commands.
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