Google's Gemini Voice Assistant Becomes Available to Apple CarPlay Users
Google has made its Gemini AI assistant available on Apple CarPlay, letting drivers hold hands-free conversations inside the Google Maps navigation app. The rollout starts in the United States, with a gradual global expansion under way.
Technology company Google has made its Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) assistant available to Apple CarPlay users. CarPlay is Apple's system that shows smartphone apps on a car's infotainment screen. The feature lets drivers talk to a voice assistant hands-free within the Google Maps navigation app.
The Gemini navigation integration is launching first in the US market. Google has confirmed that a gradual rollout is also taking place globally.
How the assistant works
The AI can handle multi-step requests. For example, a driver can ask it to suggest the best sights along a route and then immediately tell the navigation to head to the chosen place while avoiding toll roads. To activate the assistant, a user only needs to tap the Gemini icon in Google Maps on the car's infotainment display.
Google describes the CarPlay update as a convenient and natural way to report traffic problems on the road, as well as to look up information about stops and destinations during a trip.
What is not yet available
Google introduced Gemini on Android Auto, its similar platform for Android smartphone users, last year. CarPlay users are getting the feature only now, almost a year later.
For the time being, the CarPlay version makes no mention of the personalised intelligence features recently announced for Android Auto and for cars with built-in Google services. Those features allow the assistant to access user data from Gmail, Calendar, Photos and other Google apps.
