Google and Volvo have announced a partnership to bring Gemini AI to cars to “help drivers reduce cognitive load” behind the wheel.
The Volvo EX90 will come with Gemini built-in and will also serve as Google’s reference design for Gemini infused vehicles. The Volvo will be the first car to receive Gemini as part of the roll out.
For drivers, much more will be possible from behind the wheel than it would when using the Google Assistant within Android Auto and Android Automotive.
The two companies say the conversational element is key with drivers able to leverage Gemini to ask questions about the car by referencing the manual. So, if a certain light comes on you’ll just be able to chat naturally to the car.
Or, if you’re en route to a new city, Gemini will field questions about the destination without you having to prod at the screen. It really does sound like an excellent hands-free upgrade for drivers.
“Gemini in the car can better understand what you want while driving through natural conversations,” a press release says.
“You can talk naturally to craft messages, translate them into another language before sending, ask questions from the car’s user manual or learn specific details about your destination. This kind of natural conversation can help reduce your cognitive load so that you can stay focused on driving, reducing distractions for everyone onboard.”
For all Volvo cars with Android built-in Gemini is ready to replace the Google Assistant as soon as this year. Volvo has been a solid partner for Google down the years and the company says: “We’re collaborating on cutting-edge solutions that shape the future of connected cars.”
Opinion
The more I see of Gemini the more I realise it’ll be the hands-free scenarios where it’s most valuable. The ability to just converse in a natural way without repeating yourself and without having to re-establish context sounds great for behind the wheel, just as it does within Android Auto and within the brilliant Android XR demo yesterday.
