Google has upgraded its Gemini conversational assistant to work more closely with drivers. The new version runs on Android Auto and on vehicles that embed Google’s software, allowing the AI to respond while the car’s infotainment system is in use. This expansion follows the initial launch of Gemini on Android Auto last year.
With the update, Gemini can retrieve information from a range of Google services as the driver travels. It can read messages from Gmail, check appointments in Calendar, suggest routes using Maps, display images stored in Photos, pull video suggestions from YouTube, and incorporate results from Search. The assistant then tailors its replies using that personal data.
Access to these personal sources is gated by a feature Google calls Personal Intelligence. Users must turn the setting on for Gemini to link to their apps, and the phone must remain connected to the vehicle for the assistant to deliver customized answers. If the option stays off, the system still provides navigation, music playback, calls and generic queries without personal tailoring.
The Personal Intelligence toggle begins rolling out to Android Auto users as of today, according to Google’s announcement. Support for vehicles equipped with Google’s built-in platform is slated to arrive over the next several months, extending the personalized experience to cars that already run native Android applications. Google indicates the phased deployment will follow standard software update cycles.
Several automakers have already shipped models that include Google’s integrated system, enabling the new Gemini capabilities. Companies such as Ford, General Motors, Honda, Nissan, Volvo and Polestar have released recent vehicles with the built-in suite, which supports native Android apps alongside traditional infotainment functions. These partnerships allow drivers to access the same Google services they use on their phones directly from the dashboard.