Gemini and Android Auto

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allan

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#324487 16-Apr-2026 12:59

So how is everyone coping with Gemini in place of Google Assistant in Android Auto?

Have to say I'm underwhelmed at this point. It is exceedingly slow at passing verbal navigation requests over to Google Maps and the volume control is all over the place while it is speaking back to me. Also, its inability to handle tasks that I had got used to Google Assistant "just doing" is frustrating. A recent conversation while in my car went like this:

"Play my Good Morning routine"

"I can integrate with and control all Google Home devices, would you like me to do that?"

"Yes please"

"Play my Good Morning routine"

"I can't play routines yet"

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#3481311 16-Apr-2026 13:52

At least tesla gave us the old one in the car to keep when adding grok as its AI. I really think we are a long way off these AI assistants being able to do anything useful.

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#3481330 16-Apr-2026 14:49

Still pivots from Australian to US accent within the same query line
Numerous instances of map/traffic information being 'offline' despite the phone having full 5G signal
Had to suddenly give it permission to work with location data, even though it has been doing this for a week or so?
Struggles with NZ accent even more than the old Google assistant did for some reason?
Seems to struggle with requests for songs and handing over to Spotify - sometimes you get the same band but not the song you asked for (it's not an Album title thing either).

I was really looking forward to this so I am pretty disappointed it's as bad as it is. Not quite 'one reddit user suggested ****ing yourself' bad, but it's definitely a step backwards from the old Assistant.

allan

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#3481335 16-Apr-2026 15:33

Ah yes I had forgotten about the accent swapping mid-sentence, but yes that annoys me too.

shrub

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#3481336 16-Apr-2026 15:36

Soo frustrated. Message reply don't work.

I get the message you need to contact your Google workspace administrator to do this.

Also I have trouble with it understanding my English for general requests.

Oblivian

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#3481352 16-Apr-2026 17:33

I had been reading all those tech blogs about the great new features it's introducing so recently switched my phone over to Gemini from assistant in the hope that it would go across. I'm still stuck with assistant for now. However it's getting very tiring that assistant replies to the common navigate to... With a very blunt

sorry I don't understand

Not alone either it seems it's been doing it on and off since about July. I can't see how simple common commands can suddenly just not be understood

gzt

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#3481357 16-Apr-2026 18:16

Did you guys opt-in to get Gemini auto in NZ?

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allan

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#3481365 16-Apr-2026 18:43

gzt: Did you guys opt-in to get Gemini auto in NZ?

No, for me it just switched automatically about 10 days ago.

Oblivian

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#3481366 16-Apr-2026 18:44

It's general release rollout now. And big button pushed this month. Just taking it's time it seems.

gzt

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#3481390 16-Apr-2026 21:22

Ok that sounds nasty for NZ region anyway. Google tells me it can be removed if Gemini App is removed from the device. Idk.

farcus

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#3481410 16-Apr-2026 23:50

Interesting . . . .
I have a Pixel that I use to connect to Android Auto.
When I used assistant on Androdi Auto yesterday it was still Google Assistant and not Gemini.
I think I would welcome the switch to Gemini as I have noticed on my smart clock and android auto that Google Assistant has been becoming dumber and dumber.

networkn

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#3481533 17-Apr-2026 10:47

I love it. It's MUCH better and I can get really useful information whilst I drive. I had a whole conversation about when, where and who my sports team was playing, who was out with injury, when they are expected back etc.

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roderickh

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#3481559 17-Apr-2026 13:07

I've had a good experience. I can query much more things to it during a slow Auckland traffic crawl.

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farcus

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#3481706 17-Apr-2026 23:23

how recently have people received the update?
Seems to be a slow roll out?

scottjpalmer

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#3488083 6-May-2026 14:32

I got Gemini on Android Auto yesterday. Works better than the old assistant did.

Oblivian

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#3490311 12-May-2026 21:35

Mine flicked over a few days ago

It's a lot slower processing cancel navigation requests and general thinking.

Broadcast standard messages to the home group seem to fail too.

On my mobile I've flicked it back. Gemini can't do home automation tasks that involve PIN responses. Just tells you you should open the home app and use Gemini commands in that. Daft.

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