Gemini and Android Auto

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GV27

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#3490341 13-May-2026 07:31

Still having issues, takes an absurd amount of time to connect to other apps (Maps, Spotify) to process requests.

Also asking for a response and not picking it up the first time you say it, but then when you repeat it the input on the screen shows twice... so it did hear it.

weasel13

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#3490345 13-May-2026 08:02

Can't open my gate or garage door like I did with android auto through assistant. It comes up that it can't control devices that require a PIN. I need to open up my phone and speak to gemini through that and it will then run the routine to do that.

Very frustrating

tstone

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#3490381 13-May-2026 10:02

How do you tell you've got it? I got an Android Auto update yesterday but cannot tell (yes I know it's activated at the server level) and was hoping that version supports Gemini and was a sign that it's coming.

scottjpalmer

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#3490383 13-May-2026 10:05

tstone:
How do you tell you've got it? I got an Android Auto update yesterday but cannot tell (yes I know it's activated at the server level) and was hoping that version supports Gemini and was a sign that it's coming.

You'll notice it if it has changed. Says a lot more than the basic assistant did, more conversational, offers to do extra stuff for you.

Oblivian

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#3490434 13-May-2026 10:24

tstone:

How do you tell you've got it? I got an Android Auto update yesterday but cannot tell (yes I know it's activated at the server level) and was hoping that version supports Gemini and was a sign that it's coming.

It has an Announcement on first use. Hi, I'm Gemini your new assistant. You can have more fluid conversations with me.. etc etc.

networkn

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#3490436 13-May-2026 10:33

I am loving the new experience. It's so conversational and is able to do quite a lot.

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farcus

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#3490448 13-May-2026 11:38

tstone:

How do you tell you've got it? I got an Android Auto update yesterday but cannot tell (yes I know it's activated at the server level) and was hoping that version supports Gemini and was a sign that it's coming.

Every few days I just ask, "Hey Goodle. Who are you?" and get, "I'm your Google Assistant" - so no change for me yet.

Interesting that some people mention they can no longer control devices from Android Auto with Gemini.
I have never been able to control devices with Assistant from within Android Auto.
I can't turn my heat pump off or on from Android Auto, I need ot switch to my phone.

weasel13

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#3490641 13-May-2026 18:36

farcus:

tstone:

How do you tell you've got it? I got an Android Auto update yesterday but cannot tell (yes I know it's activated at the server level) and was hoping that version supports Gemini and was a sign that it's coming.

Every few days I just ask, "Hey Goodle. Who are you?" and get, "I'm your Google Assistant" - so no change for me yet.

Interesting that some people mention they can no longer control devices from Android Auto with Gemini.
I have never been able to control devices with Assistant from within Android Auto.
I can't turn my heat pump off or on from Android Auto, I need ot switch to my phone.

Do you have them set up in Google Home or just in their native apps?

Journeyman

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#3490653 13-May-2026 19:48

I've gone back to Google Assistant. I can dictate notes that get saved in Google Keep whereas Gemini wants me to sign up to Workspace in order to save notes, or it wants me to use an Oppo app. I don't have an Oppo.

Rust

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#3490683 14-May-2026 06:45

I've had one interaction with it and was not impressed. It went something like:

"Hey Google, what's the answer to (a basic math problem)"

"Hi, I'm Gemini you're google assistant. I'm here to help with blah blah blah"

Stop talking, just answer the question.

If it cant answer me concisely in as few words as possible, its not going to work for me.

Stu

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#3490700 14-May-2026 08:00

It only says that for the initial interaction. At least, that was the only time I've heard it.

You're not one for introductions, huh? 😉

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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Talkiet

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#3490788 14-May-2026 09:47

For me, it's unusable in the car. My two major voice interactions are setting up navigation and music choice. It completely fails at both.

Navigation - It is unable to kick off navigation. It searches for, and finds addresses, and says it has started navigation, but is unable to kickoff the navigation. When pressed hard, it agrees that it is unable to start navigation and I should use the screen.
Music - "Play 80's music from Youtube Music" literally doesn't work. It tries to use services I don't subscribe to.

I switched back to the previous voice control and it's all I need. It's faster and it actually does what I ask it. I would LIKE a full AI to be there, but when it literally is incapable of the 2 major things I use it for, it's not usable for me.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

shk292

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#3490809 14-May-2026 10:50

The thing that gets me about AI in the car is that I’m very predictable; when I get in the car at 0645 I am driving to work and this has been the case for ages. Yet every morning I have to start nav, select the destination, then acknowledge that traffic is bad. Why can’t AI do all that?

Oblivian

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#3490810 14-May-2026 10:55

Talkiet:

For me, it's unusable in the car. My two major voice interactions are setting up navigation and music choice. It completely fails at both.

Navigation - It is unable to kick off navigation. It searches for, and finds addresses, and says it has started navigation, but is unable to kickoff the navigation. When pressed hard, it agrees that it is unable to start navigation and I should use the screen.
Music - "Play 80's music from Youtube Music" literally doesn't work. It tries to use services I don't subscribe to.
I switched back to the previous voice control and it's all I need. It's faster and it actually does what I ask it. I would LIKE a full AI to be there, but when it literally is incapable of the 2 major things I use it for, it's not usable for me.

Cheers - N

That's if it doesn't respond with sorry I don't understand.

Irony is they've taken short direct known commands and made them conversations. Apparently the recommend method is just say the place, wait for it to tell you all about it, followed up with 'show me how to get there' or take me to. Or say 'show me/drive to xx on google maps' first.

According to the internets the script dropped 'navigate to' as a lead in.

For an alarm clock on my smart clock at home I've had to resort to setting an automation on a Mini speaker in another room with a voice command of 'play radio station xxx on bedroom clock for 40 mins' because none of the native routines work direct on it. Or if they do announce 'ok, playint xxx from tunein' at mass volume.

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