Volvo Takes the Lead in Integrating Google's Gemini AI into Vehicles

Volvo will be the first to install Google's Gemini in its cars

Andrew J. Hawkins is transportation editor with 10+ years of experience who covers EVs, public transportation, and aviation. His work has appeared in The New York Daily News and City & State. At yesterday's I/O conference, Google announced plans to start putting its AI chatbot, Gemini, in a variety of different places, including cars. Today, Volvo said it was shoving its way to the front of the line to be the first to receive the new tech. Volvo said it was expanding its preexisting partnership with Google -- the Swedish automaker was one of the first to adopt the built-in Android Automotive operating system for its vehicles -- to include the integration of Gemini across its model lineup. Drivers will be able to have more "natural" conversations about their car, including language translation, navigational help, and finding specific locations. They'll even be able to ask the AI assistant to answer questions about their vehicle's user manual. Volvo framed it as easing the driver's "cognitive load" so they can keep their eyes on the road. Earlier this month, Google said that it would make Gemini available to cars that support Android Auto, the company's popular phone mirroring program. But whereas Android Auto users will get access to Gemini in the coming weeks, vehicles with Android Automotive -- marketed as Google built-in -- won't get access until later this year. Drivers and passengers will be able to use Gemini send texts, get directions, play music, and basically all the things that Google Assistant has been able to do. The main difference is users won't have to use stilted, robotic commands, instead relying on Gemini's natural language capabilities. Volvo will also now serve as one of Google's reference hardware platforms for the development and testing of future automotive technology. That means Volvo's vehicles will get "new features and updates" from Google before they are added to the main Android codebase. "Through this partnership with Google, we are able to bring the very latest features and capabilities from the leading consumer eco-system into our products first," Alwin Bakkenes, head of global software engineering at Volvo Cars, said in a statement. "With our expanding partnership, we're collaborating on cutting-edge solutions that shape the future of connected cars." Volvo has worked closely with Google for a number of years and is already first in line to receive product updates, like high-def maps, built-in YouTube, and voice-controlled HVAC systems. Polestar, Volvo's former performance subbrand (now a standalone marque), was the first company to sell cars with native Android Automotive OS. Google's annual developer conference, held at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California, was all about Gemini this year. And the car is quickly emerging as an important platform for the chatbot, especially with its myriad of challenges -- namely steering a 2-ton metal box through a complex environment riddled with pitfalls. Google is positioning Gemini as a team player with the other core parts of the vehicle's operating system. "Navigation apps can integrate with Gemini using three core intent formats, allowing you to start navigation, display relevant search results, and execute custom actions, such as enabling users to report incidents like traffic congestion using their voice," Ben Sagmoe, Developer Relations Engineer, wrote on the Android Developers Blog.

Google's Gemini Is Coming to Cars: This Automaker Is the First to Sign Up

As you drive your Volvo to work or book club, Gemini can craft text messages, give you the news, or show you nearby EV chargers. Volvo will be one of the first automakers to integrate Gemini AI into its vehicles. Drivers will be able to have conversations with Gemini while keeping their eyes on the road. They can summon the AI to send messages, translate them into another language before sending, ask questions about their car's manual, or learn more about their destination. At last week's pre-I/O Android Show (video below), Guemmy Kim, senior director, PM and UX, for Android, previewed some of the ways Gemini can be helpful in the car, like showing you EV chargers along your route with a park nearby so you can go for a walk while charging. Or giving you a rundown of the day's headlines, minus the sports, or providing a refresh on a book as you drive to book club. Google is set to roll out its Gemini AI chatbot to cars with Android Auto in the coming months and later this year to cars with Google built-in. In Volvo's case, cars equipped with Google built-in will be among the first to benefit. These vehicles will also see Gemini replace the existing Google Assistant later this year. Requirements for Gemini AI in cars vary depending on the platform. Cars with Android Auto will require an active data connection, while Google built-in will support limited offline functionality. "Through this partnership with Google, we are able to bring the very latest features and capabilities from the leading consumer eco-system into our products first," said Alwin Bakkenes, Volvo's head of global software engineering. Volvo also confirmed that Google will be using its cars as "reference hardware platforms for future Android development."

Google, Volvo Cars deepen partnership to develop Android software for vehicles

May 21 (Reuters) - Volvo Cars and Alphabet's Google said on Wednesday the Swedish carmaker was now the lead development partner for Android automotive software, which should give its buyers access to new versions long before they are available via car industry rivals. "We're going to be able to be fast in bringing new capabilities, new features and new experiences to our customers," Alwin Bakkenes, Volvo's (VOLCARb.ST), opens new tab head of global software engineering, told Reuters. "This really gives us an edge in building fantastic customer experiences." The two companies have been working together for a decade, but the deeper partnership means Google (GOOGL.O), opens new tab engineers will drive Volvo cars with the latest software to "experience how their product behaves in a real context much earlier and much faster", Bakkenes said. He said on average the auto industry was about two Android releases behind mobile phones, which "means things you can do on your mobile phone, in many cases you cannot do in the car". Volvo vehicles currently operate using Android 13, but at Google's I/O annual developer conference underway in Mountain View, California, the two companies are demonstrating Volvo's flagship EX90 electric SUV running on Android 15 - the latest version of Google's mobile operating system - which will roll out in production models later this year. "Others might have to wait two years to get" that latest version of Android, Bakkenes said. At the I/O conference the two companies also demonstrated Google's Gemini artificial intelligence model running in the EX90, which Volvo is going to roll out to cars with Google built-in. Bakkenes said rather than drivers having to search through their phones for their destination, they can ask Gemini to search their emails or messages for it. Or drivers can, for instance, ask Gemini to find recipes and then put a shopping list on their phone to create "a human-centric experience", Bakkenes said. Reporting by Nick Carey Editing by Mark Potter Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Suggested Topics:Autos & Transportation

Ready, set, Gemini: Volvo will be among the first to install Google's AI

Google will use the car maker as its lead development partner for new Android Automotive features and updates. We've known for a while that Google has been preparing to replace Google Assistant with Gemini in Android Auto and Android Automotive. The company made it official yesterday during the Google I/O, where it announced that the AI would be coming to a variety of products, including cars. If you have an Android Automotive vehicle, you might be wondering which cars will be the first to get the chatbot. We now know the answer. Volvo announced in a press release today that it has expanded its partnership with Google. With this partnership, Volvo vehicles with Google built-in will be among the first cars to take advantage of the software. As it's replacing Assistant, owners will soon be able to have natural conversations with the AI about anything from the user manual to details about their destination. There's no exact date for when the switch will happen. However, Volvo states that Gemini integration will come to its cars later this year. That's not the only news the car maker had to share. This expanded partnership with the tech giant also comes with the benefit of becoming the reference hardware for Android Automotive development. Volvo says it will now be the lead development partner, meaning Google will use its vehicles for developing new features and updates before they're added to the main Android codebase. As a result, it looks like Volvo owners will now be among the first to enjoy new Android features and performance enhancements. On its end, Volvo will also be able to accelerate its own advancements in the connected car space. What do you think of Volvo's cars being the first to receive Gemini integration? Let us know in the comments section below.

Google's Gemini AI is coming to Volvo cars

Google (GOOGL) is bringing its Gemini AI to Volvo cars. Google parent Alphabet and the Swedish carmaker, two companies that have collaborated for decades, announced a new partnership Wednesday to use Volvo's vehicles as the lead development partner for the tech giant's AI division. The announcement was made at Google's annual I/O developer conference. Volvo vehicles currently use Google Assistant on Android 13. Later this year, new models of the EX90 electric SUV will run on Android 15 with Gemini. Subsequent iterations will be available on Volvo cars first, before being made available to other carmakers. The auto industry is usually two years behind current operating systems, meaning your phone is inevitably more up to date than your vehicle. This deal would change that, and would allow Gemini engineers to "experience how their product behaves in a real context much earlier and much faster," Alwin Bakkenes, head of software engineering at Volvo, told Reuters. Bakkenes promised that this would also eliminate drivers' need to check their phones while driving, allowing Gemini to search email or messages for destinations. Translation, navigational tools, and access to the user's manual will also be available to reduce drivers' "cognitive load, so that you can stay focused on driving." While that doesn't sound that different from standard Assistant features, the company promises that Gemini will respond to more of a "natural conversation," as opposed to requiring stilted prompts. At the I/O conference, Google also announced an AI shopping feature that "understands the human body and nuances of clothing," allowing online consumers to try on outfits virtually. New features on the augmented-reality smart glasses, Android XR, were also revealed, though the product is not yet available commercially.

Volvo's Cars Will Be The First To Get Google's Gemini AI Assistant

Voice assistants in cars usually suck. They sound choppy, and it's infuriating when you have to repeat the same command three times in a row, only to have it say, "Sorry, I don't know what you mean." Google, the t chgiant that used to be all about search, wants to change the way in-car voice assistants work. And Volvo will be the first automaker to benefit from the improvements, with the Swedish company's models first in line to get the new Gemini AI chatbot. The new feature will come as a software update to Volvo models running Android Automotive OS, such as the EX30, EX40 and EX90 electric crossovers. These cars already have Google Assistant built in, but that will be replaced by Gemini, which is more powerful and allows drivers and passengers to send texts, translate messages and find specific locations on Google Maps in a more natural way. They can also control certain car features, too, like the climate control temperature. Volvo was one of the first automakers to ship its cars with Google's Android-based software, and now that relationship will benefit both sides. Volvo will act as one of Google's reference hardware platforms for the development and testing of future automotive-grade technology, as noted by The Verge. In other words, Volvo cars will get new features and updates before they're added to the main Android Automotive codebase. "Through this partnership with Google, we are able to bring the very latest features and capabilities from the leading consumer eco-system into our products first," said Alwin Bakkenes, head of global software engineering at Volvo Cars. "With our expanding partnership, we're collaborating on cutting-edge solutions that shape the future of connected cars." Gemini promises natural-sounding conversations that aren't limited by certain commands, so the experience should be akin to speaking with a human instead of giving orders to a machine. Volvo models with Google built-in will get Gemini toward the end of the year. Older Volvos that have the Sensus infotainment system won't get the feature, but there is a workaround. If the driver or one of the passengers has an Android smartphone, Gemini will show up on the car's main screen if the phone is connected through Android Auto. Google said Android smartphone users will get access to the new AI assistant in the coming weeks, so earlier than cars with Android Automotive. That said, Gemini through Android Auto-that's the mirroring system similar to Apple's CarPlay-won't be able to control any of the car's functions.

Volvo leads with Android 15 and Gemini AI thanks to Google partnership

At the Shanghai Auto Show, Chinese EV battery giant CATL revealed new technologies, but none are likely to reach US consumers anytime soon. Volvo Cars and Alphabet's Google said on Wednesday the Swedish carmaker was now the lead development partner for Android automotive software, which should give its buyers access to new versions long before they are available via car industry rivals. "We're going to be able to be fast in bringing new capabilities, new features and new experiences to our customers," Alwin Bakkenes, Volvo's VOLCARb.ST head of global software engineering, told Reuters. "This really gives us an edge in building fantastic customer experiences." The two companies have been working together for a decade, but the deeper partnership means Google GOOGL.O engineers will drive Volvo cars with the latest software to "experience how their product behaves in a real context much earlier and much faster", Bakkenes said. He said on average the auto industry was about two Android releases behind mobile phones, which "means things you can do on your mobile phone, in many cases you cannot do in the car". Volvo vehicles currently operate using Android 13, but at Google's I/O annual developer conference underway in Mountain View, California, the two companies are demonstrating Volvo's flagship EX90 electric SUV running on Android 15 - the latest version of Google's mobile operating system - which will roll out in production models later this year. "Others might have to wait two years to get" that latest version of Android, Bakkenes said. At the I/O conference the two companies also demonstrated Google's Gemini artificial intelligence model running in the EX90, which Volvo is going to roll out to cars with Google built-in. Bakkenes said rather than drivers having to search through their phones for their destination, they can ask Gemini to search their emails or messages for it. Or drivers can, for instance, ask Gemini to find recipes and then put a shopping list on their phone to create "a human-centric experience", Bakkenes said.

Google, Volvo Cars deepen partnership to develop Android software for vehicles

At the I/O conference the two companies also demonstrated Google's Gemini artificial intelligence model running in the EX90, which Volvo is going to roll out to cars with Google built-in. Bakkenes said rather than drivers having to search through their phones for their destination, they can ask Gemini to search their emails or messages for it. Volvo Cars and Alphabet's Google said on Wednesday the Swedish carmaker was now the lead development partner for Android automotive software, which should give its buyers access to new versions long before they are available via car industry rivals. "We're going to be able to be fast in bringing new capabilities, new features and new experiences to our customers," Alwin Bakkenes, Volvo's head of global software engineering, told Reuters. "This really gives us an edge in building fantastic customer experiences." The two companies have been working together for a decade, but the deeper partnership means Google engineers will drive Volvo cars with the latest software to "experience how their product behaves in a real context much earlier and much faster", Bakkenes said. He said on average the auto industry was about two Android releases behind mobile phones, which "means things you can do on your mobile phone, in many cases you cannot do in the car". Volvo vehicles currently operate using Android 13, but at Google's I/O annual developer conference underway in Mountain View, California, the two companies are demonstrating Volvo's flagship EX90 electric SUV running on Android 15 - the latest version of Google's mobile operating system - which will roll out in production models later this year. "Others might have to wait two years to get" that latest version of Android, Bakkenes said. At the I/O conference the two companies also demonstrated Google's Gemini artificial intelligence model running in the EX90, which Volvo is going to roll out to cars with Google built-in. Bakkenes said rather than drivers having to search through their phones for their destination, they can ask Gemini to search their emails or messages for it. Or drivers can, for instance, ask Gemini to find recipes and then put a shopping list on their phone to create "a human-centric experience", Bakkenes said.

Volvo to become a reference partner for Google Gemini integration

Expect to see Gemini and Android Automotive OS having a bigger role in Volvo cars in the future. Volvo has announced that it has teamed up with Google to ensure that Android Automotive OS and Gemini has a bigger role in its vehicles. We're informed that Volvo is set to become a reference partner for all manner of Google's car endeavours, and that this will see Google software improvements being fast-tracked in the Swedish automotive brand. In terms of what we can expect on this front, Volvo explains that Gemini will launch in its models and that this will enable drivers to better understand their car by being able to speak with the AI in natural conversations. It will enable drivers to reduce their mental load while driving by taking any need to manually craft and send messages, and therefore commit more energy and focus on the road itself. Gemini is set to replace the existing Google Assistant in Volvo cars, and will then be expanded later this year with a built-in Google system too.

Google, Volvo Cars deepen partnership to develop Android software for vehicles

(Reuters) -Volvo Cars and Alphabet's Google said on Wednesday the Swedish carmaker was now the lead development partner for Android automotive software, which should give its buyers access to new versions long before they are available via car industry rivals. "We're going to be able to be fast in bringing new capabilities, new features and new experiences to our customers," Alwin Bakkenes, Volvo's head of global software engineering, told Reuters. "This really gives us an edge in building fantastic customer experiences." The two companies have been working together for a decade, but the deeper partnership means Google engineers will drive Volvo cars with the latest software to "experience how their product behaves in a real context much earlier and much faster", Bakkenes said. He said on average the auto industry was about two Android releases behind mobile phones, which "means things you can do on your mobile phone, in many cases you cannot do in the car". Volvo vehicles currently operate using Android 13, but at Google's I/O annual developer conference underway in Mountain View, California, the two companies are demonstrating Volvo's flagship EX90 electric SUV running on Android 15 - the latest version of Google's mobile operating system - which will roll out in production models later this year. "Others might have to wait two years to get" that latest version of Android, Bakkenes said. At the I/O conference the two companies also demonstrated Google's Gemini artificial intelligence model running in the EX90, which Volvo is going to roll out to cars with Google built-in. Bakkenes said rather than drivers having to search through their phones for their destination, they can ask Gemini to search their emails or messages for it. Or drivers can, for instance, ask Gemini to find recipes and then put a shopping list on their phone to create "a human-centric experience", Bakkenes said.