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Title: Volvo expands its Google partnership to bring new features like Gemini
to cars sooner

Date: Wed, 21 May 2025 07:00:20 +0000
Link: https://www.engadget.com/transportation/volvo...

Following the announcement that Gemini is coming to cars, Volvo is using I/O
2025 to announce a new expanded partnership with Google. The companies' new
deal makes Volvo's cars reference hardware for future Android Automotive OS
development, and means Volvo drivers will be "among the first to benefit"
when Gemini fully replaces Google Assistant in cars.

Volvo describes itself as Google's "lead development partner for new features
and updates," making the company's cars the first to receive new updates to
the Android Automotive OS. Google offers Android Auto as its CarPlay-like
solution for beaming a software interface from your phone to in-car displays,
but its Automotive OS is more complete, running on your vehicle locally and
connected to car controls for A/C and more. You can already experience
Android Automotive OS in Volvo's EX90, for example.

Google's current vision for Android in cars is, perhaps unsurprisingly,
focused on getting drivers to talk to Gemini. In a car with the assistant,
you'll be able to ask Gemini to send a message, pull up directions, or answer
the more open-ended, natural language questions that Gemini Live is designed
to handle. If it works as advertised, it seems better than pecking at a
screen, and Volvo notes it could "help reduce your cognitive load so that you
can stay focused on driving."

There's no release date for when you can expect Gemini to show up as your
driving copilot, but at the very least this new partnership means it'll be in
Volvos first.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at
https://www.engadget.com/transportation/volvo...
to-bring-new-features-like-gemini-to-cars-sooner-070020853.html?src=rss

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