AI is the future and simply looking at how Google has been moving these past few months is enough for you to reach that conclusion. Google has been finding ways to stick Gemini into every piece of software under its power, and if you watched the Pixel 9 launch event, it was more about Gemini and software than the phones themselves.
However, of all of the platforms in Google's portfolio, Android Auto is one that has somehow managed to be left untainted after all this time. That's only temporary though, as it seems Google is already working on getting the AI model into cars.
Google Gemini Is Already Being Worked Into Android Auto
Android Auto has somehow been able to escape Google's Gemini takeover for this long, saving people in their cars from having to deal with “AI” as much as they do when they're on their smartphones. However, based on the APK teardown performed by the folks over at Android Authority, it really doesn't seem like that respite is going to last for long. In fact, you could argue that Gemini would have been useful in vehicles a lot sooner.
In the latest version of the Android Auto app, it was found that the now identifiable Gemini “sparkle” logo was found among the files in the APK, indicating that Google is planning to make Gemini functionality available in the application. The icon file name also has “kitt” in it. Maybe I'm the only one, but I think that's an obvious reference to KITT from Knight Rider; KITT was AI in a car, after all.
Considering the fact that Android Auto exists to help keep drivers' hands off their phones for longer and enable more hands-free functionality, it just seems like Gemini is a perfect fit for your car. You'd be able to ask questions, find directions, get recommendations, and so on, with a lot more ease than you currently can.
Google Could Potentially Bring Gemini Live To Cars
At the same time, it is possible that while Google could be bringing Google Gemini to Android Auto, it might also be bringing Gemini Live, and that could be a very exciting prospect, to be honest. Gemini Live doesn't require any special hardware to run so there certainly wouldn't be any limitations — it'd just take a software update.
The reason it seems like we might be able to expect Gemini Live is because the same icon filename that let us in on “kitt”, also has the word “live” right after that. I've tried to think of why else that might be included in the filename, but I really think it might be the obvious reason — Gemini Live.
To be honest, I personally think that Gemini Live might be a perfect fit for Android Auto. It's like having another person in the car with you, and that alone should not only make the driving experience more enjoyable, but it would potentially make your queries a lot easier to deliver. This doesn't seem to be super close to being made public, but the signs are there that Google is working on it.
