I’m an iPhone user switching to Gemini with Android Auto in the car – why don’t I regret it
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As an iPhone owner, I primarily use Siri with CarPlay when driving. Apple’s voice assistant can do basic tasks like give me directions, make calls, send texts, check my calendar, create reminders, and play music and podcasts. For more challenging questions that frustrate Siri, I’ve been turning to ChatGPT.
But since my Toyota Camry supports Android Auto as well, I wanted to see how Google Gemini would handle me as my car assistant. With that in mind, I’ve been using Gemini with my Android phone while driving. I gave it different tasks to do and questions to answer.
Also: Is Android Auto overheating your phone? Try these 8 ways to cool it down
With Google’s AI, you can send emails and messages, ask for playlist suggestions, find information about local restaurants and businesses through Google Maps, set reminders, ask any question on your mind, play a game, listen to a story, and more.
How does Gemini perform in my experience? You’ll have to read on to find out. But here’s how I’ve been using Gemini and how you can, too.
How to set up and use Gemini in a car
What you need: To update Gemini with Android Auto, you need an Android phone and a car that supports Android Auto. Check Google’s “Get a ride with Android Auto” page to see if your car’s stereo or multimedia system is compatible.
If you have the right phone and car, let’s go through the first steps.
The process is different for Samsung phones. Here, go to Settings, select Apps, and tap the option to select default apps. Tap on the Digital Assistant app entry and make sure it says Google.
If not, tap on the entry on the next screen and change the selection to Google. To make sure Gemini is the default on your Samsung phone, press the power button. A window should appear telling you that Gemini is your new AI assistant from Google.
To use Gemini in your car, you want to be able to make it work hands-free. To do this, open the Gemini app on your phone, tap your profile icon, and select Settings. Tap the option to talk to Gemini hands-free, then turn on the “Hey Google” switch. Touch the power button and press Done.
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Next, connect your Android phone to your car. You can do this with a wired USB cable or with a wireless Bluetooth connection. For a wired connection, you need Android 9 or higher; for wireless, you need Android 11 or higher.
After connecting your phone, go back to the Android Auto settings on your device and tap the “Connect car” button. If your phone is connected via USB, the connection is stable. If you’re going the wireless route, select the option to connect using Android Auto wirelessly, then choose to connect using Bluetooth.
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On your car’s multimedia screen, go to Settings, select “Bluetooth and devices,” tap the button to add another device, then tap the button to search for devices. Select your phone’s name on your car’s screen after it appears. The same pairing code appears on your phone and on the car’s screen. Verify the code on both devices.
On the car screen, tap Yes when asked if you want to use Android Auto. After that you should see the Android Auto interface on your screen.
The Gemini is still coming out with an Android Auto voice assistant, so the AI isn’t yet accessible to everyone. To check if you’re in your car and Android Auto is running, say: “Hey Google. Do you use Gemini?” If Assistant doesn’t understand your request, then you’re stuck with the old Google Assistant. But if it announces that it uses Gemini, you’re good to go.
Also: My 4 favorite Android Auto settings are very useful – but hidden by default
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Now you are ready to chat with Gemini. To make the AI spin, just say: “Hey, Google” to activate it and tell it what you want. Now, here are some of the tasks I gave it and how it performed.
First, I was hungry for one of my favorite foods — sushi. I asked Gemini to find the nearest Japanese sushi restaurants. AI has generated a list of nearby locations. One restaurant was of particular interest to me, so I asked for more information about it. Gemini then asked if I wanted to go there, at which point it provided driving directions via Google Maps.
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I needed to communicate with someone while driving but didn’t want to play on the phone. Instead, I told Gemini to send the person a text. The AI asked me for a title, which I gave. The text continued on its merry way.
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As a huge Spider-Man fan, I was eager to watch the new “Spider-Noir” series on Amazon Prime and was curious about its initial reception. I asked Gemini to give me the latest system updates. The AI provided a general overview and read me a few specific updates.
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To pass the time while driving, I usually listen to music or podcasts. But sometimes I want something more interactive. Here, I asked Gemini to play a game. AI designed a trivia game about US history. At first, the questions were very simple. But I told Gemini to give me an extra challenge, and it did the trick.
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Finally, good conversation is another way to stay engaged during a long car ride. Here, I asked Gemini to start a stimulating conversation. Back to the subject of Mr. Giggles talking, and we talked about what he might say about his favorite food, his favorite household item (robot vacuum), and other household items.
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Finally, I liked the ease and efficiency of chatting with Gemini in the car. Compared to using both Siri and ChatGPT on my iPhone, Gemini is a one-stop shop, helping me with everything from basic commands to complex, interactive tasks. From now on, I’ll be sure to take my Android phone with me when I drive so I can call the Gemini whenever I want.
