Google Announces Gemini AI, Passkeys, Quick Share, and More for Android Auto

Google is introducing a number of new features for its Android Auto connected phone feature and the Android Automotive embedded OS for cars, plus new tools for developers. Unsurprisingly, Gemini AI will soon be a core part of the user experience. The announcements were made during the company’s annual Google IO developer conference. The company also announced that there are over 250 million cars on the road that support Android Auto, and more than 50 current models powered by Android Automotive (also known as Google Built-In). 

Over the next few months, Google will begin rolling out AI-enhanced features such as conversational voice search, more responsive dictation, and automatic translation. Gemini will also be able to access information from a user’s Google Calendar appointments and Gmail inbox, allowing it to answer personal questions and surface information such as locations and timings. 

Users will be able to use the Gemini Live assistant for detailed conversations without taking their hands off the wheel or eyes off the road, for example finding charging stations along a route, asking about a location mentioned in an email, and reporting traffic incidents. Over 40 languages are supported for translating outgoing messages. 

Navigation apps will also benefit from Gemini, as users will be able to express different intents through voice commands. Navigation, search, and custom intent queries can be detected by Gemini and handled differently. A user can ask Gemini to show them a route to a specific location or a general parameter, for example “find a coffee shop”.

Google is also opening up new app categories for its “car-ready” compliance programme, which helps users discover them through the Google Play store. While previously available on Android Automotive, they will now also be available to Android Auto users. Apps must meet certain quality and UI guidelines to be accepted into these categories. Developers are only allowed to participate if they are invited by Google, and can receive car-specific app usage analytics. 

Media, Navigation, Point-of-Interest, IoT, and Weather apps are now available on both platforms. Video, Browsers, Games, and Communication app categories are listed as either in beta or “coming soon” on either or both platforms. 

Currently, car-ready apps can only be used when a car is stationary, such as when parked or charging. Google plans to allow these apps to be used on passenger displays when the car is in motion, in the future. There will also be support for differentiated experiences for car users, and different levels of functionality when a car is moving, parked, or transitioning between these states. 

Games on Android Auto will require a smartphone running Android 15 or above. Candy Crush Soda Saga, Angry Birds 2, and Beach Buggy Racing 2 are already confirmed to be in beta testing. Video apps will support an optional audio-only mode to help prevent distracted driving. Apps that are already designed to be adaptive will require minimal modifications to be considered car-ready. 

Google will provide new templates for car-ready apps to developers to help them get selected. Additionally, passkeys and the Credential Manager will also be supported, to make signing in to apps and accounts easier for users. Quick Share will also allow users to send and receive files and other information between devices and their cars.