Android Auto Update?

[jefrank]

I was out of state last week blowing money at Universal, SeaWorld, and Busch Gardens and when I returned to my truck at the off-airport parking it talked to me a new male voice after indicating Gemini was part and parcel of the app now. Still have the old female voice in Maps, but when i push the button to ask Android anything, the mellow new guy steps in to take over. Testing it out, we can now ask Android pretty much anything via Gemini - had it give me an overview of pole barn vs conventional build and asked who the support bands were for a concert I'm headed to this week for grins. Not seeing any indications on the software updates about it and just wondering who else has been surprised?

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[JayF]

They actually advertised this was coming *way* sooner than now, and as someone who used Assistant-now-Gemini on my phone, I am glad it's unified. You can adjust the voice separately, fwiw, although I don't think you can get old-assistant back. The bulk of the original Google Assistant team was laid off in Jan 2024 -- so at least now we're on something that's getting support.

I don't love AI/LLMs generally, however, it's significantly more useful than the previous Google assistant which, IME, did a lot of "I don't understand" unless you were asking it to "Navigate to X" or "Call mom".

 

[jefrank]

They actually advertised this was coming *way* sooner than now, and as someone who used Assistant-now-Gemini on my phone, I am glad it's unified. You can adjust the voice separately, fwiw, although I don't think you can get old-assistant back. The bulk of the original Google Assistant team was laid off in Jan 2024 -- so at least now we're on something that's getting support.

I don't love AI/LLMs generally, however, it's significantly more useful than the previous Google assistant which, IME, did a lot of "I don't understand" unless you were asking it to "Navigate to X" or "Call mom".

I've grown to accept the new dude hanging out in my truck over the past few days. Still not thrilled that when I say "Call Lisa" he asks which one when the old assistant knew to call my wife. They could have done some KT when they kicked her to the curb. lol

 

[Tfarrell73]

I switched back to original assistant. Gemini was useless with spotify. Also problems reading texts

 

[Henry Ford]

I switched back to original assistant. Gemini was useless with spotify. Also problems reading texts

I switched back because it was useless with YouTube Music. It refused to switch apps to honor a request.

"Play Stairway to Heaven"

"Stairway to Heaven isn't available in Pocketcast"

"I know this, dumb Google Assistant knows this, why don't you know this?"

"Would you like me to discuss the Peloponnesian War?"

"I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU!!!"

 

[Zprime29]

I usually only use it to navigate or dictate a text. It still works for those, though I'm not a fan of the voice.

 

[jwrezz]

This isn't an AA update, right? It's your phone, thus it includes your phone thru AA.

 

[JayF]

Android Auto is an app on your phone. It can update via the app store or sometimes can update as part of an Android update. The truck is just showing on the screen what the phone tells it (plus a little bit of info exchange).

 

[RickLightning]

Not using AI in my vehicles if I can help it.

 

[jwrezz]

I have a lot of Google devices in my house. (Please no hate, I know how bad they are and am trying to learn Home Assistant). My son listened to his phone and updated our entire Google Home to Gemini. Everyone besides me hates the change. Google Assistant did get a lot of things perfectly, but also had it's fair share of failures. Gemini is the same for now, but I hope we'll see improvement. It took them this long to roll it out to many devices and now with Android 17 it'll be baked into everything us Android users have.

 

[struckby]

I use, and even pay for, Gemini as a capability.

That said, previously as a replacement for Assistant it sucked. Now, im not any more impressed. I especially appreciated when asking for the weather it not only took what felt like 10 minutes to get to the point, it told me about Washington because it didn't have my location (even though it was via android auto...)

I too get Washington for weather. I then asked why it gave me weather in Washington when I'm not in Washington. It apologized and gave me weather in Pittsburgh. I then asked where am I and it gave my correct location. When I asked for weather again I got local weather.

 

[mr.Magoo]

I'm torn on this "upgrade", im some ways it's infuriating... ask for directions to a doctor and you get a long a-- disclaimer about medical advice from Gemini.

Sometimes I ask for directions somewhere and I get two options, one 20 miles away and one 2000miles away, which one do you want to go to ? So I, like any sane person would do, argues back and asks "What are the odds that I'm about to drive 2000 miles vs. 20?
"You are right, 2000 miles is a long drive..."

The constant followup question like a starving call center person saying something nice for the 411th effing time when all I want is to fix whatever issue I'm calling about.

It keeps yapping way to much, I've already selected the option on the screen and started navigating but it keeps yapping for another 10-15 seconds.


But, it is MUCH better at answering random questions, helping with research, etc.
Like, where can I buy spiral ducting in 10ft lengths in my area - good luck trying to get an answer from standard Google (voice/android auto) on that.

It's also great at finding restaurants similar to one you like, vs. style of food.

So, best of both worlds would be to gave two wake words...
Hey Google for stuff you basically already know,
and Hey Gemeni for ai stuff.

 

[bc1]

I use Gemini for medical advice such as when I had it analyze some high and low results on a blood test that turned into a couple hour conversation about how they relate to various health conditions. Just as a supplement to my regular doctor visits at the VA. I just type something in and never use voice as those voice apps always get something wrong when listening to my voice.

 

[Ekiehn]

I switched back because it was useless with YouTube Music. It refused to switch apps to honor a request.

"Play Stairway to Heaven"

"Stairway to Heaven isn't available in Pocketcast"

"I know this, dumb Google Assistant knows this, why don't you know this?"

"Would you like me to discuss the Peloponnesian War?"

"I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU!!!"

Just a point here.. AI needs educating... tell it what it got wrong and ask it to remember what you've taught it.. Most AI will tie what you've trained to your logged in account so the next time it gets it right.. This is the big difference between AI and basic "limited" hard coded responses. Since there are so many more answers you have to teach it.. the good news is that if you telling to play Stairway to Heaven using YouTube music or more precisely you tell it to remember that when you ask it to play music always use YouTube music it should always remember that going forward except when you tell it, this time one time play it on Amazon Music or Spotify or whatever it has access to.

 

[mr.Magoo]

I had an interesting experience this weekend when I was picking up people at the airport...

The route I took, took me by the office so I figured I'd drop some stuff off, no worries there.

On my way there I ask Gemeni when the flight (correct flight number and everything) would arrive... Flight is late by 15min 11.20, OK cool, I got 15min extra at the office.

I arrive, I do my thing, and just to double check that everything is still on for 11.20 I pull out my phone and check regular google - flight arriving early, 10.55 - wtf !?

I hop in the car and start driving because now I'm late instead... ask Gemeni the same thing... flight late, 11.20

Arrive at the airport, people say they landed, regular google say they landed, Gemeni still insists on 11.20

I get that Gemeni isn't perhaps updated as fast / frequently (you'd think they have access to the same data) but if it's lagging behind 30-60min or whatever the number is, then it's not that great for in vehicle use.

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