At yesterday's I/O conference, Google announced plans to integrate its AI chatbot, Gemini, into various platforms, including cars. Today, Volvo announced that it intends to be the first automaker to incorporate this new technology across its entire lineup. Volvo is expanding its existing partnership with Google, which began with the adoption of the Android Automotive operating system. This system is already featured in many Volvo models and allows drivers to interact with their vehicles more naturally. With the addition of Gemini, Volvo aims to enhance the in-car experience by making conversations with the AI more fluid and natural. Features such as language translation, navigation assistance, and location finding will become more intuitive, and users can even ask Gemini for information about their car's user manual. According to Volvo, these advancements are designed to reduce the driver's cognitive load and promote safer driving. Earlier this month, Google revealed that it would make Gemini available to cars that support Android Auto, a widely used phone mirroring program. However, while Android Auto users can expect to see Gemini in the coming weeks, those with vehicles running on Android Automotive — branded as "Google built-in" — will have to wait until later this year for the update. The integration of Gemini into Volvo’s cars will allow drivers and passengers to perform a range of tasks, from sending texts and getting directions to playing music, much like what Google Assistant currently offers. The key difference lies in Gemini’s natural language processing capabilities, which eliminate the need for rigid, robotic commands. In addition to these consumer-facing improvements, Volvo will serve as one of Google's primary reference hardware platforms for the ongoing development and testing of future automotive technologies. This means that Volvo’s vehicles will receive new features and updates directly from Google before they are integrated into the broader Android ecosystem. Alwin Bakkenes, head of global software engineering at Volvo Cars, highlighted the significance of this partnership: “Through our collaboration with Google, we are able to introduce the latest features and capabilities from the leading consumer ecosystem into our products first. This expanding partnership allows us to work together on cutting-edge solutions that will shape the future of connected cars.” Google’s I/O conference, held at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California, placed a strong emphasis on Gemini this year. The company sees the automobile as a crucial platform for its AI chatbot, especially considering the complexity of navigating a 2-ton vehicle through intricate environments filled with potential hazards. To further enhance the integration, Google is positioning Gemini to work seamlessly with the vehicle’s core operating system. Ben Sagmoe, a developer relations engineer, explained on the Android Developers Blog how navigation apps can interact with Gemini using three core intent formats: starting navigation, displaying relevant search results, and executing custom actions like reporting traffic incidents via voice commands. This strategic move by Volvo and Google signals a significant step forward in the realm of in-vehicle AI, promising a more user-friendly and safer driving experience for consumers. As the technology evolves, the collaboration between these two industry leaders is likely to set new standards for the future of connected cars.