Volvo Cars has just announced an extended partnership with Google that places Gemini inside models already running Android Automotive. Patrick Brady from Google said close work with the Swedish brand lets ideas reach dashboards much sooner.
At Google I/O, a Volvo EX90 demonstrated Gemini carrying out natural voice tasks such as drafting a text, translating it, and searching the vehicle handbook. Volvo explained that spoken replies cut mental strain and help motorists keep attention on traffic.
The agreement also turns Volvo vehicles into reference hardware for Google’s Android development, which means fresh software lands in these cars first before flowing into the main codebase, according to Volvo Cars.
Patrick Brady, Vice President of Android for Cars, Google, said, “For years, Google and Volvo Cars have collaborated closely to bring cutting-edge technology to connected cars.
“We’re excited to deepen this partnership, accelerating the pace of innovation that will not only improve the driving experience for Volvo customers but also set new benchmarks for the automotive industry.”
How Will Gemini Influence The Cockpit?
Gemini replaces Google Assistant later this year. Volvo says drivers will talk in everyday language, which allows the system to grasp longer requests without strict commands. That conversational style marks a leap from button-driven menus of past infotainment suites.
Besides messaging, Gemini can answer questions about the local area, the best charging stop on a long haul, or the quickest way to cool the cabin. The goal is to limit screen touches, trimming distraction during busy journeys.
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Alwin Bakkenes, head of global software engineering at Volvo Cars, added that putting people, not menus, at the centre of the experience guides every software decision.
Gemini arrives alongside virtual safety training that uses “Gaussian splatting”. Volvo feeds incident data into 3-D scenes, then re-runs thousands of altered versions in hours, allowing code to face rare hazards long before real-world exposure.
Which Car Builders Use AI Today?
Alphabet’s Waymo labels its autonomous system “the world’s most experienced driver”. The firm holds more than 20 million miles on public roads and over 20 billion in simulation. Every trial starts with a deep map that pins down each sign, kerb and lane marker.
The vehicle’s lidar, radar and camera streams feed a perception engine that spots pedestrians, cyclists and construction gear in all light and weather. Waymo says its software then guesses how each object could move and decides steering, speed and lane choice in milliseconds.
Backup computers, brakes and steering motors sit in reserve, ready to halt the car if the primary brain falters. Waymo’s test regime covers closed tracks, public streets and digital replays of complex incidents to check every new code build.
Tesla follows a data-heavy route, gathering camera footage from millions of customer cars and training 48 neural networks on its in-house Dojo silicon. A single build takes 70,000 GPU hours, Tesla explains, and the resulting stack manages perception and planning across each journey.
BMW applies AI across offices, plants and showrooms. The AIQX quality portal scans camera feeds on production lines and spots defects instantly, while a GenAI platform lets staff build chat tools or tender analysts without deep coding knowledge, according to Marco Görgmaier.
