Volvo Cars has expanded its partnership with Google to speed up the delivery of the latest Android Automotive OS services to drivers of Volvo models with Google built-in.
This includes Google Gemini, a generative artificial intelligence chatbot. Once launched, Volvo drivers will be able to tap into Google’s conversational AI technology. Gemini will replace the current Google Assistant in Volvo cars (with Google built-in) later this year. The automaker also said it will now serve as one of Google’s reference hardware platforms for future Android development in vehicles.
In a statement Patrick Brady, Vice President of Android for Cars at Google, said Google and Volvo Cars have collaborated closely for years 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.”
The OEM said Gemini will help drivers better understand what they want, while driving through natural conversations. This means the driver or passenger can talk naturally to create messages, translate them into another language before sending, ask questions from the car’s user manual, or learn specific details about their destination. The end result aims for increased driving focus and therefore less distractions for everyone onboard.
“Through this partnership with Google, we are able to bring the very latest features and capabilities from the leading consumer ecosystem into our products first,” says Alwin Bakkenes, Head of Global Software Engineering at Volvo Cars, in a statement. “With our expanding partnership, we’re collaborating on cutting-edge solutions that shape the future of connected cars.”
