Google Brings Conversational Gemini Navigation To Apple Carplay
Google Maps is rolling out Gemini navigation on CarPlay, letting drivers ask for stops, place information and traffic help through a conversational assistant.
Google is bringing its conversational Gemini navigation assistant to Google Maps on Apple CarPlay. The feature is rolling out to US users, with a global rollout also underway, according to The Verge and Engadget. Drivers can tap a new Gemini icon in Maps to ask questions while navigating.
Table of Contents
What CarPlay drivers can do
The Gemini icon appears near the bottom right of the Google Maps interface on CarPlay, Engadget reports. Tapping it starts a conversation with the assistant. Google describes the feature as a way to find stops during a trip, learn about places and report traffic disruptions.
The assistant can also handle questions with several parts. The Verge gives the example of asking for places to visit, then requesting directions to a suggested destination that avoid toll roads. Engadget highlights questions about a place’s features, such as finding a park known for a particular view. Both reports describe the update as bringing conversational help into the Maps experience on a car’s display.
Rollout and availability
The feature is available to US CarPlay users as the rollout begins, The Verge reports, citing Google’s statement that it is rolling out globally as well. The Verge says it has asked Google for more specific information about regional availability. Engadget likewise reports a worldwide rollout and cautions that the icon may take a few days to appear for some users.
The Verge notes that Google introduced Gemini to Android Auto last year and says the CarPlay release follows nearly 12 months later. For now, the new CarPlay capability described in the reports is Gemini in navigation within Google Maps: users open Maps on the car’s infotainment display and tap the assistant’s icon to begin.
How it differs from the Android Auto announcement
The CarPlay rollout follows a separate Google announcement about Gemini Personal Intelligence for Android Auto. According to Engadget, Google began rolling that feature out the previous day. When enabled, it can draw on information in a user’s other Google apps to make responses more specific.
The Verge says Google also announced Personal Intelligence for cars with Google built-in, and names Gmail, Calendar, Maps, Photos, YouTube and Search among the apps whose information it can access. Neither report says those personalization capabilities are part of the CarPlay update. The Verge has asked Google whether CarPlay users will receive them, leaving that question unanswered in the reports.
Sources
This story was compiled by AI from the reports below. Read the originals for the full details.