Android Automotive, Google’s OS intended for car manufacturers, is finally reviewing the Google Assistant interface.
As you may know, Android Auto and Android Automotive are two distinct products from the Mountain View company. The first simply allows you to replicate the interface of your Android smartphone on the screen of your car, just like CarPlay offered by Apple for example.
Android Automotive on the other hand is a full-fledged operating system developed by Google for the car. Just like smartphone makers, automakers can choose to make Android Automotive OS their vehicle’s native infotainment system.
Year after year, Android Automotive has lost ground to its Android Auto alternative. For good reason and if we are to believe the Google documentation, only 50 vehicles worldwide run Android Automotivewhile more than 500 models are compatible with Android Auto.
Also read: Android Auto – the voice assistant gets a new, more intuitive design
Android Automotive revamps the Google Assistant interface
Due to an ever-shrinking vehicle fleet, updates to Android Automotive OS have become rarer. Nevertheless and according to our colleagues from the 9To5Google site, Google has finally decided to slightly review the Google Assistant interface on its OS.
The update brings the “brilliant” design that we can currently see on Android smartphones that have not received Google Gemini, the firm’s latest AI. This look of the Google Assistant window was first introduced on the Pixel 4 when Google launched the new, smarter, faster version of its virtual assistant. You will agree, This is not a major change to the Android Automotive OS interface.but we will have to be content.
As a reminder, on the other hand, updates keep coming on Android Auto, especially since Google’s sharp shift towards AI. In May 2024, for example, Android Auto received an update which now allows users to transfer the playback of a video from their smartphone to their dashboard. For now, this feature is available on a handful of models from Acura, Ford and Rivian. However, as Google clarified, its deployment will gradually take place on more vehicles.