I tested Gemini on Android Auto and now I can't stop talking to it: 5 tasks it nails

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Gemini is present wide disposable successful Android Auto.
• It tin integrate with Google services and different apps.
• The AI answered some elemental and complex, multi-step questions. 

Despite Google's insistence connected packing artificial quality into astir each conceivable product, I haven't truly recovered excessively overmuch day-to-day usage for it. That mightiness alteration now. 

Over the weekend, I noticed my Android Auto had updated to see Gemini. I decided to springiness it a speedy test, and it deftly answered my questions. When I started to dive deeper, though, I was amazed by conscionable however overmuch it could bash and however easy it handled what I thought were much analyzable asks.

Also: Your Android Auto conscionable got 5 utile upgrades for escaped - and Google isn't done

Here are immoderate of the champion ways I'm utilizing the caller Gemini integration. To get started for yourself, you tin either usage the mic fastener connected your steering instrumentality oregon accidental "Hey Google." 

1. Finding hours oregon different accusation astir section businesses

When utilizing my telephone successful the car, astir of the clip I'm checking hours for a section concern oregon researching adjacent restaurants oregon stores. I recovered that Gemini is cleanable for quick, elemental questions like, "What clip does Tony's Ice Cream close?" But it's besides large for diving a small deeper.

I'm the benignant of idiosyncratic who likes to bash a batch of investigating erstwhile I'm trying to find a caller restaurant. I similar to cognize what makes each 1 peculiar and what radical urge -- earlier I decide. Gemini does precise good successful situations similar this. 

Also: Google conscionable gave Android Auto its astir important update yet - and we tested it connected the road

I asked for the champion section spots to find crystal cream. Instead of conscionable showing a list, Gemini began detailing each spot, noting that the fig 1 proposal was "a legendary section spot with much than 100 years of past scooping up happiness." It went down the list, offering up recommendations astir each option, and past it adjacent asked which 1 I wanted to navigate to.  

2. Tracking down info heavy successful your email

My woman and I had tickets to a amusement this weekend, and portion I knew wherever I was going, I decided to spot if Gemini would help. Without mentioning the theatre oregon the show's name, I conscionable asked, "What's the code for the amusement tonight?" Gemini thought for a fewer seconds and past replied that my confirmation email didn't notation an code earlier asking, "Do you privation maine to find that accusation online?" When I said I did, it rapidly recovered the code and offered to commencement navigation.  

I asked Gemini respective different email-specific questions similar "What's coming successful the message today?" (thanks to USPS Informed Delivery) and adjacent immoderate vague ones similar "When is that happening I ordered from the TikTok store arriving?" oregon "I retrieve a coupon for a haircut successful my email, erstwhile does that expire?" It handled each 1 perfectly.

Also: How to wide your Android telephone cache - and wherefore it greatly improves performance

Instead of opening my Gmail app, scrolling to find what I request oregon searching, and past opening the message, I tin present get this info rapidly with Gemini's help.

3. Getting answers connected the go, and keeping the speech going

I'm the benignant of idiosyncratic who instantly looks up the answers to random questions that popular successful my caput -- things like, "Where is the Australian Shepherd canine breed from," "How bash I marque polymer clay earrings?" (my woman had seen immoderate astatine a vendor fair), oregon "How bash I marque an electromagnet for an simple schoolhouse subject project?"

Instead of Googling these queries, I asked Gemini. I wasn't amazed to get a response, but I was amazed by however Gemini offered to support things going. Every clip Gemini offered an answer, it would inquire if I wanted to speech more. I recovered myself having a speech astir my canine and wherefore helium doesn't shed astir arsenic overmuch arsenic my different one, astir the champion mode to contiguous my son's electromagnet, and adjacent astir antithetic ways to marque clay earrings and which enactment was best. 

4. Saving reminders and notes

I unrecorded by my Google Calendar, and if I don't person thing saved there, there's a bully accidental I'll hide it. The aforesaid goes for my reminder database successful Google Keep. Quite often, portion I'm driving, I'll person a thought I privation to retrieve later. Gemini, done Android Auto, was capable to adhd things to my Keep lists and adhd things to my Calendar. It besides gave maine a rundown of what's connected my calendar and adjacent asked if I wanted assistance getting acceptable for a gathering time (which was really my wife's lawsuit connected our shared calendar). 

Also: The champion AI chatbots: Expert tested and reviewed

5. Picking the cleanable playlist

When it comes to the vigor successful my car, I'm perpetually bouncing betwixt podcasts, the opus that got stuck successful my caput due to the fact that it was viral connected TikTok, immoderate my kids request, oregon a immense assortment of different songs. That means I'm often bouncing betwixt Spotify, YouTube, and my XM radio. 

I often privation to perceive a circumstantial opus oregon album, and I was capable to get Gemini to propulsion up circumstantial songs utilizing Spotify and YouTube and to instrumentality to songs from that album. When I was successful a much wide mood, I got Gemini to tune to a circumstantial XM presumption for me. 

I haven't stumped AI yet

Overall, I'm uncovering that Gemini tin grip astatine slightest 90% of tasks I'd different prime up my telephone for, from basal questions to much in-depth, multi-level questions. It was capable to integrate with Google services similar Gmail and apps, but besides respective different apps. 

Also: Google's Gemma 4 exemplary goes afloat open-source and unlocks almighty section AI - adjacent connected phones

The basal questions are much common, but the ones that necessitate probe are wherever Gemini shines. I kept trying to deliberation up caller things to ask, and I had occupation uncovering thing that would genuinely stump the AI. If, similar me, you haven't truly embraced Gemini yet, Android Auto mightiness conscionable beryllium your summons in.