- Android Auto users criticize Gemini for being too conversational and distracting while driving.
- The assistant fails at tasks such as playing music, sending messages, or modifying navigation.
- Google sets September 4, 2026 as the deadline for the disappearance of Google Assistant on Android.
- The Android Auto update paves the way for Gemini, but problems persist.
Gemini's promise for Android Auto was clear: a smarter, more natural voice assistant for controlling the car. However, the first users testing it aren't exactly happy. Complaints are piling up on forums and social media, and the main reason is that Google's new AI behaves in a way that doesn't suit driving.
The transition from Google Assistant to Gemini hasn't been smooth sailing. While the company insists its new assistant is the future, drivers are encountering overly long responses, failures in simple tasks , and an experience that, instead of making life behind the wheel easier, complicates it. And all this is happening just as Google has set a deadline for Assistant's final demise.
Gemini talks too much when you're behind the wheel.
The main complaint from users is that Gemini engages in overly long conversations. Instead of simply executing a command and remaining silent, the assistant tends to offer explanations, ask additional questions, or even provide extra help. In a car, this translates into a dangerous distraction. Drivers need short, direct answers, not endless dialogue. Furthermore, some users have noticed that preferences for shortening responses are not saved correctly , and after restarting the vehicle, Gemini reverts to its previous behavior.
Music, messaging, and navigation issues
Another major problem is reliability. The old Google Assistant, while limited, handled quick commands. Gemini, on the other hand, gets confused when trying to play a specific song, might search in the wrong app, or interpret a request as a video—something Android Auto blocks while driving. With messages, the assistant doesn't always recognize contact nicknames and ends up selecting the wrong email addresses or people. And in navigation, requesting a stopover can alter the active route, replacing it or canceling it altogether. All of this, while driving, becomes a real headache.
The final transition: goodbye to Google Assistant
Google has confirmed that September 4, 2026, will be the day Google Assistant will no longer be available on most Android devices, including those using Android Auto. From that date, Gemini will be the only voice assistant on phones, tablets, Wear OS watches, and, of course, in cars. The migration is being carried out gradually, and many users already have it installed without prior notice. The exception is cars with Google built-in, which will retain Assistant for now. Despite criticism, Google has no intention of reversing course, and drivers will have to get used to an assistant that, for the moment, hasn't won everyone over.
In short, Gemini's arrival on Android Auto is causing more headaches than it's been worth. Communication problems, failures in basic tasks, and the imminent demise of Assistant paint a complicated picture for drivers. Although Google promises improvements, the reality is that many users are already eager to return to the old assistant. Only time will tell if Gemini will eventually adapt to the in-car environment or if it will continue to be a source of frustration for those who simply want to reach their destination without any issues.
