IT之家 October 21 news — Google is adding stronger personalization capabilities to its Gemini AI assistant, which is already installed in millions of cars, trucks, and SUVs, a move that could further lock users firmly into Google's product ecosystem.
The company announced on local Tuesday that it will add personal intelligence features to the in-car version of Gemini. This feature can pull information from Gmail, Google Calendar, YouTube, Google Maps, Google search history, and other linked Google services, in order to understand users' preferences, travel schedules, and past usage records.
Google said it will roll out the "Gemini personal intelligence" feature to vehicles through two channels: one is Android Auto, an app installed on users' phones that can connect wirelessly to vehicles and project navigation, media, and messaging content onto the in-car entertainment system; the other is Google Built-in, the software and services preinstalled directly in vehicles.
The feature is launching starting today in Android Auto first, and will expand in the coming months to vehicles equipped with Google Built-in.
IT之家 noted that Google first launched Gemini in Android Auto in the 11th month of last year. Meanwhile, Gemini's "personal intelligence" feature went live across the entire United States in the 3rd month of this year and is currently being tested in markets around the world.
As Google stated in its blog post, this latest upgrade can connect data across users' various Google apps.
Drivers need to actively authorize and enable it before the personal intelligence feature takes effect. Once a user turns on the feature, various cross-app information linkages are activated. For example, if a driver is navigating to the airport, the system can remind the user that the flight recorded in their calendar has been delayed.
Google said the feature supports users making complex requests in natural language. Still using the airport scenario as an example, a user can first ask the AI assistant for gate information and then immediately follow up by asking whether the flight is on time. Google said Gemini can answer both questions at once.
Such deep data linkage may concern some users, but Google said that when using the personal intelligence feature, users have complete control over their data. The feature can be turned on or off at any time, and users can also choose which apps to connect.