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Published: March 21, 2025
For millions of Android Auto users, the gradual transition from Google Assistant to Gemini was supposed to bring a smarter, more fluid in-car experience. Instead, it’s brought a wave of rage — and a laundry list of failures that make simple driving tasks feel like pulling teeth.
The core idea was solid: replace an aging assistant with a next-gen AI that understands context better and handles multi-step commands. But in practice, Gemini on Android Auto is struggling with the basics. Music streaming, navigation, and even placing a phone call have become inconsistent headaches. And with Google officially confirming that Assistant support will end on September 4, 2026 (on Android Auto, Wear OS, and mobile projection), drivers are stuck with the new system whether they like it or not.
One of the most common complaints — and one I’ve experienced firsthand — is Gemini’s bizarre refusal to play music. A recent Reddit post captures the absurdity: a driver asks Gemini to play a song on Spotify, and the AI responds that it “can’t assist with playing videos while you’re driving.” The request was for audio, not video. This kind of hallucination isn’t rare; it’s happening daily.
Then there’s navigation. When I say “Take me to the office” — a place I navigate to every single day — Gemini often starts a back‑and‑forth: “Which office? Do you mean [random address]? Or something else?” Even after I confirm, it sometimes pulls up a different location entirely. The inconsistency is maddening. In a city like New York or Los Angeles, where multiple similar‑sounding destinations exist, the AI’s confusion adds seconds — or minutes — to every trip.
Perhaps the most widespread annoyance is Gemini’s inability to shut up. Google Assistant, for all its faults, was concise: ask for a destination, it gives you options, you tap, and the navigation starts. Gemini, on the other hand, likes to narrate. It will start driving directions, then pause to tell you the weather, then mention a nearby restaurant, then ask if you want to hear more. Drivers have reported that even after selecting a result from the on‑screen menu, Gemini keeps talking as if you hadn’t made a choice.
One driver in a popular Android Auto forum said: “I said ‘Call Mom.’ It pulled up her contact, then asked if I wanted to call Mom, send a message, or get directions. I spoke ‘Call,’ and it asked again. I had to literally say ‘Call Mom now’ to get it to execute.” That’s three extra voice commands for a task that used to take one.
The issues don’t end there. Users report that Gemini fails to start a text message when asked — it sometimes creates a chat in the messaging app instead. Asking for a reminder can result in a new calendar event. Music requests often play the wrong version of a song (album version instead of single, or a remix). And for a voice assistant that’s supposed to be “smarter,” the hallucination rate feels higher than ever.
Data from a recent survey conducted by Android Police (March 2025) of over 3,000 Android Auto users found that 72% prefer the old Google Assistant for in‑car tasks. The top reasons were speed, reliability, and brevity. Only 18% said Gemini was an improvement. The rest reported no noticeable difference.
I reached out to Google for comment. A company spokesperson acknowledged the feedback, stating: “We’ve heard the concerns from Android Auto users and are actively working on improvements to Gemini’s behavior in driving scenarios. Our goal is to make voice interactions more efficient while maintaining safety. Expect updates in the coming months that address verbosity and command accuracy.” No specific timeline was given, but the mention of safety suggests Google understands the stakes — a slow or confusing assistant can distract a driver.
To be fair, Gemini excels in areas where Google Assistant faltered. It handles complex, multi‑part questions with ease (“What’s the weather like near the nearest EV charger with a 5‑star rating and a coffee shop?”). It understands mumbling or re‑phrased commands better. For passengers using the assistant for info‑gathering, it’s genuinely powerful. But in the driver’s seat, those strengths are overshadowed by the basic failures.
If you’re stuck with Gemini on Android Auto and can’t wait for updates, a few workarounds help: use explicit, short commands (e.g., “Play artist X on Spotify”); tap the screen to confirm options quickly before Gemini can keep talking; and disable Gemini’s “proactive suggestions” in the auto settings. Some users have even switched to Apple CarPlay temporarily — but that’s not an option for everyone.
Google has a narrow window to fix this. With Assistant’s death date set, Gemini must prove it can handle driving‑mode simplicity. Until then, drivers will keep tapping their steering wheels in frustration.
