Gemini on Android Auto: Why Drivers Are Frustrated with Google’s New Assistant
The Gemini Switch That Left Drivers Frustrated
Over the past year, Google has slowly been phasing out Google Assistant to replace it with its updated Gemini AI assistant. Overall, Gemini is supposed to bring a more intuitive system to users, as well as additional access to better processing of your requests.
However, especially on Android Auto, the Gemini switch has left a lot of drivers frustrated—myself included.
While not all users have had a bad experience with Gemini, some of the biggest complaints seem to be tied to how much more complicated Gemini makes basic tasks.
What Changed: Google Assistant Is Officially Gone
The unfortunate news is that Google has officially killed Google Assistant. As of September 4, 2026, the company stopped offering support for the outdated Assistant on:
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Android
-
Wear OS
-
Vehicles running Android Auto projected from a user’s mobile device
This means you’ll need to find a way to move forward with Gemini, whether you like it or not.
| Platform | Google Assistant Status |
|---|---|
| Android | ❌ No longer supported |
| Wear OS | ❌ No longer supported |
| Android Auto | ❌ No longer supported |
| Gemini | ✅ The only option going forward |
Problem 1: Gemini Can’t Handle Basic Music Requests
One user took to Reddit to complain that anytime they try to get Gemini to play songs on Spotify, it keeps saying it can’t assist them with playing videos while they’re driving.
This is no doubt frustrating, as the entire point of Gemini on Android Auto is to make your life easier when it comes to:
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Playing music
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Making phone calls
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Navigating to a new destination
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Any other assortment of things you might need to do while driving
| Expected Behavior | Actual Gemini Behavior |
|---|---|
| “Play [song] on Spotify” | “I can’t assist with playing videos while driving.” |
| “Play my playlist” | Confused response or failure to start playback |
Problem 2: Navigation Requests Return Confused Responses
I’ve had some personal experience with a few of these issues, too. Asking Gemini to take me to a specific location can often return a confused response from the AI, with it asking questions trying to nail down the exact place that I’m trying to get to—even if it is somewhere I go often.
This is expected to some degree, especially if you live in a bigger city like I do. However, the overall performance just feels really inconsistent.
| Scenario | Expected | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| Frequent destination | “Navigating to [location]” | “Which [location] did you mean?” |
| Simple address | Direct navigation | Follow-up questions about the destination |
Problem 3: Gemini Doesn’t Know When to Stop Talking
Perhaps one of the most abundant complaints we’ve seen online—and something I have dealt with myself—is that Gemini just doesn’t like to stop talking sometimes.
Don’t get me wrong, Google Assistant had its share of problems. But a lot of the time when I asked it to do something, it completed the task and then moved on. However, Gemini tends to rattle on, taking the time to rattle through different information about your requests after completing them or even before completing them.
| Issue | Google Assistant | Gemini |
|---|---|---|
| After completing a task | Moves on quickly | Continues talking with extra information |
| When selecting a destination | Stops talking | Keeps talking as if you haven’t selected anything |
| When making a call | Completes the call | May enter a circular sequence of questions |
User Complaint: Some users have complained that when telling Gemini to find locations near them, even after they select a destination, the AI continues talking as if it hasn’t realized that they already picked a location from the menu on the screen.
Problem 4: Text Messages, Reminders, and Wrong Songs
Unfortunately, the problems with Gemini don’t really stop there either. Complaints about Gemini:
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Failing to start text messages when asked to
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Creating a chat instead of a reminder
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Choosing the wrong version of a song
have all surfaced online.
| Task | Expected | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| Send a text | Starts a text message | Fails to start or creates a chat instead |
| Set a reminder | Creates a reminder | Creates a chat instead |
| Play a song | Plays the correct version | Plays the wrong version |
Note: There is some room for error expected, especially when you’re dealing with an AI because of how they tend to hallucinate. However, because of how inconsistent Gemini’s performance feels across the board, it really feels like the system needs more time in the development oven.
Why Gemini Feels Like a Step Back in the Car
The best selling point of Gemini replacing Google Assistant on Android Auto was to make ease of use better while allowing you to continue focusing on the road ahead of you.
However, if users are having to take more time just to perform the basic actions that their assistant should be able to perform, then you lose the edge that Gemini is supposed to bring to the table.
| Aspect | Google Assistant | Gemini |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Fast, task-focused | Slower, more conversational |
| Reliability | Consistent | Inconsistent |
| Simplicity | Direct responses | Verbose, over-explains |
| Car Suitability | Built for quick tasks | Better for complex questions |
The Bottom Line: Gemini is absolutely smarter than Google Assistant in many ways—it’s better at understanding you when you stumble through a voice command, and it’s great at explaining multi-layered answers to complex questions. But those aren’t ideal strengths for in the car, where it more often feels like we’ve taken a step back with basic, digital assistant-type tasks.
What Google Needs to Fix
Considering how hard Google is pushing Gemini across all of its services, the company really needs to address the complaints we’re seeing and find a way to work out the kinks if Gemini is truly meant to be a replacement for Google Assistant.
| Area | What Needs Improvement |
|---|---|
| Music Playback | Fix Spotify integration and song selection |
| Navigation | Reduce follow-up questions for frequent destinations |
| Verbosity | Learn when to stop talking after completing a task |
| Text Messages | Reliably start and send text messages |
| Reminders | Correctly create reminders, not chats |
| Consistency | Ensure reliable performance across all tasks |
The Good News: There are some clever ways you can use Gemini in your car—you just might need to work with Google a little to cut down on the noise.
Comparison Table: Google Assistant vs. Gemini on Android Auto
| Feature | Google Assistant | Gemini |
|---|---|---|
| Music Playback | ✅ Reliable | ❌ Inconsistent |
| Navigation | ✅ Direct | ⚠️ Confused responses |
| Task Completion | ✅ Quick | ⚠️ Verbose |
| Text Messages | ✅ Works | ❌ Often fails |
| Reminders | ✅ Works | ⚠️ Creates chats instead |
| Complex Questions | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ Excellent |
| Voice Recognition | ✅ Good | ✅ Better |
| Availability | ❌ Discontinued | ✅ Active |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Google Assistant still available on Android Auto?
A: No. As of September 4, 2026, Google stopped offering support for Google Assistant on Android Auto. Gemini is now the only option.
Q: Why is Gemini so frustrating on Android Auto?
A: Common complaints include failing to play music, confused navigation responses, talking too much, and failing to start text messages or reminders.
Q: Can I switch back to Google Assistant?
A: No. Google Assistant is no longer supported on Android Auto or Android devices.
Q: Will Google fix these Gemini issues?
A: Google is actively developing Gemini, and updates are expected. However, there’s no official timeline for fixing these specific complaints.
Q: Is Gemini better than Google Assistant in any way?
A: Yes. Gemini is smarter, better at understanding natural language, and excels at complex questions. However, it struggles with the basic, quick tasks that made Google Assistant ideal for driving.
Q: Are there workarounds for using Gemini in the car?
A: Yes. There are some clever ways to use Gemini in your car, such as using specific commands and working with Google to cut down on the noise.
Quick Reference Summary
| Issue | Status |
|---|---|
| Google Assistant Discontinued | September 4, 2026 |
| Gemini Music Playback | ❌ Often fails |
| Gemini Navigation | ⚠️ Confused responses |
| Gemini Verbosity | ❌ Talks too much |
| Gemini Text Messages | ❌ Often fails |
| Gemini Reminders | ⚠️ Creates chats instead |
| Gemini Complex Questions | ✅ Excellent |
Final Thoughts
Gemini is an impressive AI assistant in many ways, but on Android Auto, it often feels like a step backward. The features that made Google Assistant ideal for driving—speed, reliability, and simplicity—are precisely where Gemini struggles.
The bottom line: Google needs to address these complaints and work out the kinks if Gemini is truly meant to be a replacement for Google Assistant. Until then, drivers will have to make do with a system that’s smarter but less useful where it matters most.
