Google is using artificial intelligence (AI) to make it simpler and less distracting for drivers to use their cellphones while driving. The latest announcement from the search giant coincided with this week’s unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy S24 series.
Google’s version of Apple CarPlay, called Android Auto, is meant to take all the essential elements that make a phone useful for driving and display them prominently on the central display of your vehicle. However, the drawbacks of in-car voice assistants are well known to anyone who has attempted to respond to a message while operating a motor vehicle. Viewing a phone screen can frequently be just as distracting as receiving a barrage of group chat messages or fumbling with bulky digital transcribers.
Google plans to address this same issue in future Android Auto releases. Soon, Android Auto will employ artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically summarize lengthy texts or tumultuous group discussions so you can keep your eyes on the road and not your phone. It will be able to perform appropriate activities and responses, as well as propose them, without ever requiring you to pick up your phone, just like other AI-powered technology.
For instance, Android Auto can swiftly shoot over your projected time of arrival, call your acquaintance, or provide important information like the restaurant location and meet-up time if a friend texts you about lunch arrangements. After then, all you have to do is tap once to go to the place they shared.
All of this seems like a really sensible application of AI. You may spend less time focused on the road and more time on your car’s central display when you have the option to send out an ETA or automatically reroute to a different meeting place with just one click. Furthermore, it is unquestionably a good thing when there are less distracted drivers on the road.
However, there are more updates planned for Android Auto. In order to provide “an even more seamless transition and consistent experience from your phone to your car,” Google announced in a company blog post this week that it will soon transfer customized design components stored on the owner’s smartphone, such as wallpaper and icons.
Although wallpapers are now supported by Android Auto, users are only able to choose from a list of Google-preloaded backdrops. For years, users have been pleading with Google to enable third-party wallpapers on Android Auto, allowing them to use their phone’s background while driving. With this update, when the feature is enabled, the central display in both your car and smartphone will have the same stock icon designs and backdrop.