Google Maps Brings Gemini AI to Apple CarPlay Drivers

Google is bringing its Gemini AI assistant to Google Maps on Apple CarPlay. The rollout starts in the US, and the company says the rest of the world should follow in the coming weeks.

Until now, Gemini's in-car features were mainly available to Android users through Android Auto, where the assistant handles a range of tasks while driving. iPhone owners who use CarPlay now get an upgrade of their own.

How Gemini works in CarPlay

The integration lives directly inside Google Maps. That means it is not a system-wide assistant: anyone navigating with Apple's own maps app will not be able to use Gemini there.

Once the feature is enabled, a Gemini star icon appears on the right side of the navigation view. Tapping it makes the assistant listen. According to Google, drivers can give multi-step and more open-ended instructions, for example asking which places offer a good view over the city. They can also ask whether a particular location is busy right now and whether a quieter time might be better.

If you already know your destination, you can give Gemini the address and add a preference such as avoiding toll roads. That saves the trip through the settings menu to find the right option.

Gemini can also be used to report disruptions on the road, including traffic jams, accidents and other obstacles. Those reports warn other Google Maps users.

Availability

Because the rollout is staged, many CarPlay users will not see Gemini yet. If the star icon is missing in Google Maps, the update simply hasn't reached your account, and a bit of patience is needed until Google switches it on. For Android Auto, the company is also adding Personal Intelligence to make Gemini smarter, though that is not yet available in Germany.