Gemini’s Personal Intelligence is reaching the car, where it can use information from connected Google apps to answer requests and help with navigation. The feature is optional, but its arrival in Android Auto makes it a good time to check what account data Gemini can access.
What Personal Intelligence adds
Personal Intelligence lets Gemini use more of a person’s existing data to shape its responses. Instead of asking a driver to provide every detail, the assistant may be able to find relevant context in connected services such as Gmail and Calendar.
Google’s example is a request to go to a doctor’s appointment. If the appointment is in a connected calendar, Gemini can use that information to help with the request. The company also says Gemini can analyze photos to identify locations and use them to start navigation.
That convenience depends on the information Gemini can draw from. A request can be shorter when the assistant already has relevant context, but connected data can also affect what it says and does.
Which cars are getting it
The rollout is beginning in Android Auto. Vehicles with Google built-in are expected to receive Personal Intelligence in the next few months. Android Auto projects an interface from a phone, while Google built-in refers to cars that run Google software in their infotainment systems.
The order is notable because Google often introduces new car features on vehicles with Google built-in first. This time, Android Auto is first in line. The source article says relatively few vehicles have Google built-in.
Check the connected apps setting
Personal Intelligence is off by default. However, a user may have enabled it while using Gemini, and those settings carry over to Android Auto. Gemini has replaced Assistant on all devices, so a setting chosen during earlier use of Gemini may matter when the assistant is used in the car.
To review the options, open the Gemini app settings and look for Connected Apps. There, users can toggle access to Workspace services, including Gmail and Calendar, as well as Search, Photos, and other apps.
That review may be especially relevant in a shared vehicle. Other people may interact with the car’s screen, and a driver might prefer not to have personal account information shape replies in that setting.
Convenience comes with data choices
Google says it does not use personal data to train Gemini. The company does use users’ inputs and outputs while they interact with the AI, however. When connected services provide personal context, some generated outputs may include personal information. Google attempts to filter that information, but the source article says the company does not make promises about preventing it.
The rollout creates a practical moment to revisit the tradeoff: connected information can make in-car requests easier, while limiting app access can reduce the personal context available to Gemini. The available settings give users a way to choose which connected apps inform the assistant.
The source article says it was unclear whether vehicles with Google built-in would have a separate Personal Intelligence settings interface. Google had been asked about this, with an update expected if the company responded.