Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
I said it before, but I'll say it again: broken voice commands on Android Auto are integral to the experience behind the wheel, so every bug must be handled with utmost importance by the search giant.
However, as many Android Auto users learned the hard way, voice command bugs come and go, as the reliability of this feature is incredibly limited.
The most recent issue hitting the interaction with Google Assistant on Android Auto affects Google Maps.
Users who turned to Google's forums to report the broken behavior claim that essential trip-related commands no longer work as expected, with Google Assistant performing a search instead of conducting the requested action.
The best example is asking for the ETA to the destination. Someone explains on the forums that asking Google Assistant how long the commute is prompts a web search, with the assistant not looking for the ETA to the destination to share the data. Others confirmed a similar behavior for other requests, explaining that in every case, the search giant searches the web instead of doing what it's requested.
Users who encountered this behavior claim they've already tried the common workarounds, but nothing restored Google Assistant.
The voice commands appear broken when Android Auto is connected, with someone saying everything works correctly when the smartphone is not connected to the media receiver. This behavior suggests a glitch in Android Auto, though I'm certain the problem was introduced by a recent Google app update. Clearing the cache and the data in the Google app doesn't fix the error.
Google has yet to comment on the error, but the good news is that it doesn't affect a significant number of users. However, considering the problem appeared recently after an update now rolling out to users through the Google Play Store, the number of people hitting the same glitch could increase.
Meanwhile, Google Assistant is also getting smarter on Android Auto thanks to the integration of artificial intelligence. The AI-powered features will allow Google Assistant to create summaries of long conversations, so the driver wouldn't have to listen to a busy chat. Google Assistant will read all messages and create a summary that includes the essential bits, providing the user with relevant answers. For example, if the message includes a question regarding the arrival time at a destination, Google Assistant can suggest sharing the ETA via Google Maps, with a shortcut displayed on the screen.
The option to summarize messages will roll out later this year, as Google has already started integrating the support in the existing Android Auto builds. However, the feature will only be available in certain languages and regions, but if you live in the United States, you can be sure you'll be among the first to get the AI-powered capabilities.
The most recent issue hitting the interaction with Google Assistant on Android Auto affects Google Maps.
Users who turned to Google's forums to report the broken behavior claim that essential trip-related commands no longer work as expected, with Google Assistant performing a search instead of conducting the requested action.
The best example is asking for the ETA to the destination. Someone explains on the forums that asking Google Assistant how long the commute is prompts a web search, with the assistant not looking for the ETA to the destination to share the data. Others confirmed a similar behavior for other requests, explaining that in every case, the search giant searches the web instead of doing what it's requested.
Users who encountered this behavior claim they've already tried the common workarounds, but nothing restored Google Assistant.
The voice commands appear broken when Android Auto is connected, with someone saying everything works correctly when the smartphone is not connected to the media receiver. This behavior suggests a glitch in Android Auto, though I'm certain the problem was introduced by a recent Google app update. Clearing the cache and the data in the Google app doesn't fix the error.
Google has yet to comment on the error, but the good news is that it doesn't affect a significant number of users. However, considering the problem appeared recently after an update now rolling out to users through the Google Play Store, the number of people hitting the same glitch could increase.
Meanwhile, Google Assistant is also getting smarter on Android Auto thanks to the integration of artificial intelligence. The AI-powered features will allow Google Assistant to create summaries of long conversations, so the driver wouldn't have to listen to a busy chat. Google Assistant will read all messages and create a summary that includes the essential bits, providing the user with relevant answers. For example, if the message includes a question regarding the arrival time at a destination, Google Assistant can suggest sharing the ETA via Google Maps, with a shortcut displayed on the screen.
The option to summarize messages will roll out later this year, as Google has already started integrating the support in the existing Android Auto builds. However, the feature will only be available in certain languages and regions, but if you live in the United States, you can be sure you'll be among the first to get the AI-powered capabilities.
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