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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- With Gemini now in Android Auto, some users have concerns.
- Gemini logs where you drive and has an always-on microphone.
- There are settings to easily change what Gemini accesses.
Android Auto can be an incredible convenience in your vehicle, but you’re offering up a lot of potentially sensitive information to Google the more you connect — especially when it comes to Gemini.
Gemini became the default option over Assistant several months ago, and it unlocked a ton of new features and capabilities. A lot of people weren’t necessarily happy about giving AI access to their calls, texts, and even location while on the road. Unfortunately, if you’re trying to turn off Gemini entirely from Android Auto, that’s not an option.
Also: I made 7 changes to my Android Auto setup for better functionality when I’m driving
A little more than a year ago, ZDNET’s Jack Wallen covered 5 tweaks to protect your privacy from AI. Now that Gemini is along for your daily drive, too, it’s time to address privacy in your car.
If you’re concerned about Gemini accessing your personal information through Android Auto, here are a few settings you can change to make your in-car time a little more private.
Turn off ‘Hey Google’ detection
You’re probably used to false triggers on your Echo or Google Home speaker in your house or Gemini on your phone — times you weren’t speaking to your assistant, but it responded anyway. Since it’s always listening for the “Hey Google” wake word, the same thing can happen with Gemini in your car.
Also: I started avoiding these 5 Android Auto mistakes, and it’s drastically improved my drives
Gemini isn’t always sending your ambient noise to Google’s servers (that happens once the wake word activates), and your uploaded audio is immediately deleted if it wasn’t an authentic request. Still, it can be a little unnerving to have a microphone in your car if you’re privacy-minded.
You can pull up your Gemini history by going to the app’s settings and looking for “Gemini Apps Activity.” Toggle the setting off so you only trigger Gemini with your steering wheel button.
Separate Android Auto Permissions
Android Auto essentially serves as a bridge between your phone and your car’s screen, and you can control what information goes across that bridge. By default, Android Auto and Gemini can access your call history, your texts, your contacts, and more. Giving access to that information provides for useful features on Android Auto, but they’re not all necessary.
Also: After years of using Android Auto, these are the 8 phone cooling tips I swear by
On your phone, go to Settings > Apps > Android Auto > Permissions. You can choose individually what you want Android Auto to access and what you don’t. You’ll still be able to use it for the things you need, but you’re not giving anything extra.
Stop Gemini’s automatic message summaries
Gemini offers a feature that summarizes long text messages or group chats. If you still want Android Auto to read your texts aloud but don’t want AI to read them, you can stop these summaries. Open Android Auto settings, go to the Messages section, and look for “Notifications with Assistant.” You’ll still hear incoming texts read aloud, but Gemini isn’t seeing anything.
Make sure humans aren’t reviewing your in-car Gemini activity
Not only are your Gemini commands on your phone saved in your log, but they might also be seen by humans to ensure the AI is accurate. The same goes for Gemini in Android Auto. Google’s Gemini apps privacy hub notes that “To help with quality and improve our products (such as generative machine-learning models that power Gemini Apps), human reviewers read, annotate, and process your Gemini Apps conversations.”
Also: 5 reasons I’m using Android Auto instead of my car’s own infotainment system – and can’t go back
Go to the Gemini app, tap your profile picture to access settings, then tap “Gemini Apps Activity.” From there, you have two options. You can toggle off “Keep Activity” to stop it from saving in the future or toggle it off and delete everything that’s stored. If you choose to simply turn it off now, what’s saved can be accessed for up to three years, Google says.
When you do this, your commands will still process, but the saved data is deleted immediately instead of being logged, stored, and possibly reviewed. If you want some history and continuity, you can choose how long Google saves this info by changing it from the default of 18 months to 3 months.
