Move over KITT – Volvo and Gemini AI brings smart conversation to today’s cars

Autonomous vehicles have long captured the human imagination. From the whimsical Herbie the Love Bug to the tech-savvy KITT from Knight Rider, the idea of a car that can understand and talk back has always been a fascinating prospect.

What was especially fascinating is the fact that these cars had the ability to understand human conversation, terminology and speech to such a degree that speaking to the car was just natural, free and organic. 

Michael Knight didn’t have to repeat himself, speak slowly and rephrase his instructions – imagine how many bad guys would have evaded him if he had been hobbled by a clunky speech engine; that’s a terrifying thought!

Anyway, that was just me hopping into a rabbit hole. What I was going to say is that now, Volvo is making that fiction, of being able to speak to your car, without worrying if you’ll be understood, feel far more real.

In a significant step toward more intuitive driving experiences, Volvo Cars has expanded its partnership with Google to bring the power of Google Gemini™ – Google’s latest conversational AI – directly to existing Volvo models that already feature Google built-in. 

The announcement was made during a joint presentation at Google I/O 2025, showcasing Gemini’s capabilities in a Volvo EX90.

Yes, you got that right, you don’t have to go out and buy a new Volvo; if your Volvo has Google built-in, you’re sorted.

Your Volvo just got smarter

With the upcoming update, Volvo drivers will be able to interact with their vehicles in more natural and fluid ways. Gemini can craft and translate messages, answer questions from the owner’s manual, and even provide details about destinations — all while reducing cognitive load so drivers stay focused on the road.

"We're excited to deepen this partnership, accelerating the pace of innovation that will not only improve the driving experience for Volvo customers but also set new benchmarks for the automotive industry," said Patrick Brady, Vice President of Android for Cars at Google.

Gemini will replace the current Google Assistant later this year, with the rollout benefiting, as I mentioned earlier, current Volvo drivers — not just buyers of future models.

Volvo becomes a development front-runner

The deal also positions Volvo as one of Google’s lead hardware partners for Android Automotive OS development. This means Volvo will be among the first to test and receive new Android features before they reach the broader ecosystem.

“We strive to deliver human-centric technology, and a stunning customer experience is an essential part of this,” said Alwin Bakkenes, head of global software engineering at Volvo Cars. “Through this partnership with Google, we are able to bring the very latest features and capabilities from the leading consumer ecosystem into our products first.”

With Volvo as a proving ground for future in-car tech, drivers can expect a smoother, smarter ride – and maybe even a few Knight Rider flashbacks along the way.