- Volvo EX60 will be the first to ship with Google Gemini built-in
- Volvo promises “natural conversation” between man and machine
- Latest hardware from Nvidia and Qualcomm speeds up response time
Volvo’s revolutionary mid-size electric SUV is expected to be revealed in full later this week, boasting a range of around 500 miles on a single charge and in-car technology that builds on its already highly advanced Android Automotive system.
But the Swedish brand also confirmed that the next model will be the first to come with Google’s Gemini AI assistant already integrated, allowing for more natural conversations between occupants and the car itself.
Combining hardware from Nvidia and Qualcomm with Google and internally developed software, Volvo says its brilliantly named “HuginCore” system is powerful enough to deliver highly personalized, deeply integrated responses through Google’s Gemini voice assistant.
Complex tasks can be handled through more natural, “multi-turn” conversation, rather than having to memorize specific commands or having to tap through various menus that appear on the touchscreen.
Volvo offers a number of potential use cases for the technology, such as looking up a hotel reservation address in an associated email account (Gmail probably works best), checking if a recently purchased item fits in your EX60 trunk, or brainstorming ideas for an upcoming road trip.
Rather than simply acting as an integrated voice assistant supporting a limited number of vehicle features, the Gemini integration means drivers and occupants can manage administrative life via any linked Google service, as well as ask more generic questions.
It is also expected to work well with Google Maps, which is now widely considered the dominant mapping and navigation service for drivers. This means owners can check if locations are open and even book hotels and restaurants on the go with natural voice prompts, at least in theory.
Qualcomm’s next-generation Snapdragon Cockpit platform delivers the highest levels of processing power ever seen in a Volvo, while Nvidia’s latest Drive AGX Orin system-on-chip runs the entire operating system.
Combined, this would deliver a lag-free infotainment system with maps that load instantly and voice assistants that don’t take long to calculate the request and respond.
The company also announced that Gemini integration will improve over time with over-the-air updates, stating that Gemini will be able to use the EX60’s cameras to “see what you see and answer questions about the world around you.”
Gemini also powers other Volvo vehicles equipped with the latest infotainment systems, such as the recently launched ES90 sedan and the seven-seat EX90.
Analysis: battle of the voice assistants
The race is now on for automakers to come up with AI-based voice assistants that are actually useful. Until now, they have been clunky to say the least, with slow response times and multiple attempts often required to get the desired response.
Volkswagen, for example, took the stage at CES in 2024 to announce that it was integrating ChatGPT into its vehicles, but that system could only respond to broader queries and couldn’t actually adjust anything inside the car – it had to use VW’s voice assistant to do so.
Fast forward to 2026, and BMW was in Las Vegas, showcasing its Amazon Alexa+ system that aims to integrate things further, allowing for seamless chatting with the upcoming iX3, as well as the ability to use and interact with Amazon accounts and hardware.
It will be interesting to see if Volvo can truly solve the “seamless” conversation problem, because even BMW’s live demonstration at this year’s CES wasn’t perfect.
Some answers took a little while to calculate and the whole experience didn’t really feel like chatting with another human being.
But Volvo’s Android-based infotainment system is already impressive, and given that most of the vehicle’s functionality is mapped onto that massive touchscreen, Google’s Gemini’s help in adjusting the exterior mirrors and cabin temperature is probably a good thing.
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