6 days ago
Android Automotive 16 Adds Easier Gemini AI Integration, Expanded Card Display in UI
Google has released the latest version of its in-car OS, Android Automotive 16 (AAOS). One of the main changes is the removal of the Weather card from the home screen, so now the Media card expands and displays more information, such as whether your latest food order is ready, as reported by Android Authority.
The volume control has also moved from the bottom right to the top left, sitting next to the brightness adjustment, and a new button for the voice assistant takes its former spot. The system bars at the top and bottom of the screen now match the background color; earlier, they were only black bars, the report said.
The volume panel itself has been redesigned to be more compact and clearly labeled, with a slider for navigation volume and the "ringer volume" renamed to "in-call volume" for clarity. The notification panel now has a fully opaque background.
A new switch for Ultra-Wideband (UWB) is now available in the settings for connected devices. As reported by Android Authority separately, this allows users to use their phones as digital car keys to unlock and start their vehicles securely.
Another important point is the AppCards, which let third-party apps display relevant information directly on the home screen. This comes after previous versions only supported system-provided cards.
Although the changes in Android Automotive 16 are not big, they improve the experience for users and give developers more flexibility. Most vehicles will not ship with the exact interface as in the open-source version, as automakers are free to modify the system to fit their needs.
