GM's new Gemini AI in-car platform replaces Android Auto and CarPlay

General Motors is pressing ahead with plans to take full control of its digital ecosystem. After dropping Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in its electric models, the company has confirmed it will phase out support for those systems in future gasoline vehicles as well. In their place, GM is building a new computing platform to power next-generation software, with Google’s Gemini AI at its core.

CEO Mary Barra told The Verge this is a strategic move toward a fully brand-managed in-car experience. By shifting to its own platform, GM expects tighter integration between hardware and software, faster updates, more personalized interfaces, and, over time, broader capabilities for driver assistance.

Working with Google, the company plans to embed Gemini into the infotainment systems of Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC. Starting in 2026, the AI assistant is set to understand context, handle complex requests, and sustain natural dialogue—plotting routes with traffic in mind, suggesting stops, or offering maintenance tips based on driving habits. It will be delivered over the air via the Play Store to vehicles equipped with OnStar, beginning with 2015 model years.

Senior vice president Dave Richardson said GM does not intend to confine itself to Google’s stack and is considering trials of models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and other developers. He also indicated that users would retain control over their data: information collected would be used strictly to improve system performance, without being shared with third parties.

GM is sketching a near future where drivers no longer need to plug in a phone for apps or navigation—talking to the car should be enough. The open question is whether devoted Android Auto and CarPlay users are ready to part with familiar dashboards. Still, the direction is hard to miss: in GM’s lineup, the vehicle itself is on track to become the primary smart device.