New artificial intelligence will allow natural conversations with the vehicle; Update for old cars is done via the car's own internet
Volvo has started the distribution of a remote software update that will impact around 2.5 million vehicles worldwide. The measure aims to modernize the existing fleet, giving models manufactured from 2020 onwards — equipped with the Android Automotive operating system — a multimedia center interface aligned with that of the new electric vehicles in the EX line, such as the EX30 and EX90.
The process does not require visits to dealerships, allowing owners to receive improvements via the internet directly in the vehicle. Its main technical change is the replacement of Google Assistant with Google Gemini.
Unlike solutions based on cell phone mirroring, the new artificial intelligence will be natively integrated into the car’s system. The promise is of a more fluid interaction: the driver will be able to conduct natural and complex conversations with the vehicle, overcoming the rigidity of traditional voice commands.
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According to the automaker, the system will be able to better understand context, assist in writing messages, translate content in real time and provide specific details about destinations or owner’s manuals.
While the update unifies the brand’s visual identity, there will be physical limitations. Anders Bell, Volvo’s chief technology officer, called the move “one of the biggest OTA updates in history,” but stressed that minor layout differences will remain. This is due to the variation in processors and screen sizes present in older models compared to recent releases.
