Bizarre Gemini to Google Assistant swapping bug is driving Android Auto users mad

Source: Android Authority

TL;DR

• An Android Auto bug is replacing Gemini with Google Assistant.
• A Google community specialist has forwarded the issue to the rest of the team.
• A potential workaround: go into Android Auto settings, switch from Gemini to Assistant, then switch back to Gemini.

Background

For the last several months, Google has been rolling out Gemini to Android Auto (AA). The AI upgrade has received mixed reviews since the rollout began. Some users who preferred the older Google Assistant have now encountered a bug that swaps Gemini back to Assistant.

User Reports

• Multiple users on Reddit have reported that Gemini suddenly disappears and is replaced by Google Assistant.
• One of our writers has also experienced this issue. While some users cannot switch back, others say the problem is temporary.
• On the Android Auto community forums (via PiunikaWeb), a user noted that Gemini worked fine until updating to AA version 16.7; after the update, the system reverted to Google Assistant. Clearing caches, toggling digital assistant settings, and restarting devices did not resolve the issue.
• Another user reported encountering the bug on version 16.6.661414, suggesting the problem may not be limited to a single version.

Official Response

A Google community specialist replied:

“Thanks for reporting this issue. We’ve forwarded your issue to the rest of the team. We’ve also reached out to you via e‑mail for further assistance, please reply back to the same email.”

Workaround

If you’re experiencing the problem, the following steps have helped some users:

1. Open Android Auto settings.
2. Navigate to the Digital Assistant section.
3. Switch the assistant from Gemini to Google Assistant.
4. Immediately switch back to Gemini.

This toggle appears to restore Gemini functionality for the time being.

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Reference: Comment Policy