Mercedes integrates Google Gemini artificial intelligence into its cars

Mercedes-Benz has announced that it will be introducing Google's Gemini artificial intelligence directly into its cars. The first model to feature the new technology will be the all-electric Mercedes CLA.

Voice assistants in cars have long been a source of frustration for drivers: they are often slow, misrecognize commands, or don't work at all. This forces drivers to be distracted by touchscreens, which creates risks on the road. Gemini aims to change this situation, as this system not only recognizes commands, but also understands context and supports natural dialogue.

In a promotional video, Google demonstrated the new assistant in action: a driver asked for a nearby coffee shop, then asked if it served pastries. Gemini instantly checked the menu, reviews, and Google Maps data, providing an accurate answer.

The new AI voice assistant has been integrated into the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) multimedia system. It can not only build routes, but also, for example, find an Italian restaurant, report on its wine list and even call the establishment. All search results are sorted by distance and displayed with Google ratings and the number of reviews. The integration took only 10 months to develop.

In parallel, Mercedes presented the technical capabilities of the new CLA: the 800W architecture allows you to charge the battery for 320 km in just 10 minutes. The base model CLA 250+ will have a range of over 560 km and will cost about $55,000 in the US.

Mercedes will be the first automaker to integrate Gemini, but Google plans to expand the system to all cars with Android Auto, meaning millions of drivers will soon have a much smarter assistant.