Major redesign of Android Auto

 Android Auto rolling out major redesign for Google Assistant  

The much-needed Android Auto design overhaul is finally here, and users can enjoy it on their respective devices. The latest updates make the user interface more user-friendly by centralizing the navigation panel and then showing the call and music cards on the bottom side of the panel. The blank space left at the bottom of the UI gets a Google Assistant. Google Assistant on Android Auto is getting a major redesign, but this time it also applies to voice replies. Google Assistant has had a ton of different looks on Android Auto over the years, as Google has never really seemed to settle on one design for very long. The latest design has been in place since August of 2023. Now, another new design is rolling out, but it’s easily one of the best we’ve seen to date.

The new Google Assistant experience on Android Auto shows the “listening” UI on the bottom bar that replaces your app icons. A “Hi, how can I help you?” tag appears if you don’t immediately start speaking, but once you’ve started speaking, Google will transcribe what you’ve said along this bar. Replies from Assistant are still read aloud and not shown on screen. It’s a really nice evolution of Google’s design, but it’s not the only change we’re seeing. Alongside the new Assistant look, Google is also revamping how voice replies work on Android Auto.

Major Changes 

Google is once again revamping its Assistant interface on Android Auto, and this time it extends to voice replies, offering users a refined and polished experience. The new design features a “listening” UI on the bottom bar that replaces app icons, transcribing the user’s speech along the bar. It also overhauls voice replies, displaying them in unused space alongside maps. This is all handled with Assistant, but the voice replies now appear in any space not being used by maps in Android Auto. With an adjusted DPI via AA Wireless, voice replies show along the bottom row of widgets. One panel shows a “Speak now” prompt which then transcribes your message, while also offering prominent “Cancel” and “Send” buttons. Next to that, the profile picture and name of the person you’re talking to is shown, as well as a small icon for the app being used. This will vary from screen to screen, but on smaller screens will show everything in a single, vertical panel that has the contact name and picture at the top and the message above the cancel and send buttons.

Google Assistant Re-Imagined

The updated Google Assistant now greets users with a “Hi, how can I help you?” tag if there’s a moment of silence. As soon as the user starts speaking, the Assistant transcribes the voice commands along the bar. Notably, the replies from the Assistant continue to be read aloud and are not displayed on the screen. These changes come as Google prepares to deliver support for AI message summaries on Android Auto and more contextual auto-replies. A preview video of those features showed similar design elements to what we’re seeing now, but the new features don’t seem to be live just yet.

AI Auto Reply

Google is aiming high with its generative AI prowess using new AI engines. After bringing the generative AI feature to Chrome, the new features are soon going to enthrall such features in Android Auto. The redesigned Assistant and voice reply features come ahead of Google’s planned support for AI message summaries on Android Auto and more context-aware auto-replies. While a preview video showcased similar design elements. 

Improved Voice Replies

Google is also enhancing the voice reply experience on Android Auto. Voice replies now utilize any unused space on the screen not occupied by maps. The interface includes a “Speak now” prompt in one panel, transcribing the message while providing clear “Cancel” and “Send” buttons. Alongside, the profile picture and name of the recipient, as well as the app icon, are displayed. We’re seeing these redesigns on Android Auto version 11.2, which just started rolling out via the Play Store through the beta program. 

New Android Auto

The redesign, part of Android Auto version 11.2, enhances the overall experience and aligns with Google’s ongoing improvements to Assistant’s design on various platforms. Users can expect the update to roll out gradually. However, it is suspected that these updates are not entirely dependent on the specific app version. The change and specific features are not yet live but are anticipated to roll out in the near future.