Google Assistant Car Mics May Soon Be Discontinued

If you use Google Assistant with devices like the JBL Link Drive or the Anker Roav Bolt, you might want to pay attention: a recent code discovery in the Google app’s beta version suggests that the microphones could soon be disabled. The team at 9to5Google unearthed these code snippets during an APK teardown, hinting at the future of Google Assistant for automotive use.

A specific string labeled “assistant_car_accessory_deprecation” states: “By the way, Google Assistant on your car accessory will be discontinued in coming weeks. To keep using Assistant, invoke queries either on your Mobile or via Android Auto.” These particular accessories were launched in 2019 to allow drivers of older vehicles to access Google Assistant, meaning even the earliest users have utilized them for just about six years.

This development isn’t shocking given Google’s track record of discontinuing services, but there’s another factor at play. Android Auto has gained popularity over recent years and has emerged as a competitor to Apple CarPlay. Additionally, Google Assistant is poised for a significant shift, as many of its current capabilities will be integrated into the upcoming Gemini platform.

It’s important to note that APK teardowns do not definitively predict the future; they showcase early-stage code, and the final outcome might differ from what’s initially discovered. While it seems highly likely that these devices will soon lose compatibility, Google has not yet specified a timeline for when this will take place. The company has also not updated its support documentation to indicate an end to service for either the Link Drive or the Roav Bolt.

Nonetheless, Google encourages users to transition to Android Auto. The Assistant Driving Mode remains available, though it has become much simpler than it used to be. For a more comprehensive experience, Android Auto is recommended as the best alternative.

In response to this situation, some users have proposed that these devices be configured to activate Gemini instead of the standard Assistant; however, uncertainty remains about the future of these accessories.