I exploit an iPhone 16 Professional as my each day driver, so to talk, however I am not an Apple diehard. I’ve owned a number of Android telephones previously, and my work machine is a Home windows PC. I am truly just a little jealous of Android customers sometimes — one of the best Android telephones are inclined to have superior digital camera and charging specs, and Google’s Pixel units are graced with AI options that iPhones are struggling to meet up with. It took till this fall’s iOS 26 for Apple so as to add name screening and maintain help choices which have been on Pixel telephones for years. In case you’re within the US, anyway.
Maybe the factor I am most jealous of is Gemini integration. I do not put generative AI on a pedestal — it is too unreliable for that — however when it really works, it pulls off issues that us iPhone homeowners can solely fantasize about. I am truly most fascinated by seeing Gemini break the confines of Android Auto and are available to CarPlay, which is not out of the realm of risk if some rumors about Apple Intelligence and Siri come to fruition. For now, it is principally an attention-grabbing thought train. Hopefully you agree with me.
Re-routing to keep away from particular roads
Avoiding visitors ought to be simple
My weightlifting periods have been problematic these days, however not due to something occurring on the gymnasium. Slightly, it is the commute again residence — freeway restore work has meant delays of 10, 20, and even half-hour on a visit that ought to take 20 at most. This would not be so dangerous besides that I have never been capable of rely on Apple Maps or Google Maps to robotically re-route me based mostly on visitors knowledge. I used to be truthfully excited the primary time Google Maps provided an alternative choice to a sluggish crawl.
It appears inevitable that sooner or later, Gemini ought to permit customers to ask for instructions that keep away from named roads.
Gemini would not assist this but, however it appears inevitable that sooner or later, it ought to permit customers to ask for instructions that keep away from named roads. I used to stay in Austin, the place any sane driver tries to keep away from MoPac or I35 in the event that they can assist it. A command like “navigate to Alamo Drafthouse Mueller, however keep away from I35,” makes excellent sense. I might additionally see many drivers desirous to dodge gravel roads, or ones with steep inclines. Right here in Edmonton, among the backroads are in such tough form that they are genuinely hazardous for something that is not a farm automobile.
That kind of knowledge would not present up in cell apps fairly often — but when we might inform an AI assistant ourselves, it would not matter a lot.
Simpler pitstops (and different imprecise requests)
Good context, smarter driving
One thing that’s in Gemini already is the power so as to add a pitstop throughout a visit with out digging via touchscreen choices — which is ok once you’re parked, however harmful once you’re transferring at freeway speeds. Extra importantly, you possibly can add pitstops utilizing imprecise statements, reminiscent of “discover some good taco locations alongside the way in which.” Due to the info gathered in Google Maps, Gemini ought to have the ability to pull up outcomes even when eating places do not have the phrase “taco” of their identify.
One thing I have never seen talked about is whether or not you possibly can ask Gemini to discover a place based mostly on particulars {that a} human may perceive, however not essentially a voice assistant.
The AI also can faucet into apps like Gmail and Google Calendar should you’re struggling to recollect an tackle. I am often good about figuring out the place I am headed, however I might be mendacity if I stated I’ve by no means needed to monitor down the situation of a physician’s workplace, and even the place my finest good friend lives. There’s an excessive amount of else I’ve to memorize every day.
One thing I have never seen talked about is whether or not you possibly can ask Gemini to discover a place based mostly on particulars {that a} human may perceive, however not essentially a voice assistant — like “that Outdated Navy close to the Pink Lobster,” or “that park with the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue.” It is one thing that ought to be a characteristic, at the very least.
As a result of music is life
A lot to the consternation of my spouse, I am positive, I insist on placing on music or podcasts earlier than I drive wherever. Siri does appear to be competent at recognizing what I wish to play, whether or not it is on Spotify or Apple Podcasts — however it could make errors, so I usually skip the intermediary and use contact controls. That results in me listening to a handful of playlists, because it’s quite a bit simpler to trace down one thing I lately performed than go trying to find what most closely fits my temper, or experiment with new artists. I will depart that for my workday listening.
Gemini would not radically improve my audio expertise, however it may open up some horizons.
Gemini would not radically improve my audio expertise, however it may open up some horizons — say by asking for “ambient music for a quiet evening drive,” or “music that may hold me awake on the way in which to San Antonio.” It may additionally do higher at dealing with overseas artist and track names than Siri. I am skeptical on that entrance, but it is about time I had an assistant that understood what I imply after I ask for German-language artists like Nachtmahr. It is not simple being a rivethead, typically.
Extra advanced messaging
Saving time, staying centered
Talking of the gymnasium, I at all times let my spouse know after I’m headed residence and share my real-time location, since I prepare at evening. As a substitute of Apple Messages, nevertheless, I exploit Fb Messenger whereas I am nonetheless within the locker room. It makes the method just a little less complicated — particularly since there is not any simple strategy to do this stuff after I’m already on the street. Siri is just a little scientific about sending messages anyway. You must use very particular command phrases, and it would not robotically insert punctuation, both. If I neglect to deliberately add commas or exclamation marks, I sound like an unfeeling robotic.
I might even share extra elaborate ideas with out worrying about how they are going to be butchered.
Gemini might, in idea, repair all of those points concurrently with out my having to construct a customized shortcut. “Inform [name] ‘I am coming residence!’, then share my location along with her.” Growth, finished. I might even share extra elaborate ideas with out worrying about how they are going to be butchered.
Apple is little question going to implement all of this in Siri sooner or later, no matter whether or not it integrates Gemini. However I am impatient. If it takes one other partnership with Google to make my life simpler and distance myself from Meta, I am onboard.
