Android is getting a big AI upgrade in 2026

Android in cars

Connecting your Android phone to a car that supports Android Auto will soon be different. For starters, Google says Android Auto will now adapt to different sizes and shapes. So even if your car has a wonderful polygon screen, Android should be fully loaded.

What you see in the picture will also be different. Android Auto is evolving with expanded support for Material 3 Expressive themes and a new navigation experience. Yes, Immersive Navigation, which Google announced earlier this yearis about to be released to users. Accessing data from other applications in the car will be easier and thanks to the addition of widgets. Google says there will be widgets for contacts, weather, and select third-party apps. For cars built by Google, the car’s cameras are integrated into Maps to provide accurate driving directions. Gemini will also be able to answer questions about the vehicle’s status, including warning lights and load capacity.

Android Auto’s press release hasn’t changed in years, but 2026 will bring some changes. Popular apps like YouTube Music and Spotify are getting updates that make them easier to use in the car. Video playback is also coming to Android Auto for the first time. Naturally, this can only work when you’re parked and using a supported app like YouTube.

Google says Android Auto will automatically switch to music only when you start driving, but this requires a purchase from the auto manufacturer for safety and technical reasons. Video will be available on supported vehicles from BMW, Ford, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Škoda, Tata, and Volvo. More traffic may come later.