Gemini is spooking Google Maps’ users by chiming in on chats uninvited
A recent update may have turned on hands-free assistant access in driving mode without notifying owners.
Google Maps has users spooked as its in-built AI assistant, Gemini, is chattering away in conversations people are having without being triggered by a specific voice command. This uninvited behavior appears to have started even when the standard hotword detection for the voice assistant was turned off. Users are reporting that Gemini is responding to ambient, everyday chitchat, which is both surprising and unsettling.
Reddit user Flat_Marsupial_4249 shared a particularly eerie anecdote. They were driving and noticed Gemini chiming in during a private conversation between them and a friend. The comment Gemini made was highly relevant to the discussion, suggesting that the AI had been listening in on their private conversation all along.
The issue may have originated from hands-free assistant access being enabled by default in Google Maps and Waze driving modes. Users who wish to put an end to the unwanted Gemini interjections can disable hands-free access and Voice Match directly within the Google Maps navigation settings. It seems Google might have activated Gemini without providing much warning to users about the change.
Written by urgent.news from Android Authority's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
