At GM’s recent tech-focused event in New York, we learned that in 2026, the company intends to roll out a more conversational AI assistant powered by Google Gemini. Current GM vehicles utilize the Google Built In operating system, and Gemini would replace the Google Assistant that can be hailed by uttering the phrase “Hey Google” or pushing the voice prompt button on the steering wheel. More surprising is that this update is not just coming to new 2026 model year vehicles but will be a backwards compatible upgrade to tens of millions of OnStar-equipped GM vehicles going back as far as the 2015 model year. Could a potential future outcome of this big tech upgrade be Gemini AI replaces human OnStar assistants? Let’s dig in.
During our discussion with David Richardson, GM’s senior vice president of software and services, we recorded for an upcoming episode of The InEVitable podcast, Richardson said the following about how Google Gemini AI will come to GM vehicles:
“It will be available through an OTA, an over-the-air update. It’s not just the new vehicles, it’s not just the 2026 vehicles, it will go back multiple years all the way back to 2015 vehicles. I don’t know the exact specifics for where that cut off is, but the intent is to bring it to as large of a carpark of existing vehicles, as well as our new ones, as we possibly can. Really the only limitation is, do you go back in time so far that you don’t have the basic hardware requirements to run it? Other than that, it will come through an OTA.”
When asked what the hardware limitations might be, Richardson replied:
“Basically, if we just don’t have the compute hardware to run [it]. There is also some compatibility with the Google Gemini application and its software, and whether it can run on the physical hardware itself. Again, also some of the OTA capabilities, if you go back far enough, being able to do some of those larger, more advanced OTAs are more challenging because of the hardware architecture we had at the time.”
This is massive news, literally and figuratively. First of all, kudos to GM for updating vehicles across all its brands, going back 10-plus years. Nobody expected this or was likely even asking for it, so you can file this under “surprise and delight” for those who embrace AI.
For GM to send an over-the-air update to every OnStar-equipped vehicle across Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands sold in the United States, going back to 2015 is at least 17-20 million vehicles, by our conservative estimates. If you consider that Tesla, the undisputed pioneer of OTA updates, has sold roughly 8 million vehicles since it started production, and regularly OTA updates the ones still on the road, what GM is attempting in 2026 is possibly the largest OTA update by an automaker, ever. Is it going to be a single update, all at once? Why stop at 2015? And how will older GM vehicle owners access Gemini AI? We emailed GM’s technology communications team to clarify and this is what a spokesperson sent us:
To clarify, it’s two separate Gemini integrations. There’s the Gemini integration through infotainment head unit (IHU) that was announced and will be backcasted to vehicles with Google built-in. Then there’s the OnStar Interactive Virtual Assistant (IVA), which is powered by Google Cloud’s Dialogflow technology and uses Gemini models. This feature is now available on all 2015+ vehicles. It’s accessible through the blue or red OnStar button.
What does that mean? Well, GM introduced Google Built In in 2022 model year vehicles, so every vehicle from then until now will receive the Gemini AI update, over the air and into the car. Not so for GM vehicles from 2015 to 2022, as Gemini AI will essentially be updated “in the cloud”, that is, in the network of remote servers that the vehicle can access at the push of the button.
As for who or what will be behind that button, human or AI? That is, will Gemini AI replace human OnStar assistants? GM replied:
OnStar Virtual Assistant does not replace human OnStar Advisors; they complement one another. IVA enables faster responses to routine inquiries, freeing up time for human advisors to handle complex or sensitive situations. IVA can also distinguish phrases and words that may signify an emergency and help to quickly route the call to OnStar Advisors.
So there you have it; Google’s conversational Gemini AI assistant is coming to tens of millions of GM vehicles, via cloud and OTA updates in 2026. If you own a 2022 or newer Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Cadillac or GMC, look for an OTA notification and smash that update button. If you own a 2015 to 2022 GM vehicle and haven’t used OnStar recently, maybe hit the button now and again in a few months, and see whether you like the changes.
