Ford’s new artificial intelligence assistant has begun rolling out to customers via the Ford app, and by next year, it will start arriving in select vehicles. Google Gemini will also begin rolling out this year as an opt-in alternative to Google Assistant, but owners will not be forced to use it. Mike Aragon, president of Integrated Services at Ford, said the company is upgrading voice assistance capability in vehicles with the latest digital system, the Ford and Lincoln Digital Experience, with the rollout of Google Gemini. He described Gemini in the vehicle and the Ford AI assistant in the app as companion technologies, with Gemini helping with tasks such as getting directions, sending a text, changing cabin temperature, or playing a playlist, while the Ford AI assistant can answer vehicle-specific questions. Gemini provides the same hands-free features as Google Assistant but acts as a true artificial intelligence assistant, allowing natural back-and-forth conversation instead of requiring exact phrases. Users can ask Gemini to find a lunch spot with specific requests like sit-down location, outdoor seating, ample parking, or culinary preferences. It also offers real-time updates via Google Maps, such as potential traffic due to events, can summarize text messages, enable editing of sent messages, and select a radio station based on preferences.