Gemini’s rough patch with smart homes has spread to Android Auto

Gemini has had a rough couple of weeks with smart home controls. Wear OS users recently reported that Gemini would claim it had controlled lights, AC units, and other devices when nothing actually happened, before Google said that the issue had been fixed. It isn’t clear if it’s related, but some Android Auto users are now finding that Gemini suddenly refuses to control their smart home devices, even though those same commands worked previously.

In a post on the r/AndroidAuto subreddit earlier today, one user says that Gemini has stopped executing commands such as turning on the AC. Instead, it now responds that it “cannot control smart home devices through Google Maps while driving.” The poster says the feature had been working for months before this change.

They’re not alone. Other commenters report similar problems, including smart home commands failing outside Android Auto and Gemini voice refusing tasks, reminders, and calendar requests. One user says those same commands still work in the Gemini app, while another rolled back to Google Assistant after encountering issues.

It’s not clear what’s causing the problem. The reports could point to a server-side bug or change, but there’s nothing confirming that yet. We’ve reached out to Google for comment and will update this story if we receive a response.