Google wants to be the operating system of choice for automakers’ infotainment and consumers’ daily car functions, and it has at least a couple of automakers interested. Volvo has confirmed  it will use Google’s platform for its future models, and Audi said it also is toying with the tech but has stopped short of confirming widespread use. Both automakers had vehicles on display at the annual Google I/O developer conference last week in San Francisco, showing what the Android-based system is capable of. So what exactly is it capable of"
In short, it should offer a faster, more seamless way for consumers to control functions in their vehicle and beyond, according to Google and the automakers. Unlike Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, which essentially mirror limited smartphone functions using an overlay on top of vehicles’ stock infotainment systems, the Android OS is built in and does not require a mobile device. Users can access a range of apps such as Google Maps, Facebook Messenger, and Spotify along with controlling basic vehicle features such as air conditioning, radio, and windows. It puts the Google Assistant artificial-intelligence software in charge of handling voice commands. If you haven’t heard of Google Assistant, think of it as an AI competitor for Amazon’s Echo and Apple’s Siri. At Google I/O, Chen Xiao, manager of Google Assist on the Android auto team, said in a live-streamed presentation that these developm...