Android Auto users are reporting a frustrating bug tied to Gemini—the Google AI assistant upgrade—where voice commands to call or text someone fail to register the name. Instead, Gemini keeps asking “who do you want to call” or “who do you want to text,” looping without recognizing the person’s name. Saying the name repeatedly doesn’t help; the assistant never moves past this prompt.
This issue first surfaced in early October and has kept gaining traction, with new complaints across Google’s support forums. Users say it affects various Android phones and Android Auto versions, meaning it’s not limited to any specific model or build. The problem appears persistent and widespread. A smaller group of users also reports a related issue: calls being answered automatically, which seems to be a rare side-effect.
Gemini officially replaced Google Assistant as Android Auto’s main digital helper, offering more conversational capabilities and smarter control. But this new loop bug undercuts one of its core functionalities—making calls or sending messages hands-free, a safety-critical use case for driving. With this broken, users are left manually dialing, defeating much of the benefit of voice control.
Google hasn’t yet issued a formal update targeting this problem, but incremental changes to Android Auto or Gemini could resolve it. Community feedback suggests a patch might arrive soon. In the meantime, users struggling with this bug are left without a workaround.
Why it matters: Hands-free calling and messaging are vital for driving safety, and voice assistants are supposed to make that easier. A fail in this area raises real concerns—not just about convenience, but liability. Android Auto users will be watching closely for a fix and expecting accountability from Google. If this isn’t addressed quickly, it could erode trust in Gemini’s reliability—and potentially pose real road safety risks.
