Gemini spooks Google Maps users by interjecting in chats
Google Gemini users are reporting that the AI assistant is interjecting into private conversations, even when hotword detection is disabled. The issue appears linked to hands-free assistant settings enabled by default in Google Maps and Waze.
Why it matters
This raises significant privacy concerns regarding how AI assistants process ambient audio and the transparency of default settings in consumer technology.
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0 • Adamya Sharma / Android Authority Follow us on Google Discover Add us as preferred source TL;DR Some users report Gemini responding to ambient conversations even with standard hotword detection turned off. The issue may have stemmed from hands-free assistant access being enabled by default in Google Maps and Waze driving modes. Users can disable hands-free access and Voice Match directly within Google Maps navigation settings.
It seems Google might have flipped a switch on Gemini without making much noise about it. A growing number of Android/Pixel users are reporting that Gemini on their phones has suddenly started chiming in and replying to ambient, everyday conversations completely out of nowhere, even when the standard hotword detection for voice assistant settings was supposedly turned off.
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