Phones, foldables and tablets were not the only things revealed at Google I/O—Mountain View has also announced some important changes coming to the automotive space. Android Auto is being added to more and more new cars and has been instrumental (as has Apple CarPlay) in bringing deeper integration of your phone into the car, but this latest new feature is a more than a little weird.
As if work hasn’t taken up most of our time these days, soon you will no longer be able to use driving as an excuse to escape virtual meetings. That’s right—Google is bringing apps like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Webex to Android Auto. Thankfully, you will at least be able to avoid having to look at a camera while driving and talking, as these calls will be audio-only.
Android Auto was recently updated earlier this year, gaining a new Material You-based interface and incorporating a universal split-screen layout that adapts to different infotainment screen sizes. There are also Google Assistant suggestions and enhanced messaging and media functions that makes it easier to control these functions while driving.
