Google's Gemini AI Unexpectedly Chimes In on Android Users' Conversations

Google's Gemini AI assistant has been unexpectedly chiming in on conversations of Android and Pixel users, even when they've explicitly turned off hotword detection. According to a growing number of reports on Reddit, Gemini is responding to ambient talks without being invited, often providing contextually relevant responses.

The issue appears to have stemmed from Google's default setting for hands-free assistant access in driving modes within Google Maps and Waze. Users can disable this feature by navigating to the app's settings, then selecting Navigation > Gemini > Talk to Gemini hands-free, and switching off the toggle. Additionally, they can turn off Voice Match on the same page.

While some users have expressed concern over the lack of transparency regarding this change, others have noted that they've left voice assistant features enabled for specific tasks, such as controlling their smart home devices. However, it's clear that Google has effectively opted users into a more invasive level of interaction with Gemini.