Google's Gemini jumps into private conversations uninvited, users report

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Credit: Adamya Sharma / Android Authority

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.

Reddit user Flat_Marsupial_4249 was spooked by Gemini on their Pixel 9a suddenly interjecting in a private conversation between them and their friend during a drive. What’s more, the comment was contextually relevant rather than a generic search result, indicating that the AI assistant had been listening all along, adding to the creepiness.