Google might be getting ready to take Android Auto beyond your dashboard—and straight to your face. A fresh beta update for Android Auto has quietly dropped a breadcrumb trail pointing to something unexpected: navigation on smart glasses.
The latest APK teardown of Android Auto version 14.2 revealed an intriguing line of code that’s got tech sleuths buzzing. Tucked within the update was a string labeled:
“Start navigation to launch Glasses”
That phrase, while awkwardly phrased in English, appears to be a subtle nod toward integrating smart glasses with turn-by-turn navigation—something Android Auto hasn’t explored before. According to a Hindi translation of the same version spotted by Android Authority, the clearer interpretation is:
“To view navigation on smart glasses, start navigation.”
The Subtle Language Shift That Could Change How You Drive
This isn’t your average UI tweak. While most of the Android Auto 14.2 update is under-the-hood housekeeping—like continuing the switch from “car” to “vehicle”—the mention of “Glasses” stands out like a high beam on a dark road.
The exact functionality isn’t spelled out, but the hint is clear enough: Google may be working on a feature that lets you view Android Auto navigation directly through smart glasses, possibly as part of the upcoming Android XR platform.That would be a game-changer.
Imagine glancing slightly to the side and seeing directions overlaid on your lenses—no more glancing away from the road or fiddling with your touchscreen. It’s like a heads-up display, minus the windshield hardware.
Android Auto’s Smart Glasses: Sci-Fi or Soon-to-Ship?
Before we get too ahead of ourselves, let’s pump the brakes. This feature was found buried in code, and as the source rightly notes:
“Google may or may not ever ship these features, and our interpretation of what they are may be imperfect.”
Still, this isn’t happening in a vacuum. Google recently teased a prototype for Android XR smart glasses, making it all the more likely that some kind of hardware-software integration is on the horizon. While there’s no official release date for these glasses, this code reference suggests Android Auto is already laying the groundwork for how they could work behind the wheel.
Is This the Future of Safer Driving?
Android Auto’s whole mission is about reducing driver distraction—offering a cleaner, simpler way to access maps, messages, and music while driving. If Google can pull off a smart glasses setup that shows real-time navigation in your field of vision, it could be one of the most driver-friendly innovations in years.
Sure, there are plenty of questions left to answer. Will this work with existing glasses, or only with a new model from Google? Will it require a Pixel phone or special car hardware? And, most importantly—when will we actually get to try it?
What’s Next for Android Auto and Google Glasses?
For now, the feature remains in the shadows, locked behind a vague string of code and a prototype we can’t buy yet. But this isn’t the first time Google has dabbled in smart eyewear. The original Google Glass never quite took off, but this time around, the market may be more ready.
Between Android XR developments and a rising interest in augmented reality from companies like Meta and Apple, Google could be lining up to deliver something truly futuristic to drivers.
