Google making CarPlay smarter than Apple has managed on its own turf is an uncomfortable look for the company that invented the dashboard assistant category. But I believe this competition for your dashboard is actually a good thing, as it may “drive” (pun intended) new or better features. I do worry a bit about distracted driving, but if all of these commands can be done purely via voice and discussion, it is better than waiting for a red light to pull out your smartphone to quickly check your email (btw, touching your phone at a light might actually be illegal in some states).
I struggle a bit with having phone conversations while I drive, simply because I like to concentrate on my driving. However, if I can ask Gemini to summarize my email or take some other actions, that goes a really long way.
I do believe it will be a matter of time before Siri Intelligence catches up or races ahead (yes, more puns) on these hands-free, driving features. I look forward to it.