Key facts
- Waze is incorporating Google's Gemini AI to power new features.
- Users can now use conversational prompts to find destinations and parking.
- The app offers personalized route suggestions based on driving history and traffic.
- A new Motorcycle mode provides tailored navigation and hazard warnings for riders.
- Users can now report map updates and road incidents using voice commands.
- A 'less chatty' mode reduces the frequency of voice prompts during drives.
Waze, owned by Google, is enhancing its navigation experience with new features powered by Google's Gemini AI. These updates aim to improve user interaction and compete with services like Apple Maps.
The app now offers personalized navigation, suggesting routes based on a user's past trips and an understanding of city traffic patterns. Users can opt for highway-focused routes or disable personalization. This feature is currently rolling out globally on Android and iOS.
Gemini AI also enables conversational searches for destinations. Users can ask for specific types of places, such as "Find me a coffee shop that’s open right now" or "Find me parking close to Grand Mall," and Waze will provide a list of options. This capability is available to the Waze beta community on Android and iOS.
Additionally, Waze has introduced a Motorcycle mode, utilizing AI to account for two-wheeler-specific shortcuts and road restrictions. This mode aims to provide riders with optimal routes, accurate ETAs, and alerts for hazards like potholes and narrow bridges. It is rolling out in select countries including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, and the Philippines, with more to follow.
Users can now also report map updates, such as road closures or incorrect addresses, through conversational voice commands, which are then sent to local map editors. This feature is rolling out globally on Android and iOS.
Finally, a new "less chatty" mode has been introduced to minimize voice prompt interruptions, allowing users to focus on music or podcasts while still receiving essential alerts for hazards and turns.