Waze, the Google-owned navigation app, is introducing a wave of AI-powered features and customization updates designed to make driving smarter and less intrusive. Several of the new capabilities are powered by Google's Gemini AI assistant, reflecting the company's broader effort to weave Gemini throughout its product ecosystem while strengthening Waze's competitive position against rivals such as Apple Maps.
Personalized Navigation Powered by AI
One of the headline additions is personalized navigation. The app now draws on a user's trip history alongside its understanding of a city's traffic patterns to suggest routes tailored to individual preferences. For instance, drivers who favor highways over local streets will see those routes prioritized in suggestions. Users who prefer not to receive personalized routes can select alternate options or disable personalization entirely through their settings. This feature is rolling out globally on both Android and iOS.
By combining historical behavior with real-time traffic intelligence, Waze aims to reduce the friction of daily commuting. The system learns from repeated trips and adjusts its recommendations accordingly, meaning the more a user drives with the app, the more attuned its suggestions become to their habits and route preferences.
Conversational Destination Search with Gemini
Waze is also bringing Gemini's conversational capabilities to destination search, allowing users to find what they need through a quick chat when they know what they are looking for but are unsure of the exact location. By tapping the search voice icon, users can ask questions such as "Find me a coffee shop that's open right now," "Find me parking close to Grand Mall," or "Find me a gas station nearby with the lowest prices." Waze then responds with a curated list of options.
This Gemini-powered destination search is currently rolling out to the Waze beta community worldwide on Android and iOS, giving early adopters a first look at how conversational AI can simplify the process of finding a destination without manually typing queries or scrolling through lists.
Motorcycle Mode and Conversational Map Reporting
For two-wheeler riders, Waze is launching a dedicated Motorcycle mode that leverages AI to account for motorcycle-specific shortcuts and road restrictions, helping riders find optimal routes and receive more accurate estimated times of arrival. The mode also surfaces hazards that can be particularly challenging for motorcyclists, including potholes, speed bumps, raised crosswalks, shoulder endings, and narrow bridges.