Waymo appears to be experimenting with integrating Google’s Gemini AI chatbot into its autonomous vehicles, aiming to add an in-car assistant that can interact with riders during trips. The development was uncovered by researcher Jane Manchun Wong, who found detailed system prompts within Waymo’s mobile app code describing the unreleased feature.
According to the findings, the Gemini-based assistant is designed to answer general questions, manage select in-cabin settings such as temperature, lighting, and music, and provide reassurance to riders when needed. The system is positioned as a companion to enhance the ride experience rather than a controller of the vehicle itself. It is explicitly instructed to distinguish between its own role and the Waymo Driver, the company’s autonomous driving system.
The assistant uses concise responses and avoids technical explanations, real-time driving commentary, or speculation about incidents involving Waymo vehicles. It can access limited contextual information, including a rider’s first name and trip history, but is restricted from tasks such as route changes, emergency handling, or real-world transactions.
Waymo said it is continually testing new features, though it has not confirmed whether the Gemini assistant will be released publicly. The effort reflects a broader industry trend, with companies like Tesla also integrating conversational AI into autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles.
