Overview
- Waymo announced July 29 that it has integrated Google’s Gemini conversational assistant into its Ojai robotaxi and launched the feature in beta.
- Gemini is available only when a rider taps a Gemini icon on the in‑car screen and stays inactive until engaged, which Waymo presents as a privacy safeguard.
- Waymo says the assistant handles cabin controls, trip information, on‑ride education and general questions but runs separately from the Waymo Driver and cannot control vehicle movement or access real‑time driving data.
- The company also rolled out the Ojai’s first major rider UI redesign in years, a seat‑aware tri‑screen layout that surfaces different info to each seat and includes a new Calm Mode to dim displays.
- Waymo frames the changes as part of broader commercial steps to improve ride comfort as it expands driverless service across cities and prepares the Ojai for more public riders.