Waze adds new AI-powered features and customization updates
Waze is integrating Google's Gemini AI to provide conversational navigation and personalized route suggestions based on user history. The update also introduces a specialized Motorcycle mode that accounts for two-wheeler-specific road hazards and restrictions.
Why it matters
This reflects a broader industry trend of embedding generative AI into consumer utility apps to improve user experience and maintain competitive advantages.
Waze, the Google-owned navigation app, is getting new AI-powered features and customization updates , including the ability to report road updates conversationally and get personalized navigation.
Some of the new features are powered by Google’s Gemini AI assistant, which reflects the tech giant’s broader push to integrate Gemini across its products while also better positioning Waze to compete with rival services such as Apple Maps.
The app now suggests routes based on both a user’s trip history and its understanding of a city’s traffic patterns. For example, if a user prefers driving on highways over local streets, they will see those suggested first. If users don’t want personalized routes, they can choose alternate routes or turn off personalization altogether in their settings. Personalized navigation is rolling out now globally on Android and iOS.
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