Waymo Turns Gemini Into an AI Companion for Robotaxi Riders

Waymo is bringing Google’s Gemini AI into its new Ojai robotaxi, introducing a conversational assistant alongside a redesigned user interface as the company puts greater emphasis on the passenger experience inside autonomous vehicles.

Gemini allows passengers to ask questions about their journey, nearby places and general topics while travelling. The assistant can also handle selected cabin functions through natural-language commands, including adjusting the temperature or requesting that the vehicle pull over.

Importantly, the AI assistant remains separate from the autonomous driving system. Gemini cannot control the vehicle’s movement or routing and does not have access to real-time driving data, keeping conversational AI distinct from the safety-critical Waymo Driver.

The Ojai also receives Waymo’s first major interface redesign in years. Its three large displays can now adapt according to where passengers are seated, rather than simply presenting identical information across every screen. Media, cabin controls and journey information have also been redesigned for the larger displays.

A new Calm Mode takes the opposite approach to feature-heavy infotainment, dimming the displays and presenting only minimal journey information for passengers who prefer a quieter cabin experience.

Together, Gemini and the new interface illustrate an important shift in robotaxi development: as autonomous driving technology matures, competition is increasingly moving inside the cabin. Without a human driver, AI assistants and adaptive interfaces could become central to how passengers interact with autonomous mobility services.