Waymo Is Testing Gemini As An In-Car AI Assistant In Its Robotaxis

Waymo Is Testing Gemini As An In-Car AI Assistant In Its Robotaxis

Waymo Quietly Tests Google’s Gemini as In-Car AI Assistant Riders may soon have a high-tech co-pilot in Waymo robotaxis. Tech researcher Jane Manchun Wong recently uncovered evidence that Waymo is testing Google’s Gemini AI as an in-car assistant capable of answering questions, adjusting climate settings, and even calming nervous passengers. While the feature hasn’t launched publicly, internal code reveals a robust “Ride Assistant” system built on over 1,200 lines of behavioral instructions—a far cry from a basic chatbot. For users wondering whether autonomous cars will soon feel more like intelligent companions than silent machines, the answer appears to be a cautious yes. Credit: Waymo A Deep Dive into Waymo’s Secret “Ride Assistant” Code Wong’s discovery came while analyzing the latest builds of Waymo’s mobile app. Buried in the code was a file labeled “Waymo Ride Assistant Meta-Prompt,” which outlines how the AI should interact with passengers. The prompt not only governs conversation…