Waymo taps Gemini AI to create in-car 'Ride Assistant' for Robotaxis

Alphabet-Owned Company Integrates Google's Advanced Chatbot to Answer Questions, Control Cabin Features, and Soothe Riders

Waymo, the autonomous driving division of Alphabet, is integrating Google's Gemini AI into its robotaxi fleet to function as a conversational and functional In-Car Assistant. The development, which aims to enhance the rider experience, was uncovered through code and internal specifications found within the Waymo mobile application.

The move by Waymo, which currently handles hundreds of thousands of paid rides weekly, signals a new front in the autonomous vehicle competition: the battle for the in-cabin passenger experience.

A conversational co-pilot, not a driver

The unreleased feature, internally labeled the "Waymo Ride Assistant," is powered by a variant of the Gemini large language model (LLM). Its role is strictly defined by an internal 1,200+ line system prompt that acts as its rulebook.

Core role

Gemini is instructed to be a "friendly and helpful AI companion" whose primary goal is "enhancing the rider's experience by providing useful information and assistance in a safe, reassuring, and unobtrusive manner."

Beyond answering general knowledge questions (e.g., weather, local store hours), the AI can control certain vehicle comfort functions, including cabin temperature, interior lighting, and music selection.

Strict limits

To maintain safety and operational clarity, the assistant is strictly prohibited from performing critical functions such as manipulating the vehicle's route, adjusting windows and seats, handling emergencies, or placing real-world orders.

Clear distinction from the driving system

A crucial part of the Gemini integration is the clear separation between the conversational AI and the vehicle's autonomous driving system, the Waymo Driver.

Gemini is instructed to avoid commenting on or defending the vehicle's real-time driving decisions or past incidents. If asked, the AI must attribute all driving actions and road perception to the "Waymo Driver," not to itself.

To prevent rider distraction, Gemini is required to keep responses brief and simple, generally limited to one to three sentences, and must avoid technical jargon.

This customer-facing integration follows Waymo's previous disclosure that it uses Gemini's "world knowledge" in its research to help train the autonomous system to better understand and react to rare, complex road scenarios. The move positions Waymo directly against rivals like Tesla, which is also planning to integrate xAI's Grok chatbot into its vehicles.