Waze, the navigation app owned by Google, is getting new AI-powered features and customization updatesincluding the ability to report street updates conversationally and receive 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 into its products while better positioning Waze to compete with rival services like Apple Maps.
The app now suggests routes based on both a user’s travel history and its understanding of a city’s traffic patterns. For example, if a user prefers to drive on highways rather than local roads, they will see those suggested first. If users don’t want personalized routes, they can choose alternative routes or turn off personalization entirely in their settings. Personalized Navigation is now available globally on Android and iOS.
Users can now use Gemini to find their destination through a quick chat when they know what they need but aren’t sure exactly where to go. Users can tap the voice search icon to ask questions like “Find me a coffee shop that’s open right now,” “Find me parking near the Grand Mall,” or “Find me a nearby gas station with the lowest prices.” Waze will then respond with a list of options.
The ability to find your destination with Gemini features is now available to the Waze beta community worldwide on Android and iOS.
In addition, Waze is introducing a new bike mode that uses artificial intelligence to account for bike-specific shortcuts and road restrictions to help riders find the best route and get more accurate ETAs. It also shows hazards that can be difficult for riders, such as potholes, speed bumps, raised crosswalks, shoulder dropouts and narrow bridges.
The motorcycle mode is now live in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru and the Philippines on Android and iOS, with more countries on the way, Waze says.
While Waze already allows users to report traffic incidents, such as slowdowns, using natural speech, it now also allows them to suggest map updates in the same way, including reporting road closures or old addresses.
For example, you could say “The road is closed here” and Waze will send those details to the local map editors. The option to report street updates via chat is now available globally on Android and iOS.
There’s also a new “less chatty” mode that offers fewer interruptions to your drive when you want to focus on your music or a podcast. When you toggle the setting, Waze minimizes the number of voice prompts and keeps them short. You will still be notified of hazards and turns, but you will receive them less often. Chat less mode is now rolling out globally on Android and iOS.
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