Back to News Hub
🟢TechCrunch AI
July 13, 2026
General AI

Waze adds new AI-powered features and customization updates

Overview

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. 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. The app now suggests routes based on both a user's trip history and its understanding of a city's traffic patterns.

Key Takeaways

  • 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.

  • " Waze will then respond with a list of options.

    The ability to find your destination with Gemini capabilities is rolling out now to the Waze beta community globally on Android and iOS.

  • While Waze already lets users report traffic incidents, such as slowdowns, using natural speech, it now also allows them to suggest map updates the same way, including reporting road closures or outdated addresses.

    For example, you could say "The road is closed here," and Waze will send these details to local map editors.

  • You'll still be alerted to hazards and turns, but you'll get them less frequently.

    Less chatty mode is rolling out now globally on Android and iOS.

  • Join 1,000+ founders and VCs at all stages for real-world scaling insights and connections that move the needle.

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. 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. Users can now also 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 search voice icon to ask questions like "Find me a coffee shop that's open right now," "Find me parking close to Grand Mall," or "Find me a gas station nearby with the lowest prices.

For more details please read the original article at TechCrunch AI.

Continue Learning

Originally published by TechCrunch AI
Read the original

Comments

Sign in to join the conversation