Google's big Waze AI update includes a button that makes the app shut up
Image: Primary Google announced a batch of new features for its Waze navigation app, most powered by its Gemini artificial intelligence model, The Verge reported.
The additions include a dedicated motorcycle mode, personalized routing, conversational map editing and Gemini-powered destination search. The most notable feature is a "less chatty" mode that reduces the number of voice prompts while keeping alerts for hazards, turns and lane changes. The motorcycle mode accounts for two-wheeler shortcuts and restrictions and surfaces hazards such as potholes and narrow bridges.
It is rolling out first in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru and the Philippines. Conversational map editing allows users to suggest map updates by speaking naturally, with reports sent to human editors for verification. Gemini destination search lets users ask for specific locations by voice, such as open coffee shops or cheap fuel, and is in beta globally on Android and iOS.
Personalized routing, which learns user preferences for highways or side streets, is rolling out to all users and can be disabled.
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