Say hi to new Ojai in-car experience

Waymo announced a redesigned in-car experience for its Ojai vehicle on Tuesday, introducing a conversational AI assistant and a new user interface. The company said the features are designed to enhance the rider journey in the vehicle built for ride-hailing. The new Gemini in Waymo assistant allows riders to control cabin settings such as temperature, ask questions about their surroundings, and access general knowledge through voice commands. Waymo said the assistant operates independently from the Waymo Driver and does not control vehicle movement or access real-time driving data. The feature is currently in beta and activates only when a rider engages with it. The updated interface uses a tri-screen layout that adapts content based on seat occupancy rather than mirroring displays. A single rear passenger receives full controls while unoccupied screens show simplified trip information. The system also includes a Calm Mode that dims screens and minimizes trip data for a quieter ride.