Waymo Adds Gemini Voice Assistant and Redesigns In-Cabin Interface for Ojai Vehicles

Waymo has integrated Google's Gemini assistant into its Ojai vehicles, ahead of public availability, giving riders voice-activated access to cabin controls and general assistance during trips.

The integration works similarly to Gemini's role in Android Auto and Android Automotive. Riders can ask questions like "where is the best coffee shop nearby?" or "what's the history of that monument?" According to Waymo, Gemini can also provide journey information, Waymo-specific education, and general knowledge queries.

On the cabin control side, riders can issue commands such as "turn the A/C to 65" or request a pullover via voice. Waymo states this is the extent of vehicle-related commands available through Gemini. The company was explicit that Gemini "operates independently from the Waymo Driver" system and does "not control any aspect of the vehicle's movement or routing" and has no access to real-time driving data — a distinction Waymo is drawing clearly given the safety-critical nature of autonomous vehicle operations.

Gemini is accessed via a button in the bottom-right corner of the screen and appears as an overlay at the bottom of the display, rather than as a full-screen takeover.

Redesigned interface for larger screens

The Gemini rollout coincides with what Waymo calls its "first major design update in years," optimized specifically for the larger touchscreens in Ojai vehicles compared to the smaller displays used in the Jaguar I-Pace fleet. Touch targets have been enlarged throughout, with media and cabin controls receiving the most significant visual overhaul while trip information remains persistently visible.

The update introduces what Waymo describes as a "choreographed tri-screen experience," meaning the three in-cabin displays no longer mirror identical content. Instead, information adapts based on seating position and which controls are needed at a given screen. Waymo's example: a solo rider in the right rear seat sees full controls on their screen, while the other two displays show a simplified trip status view or an ambient media player instead of duplicate controls.

A new "Calm Mode" has also been added, which dims the screen and reduces trip information to a minimal display for riders who prefer a quieter cabin experience.

No pricing, availability timeline, or specific Gemini model version was disclosed in Waymo's announcement. The features are rolling out ahead of Ojai's public availability, though Waymo did not specify an exact public launch date.

What this means

This is a product integration story, not a model release — Waymo is embedding Google's existing Gemini assistant into its vehicle hardware rather than shipping new AI capabilities. The more notable signal is Waymo's careful architectural separation between Gemini and the Waymo Driver stack. By explicitly stating Gemini has no access to real-time driving data and cannot influence routing or movement, Waymo is preemptively addressing safety and liability concerns that would arise from blending a conversational assistant with autonomous driving controls. Expect this separation to become a template for how other autonomous vehicle operators integrate LLM-based assistants into robotaxi cabins without touching the safety-critical driving stack.