Waze adds new AI-powered features and customization updates

Waze adds new AI-powered features and customization updates

Google is transforming Waze from a directional tool into an interactive mobility assistant through the integration of its Gemini AI. Announced on July 13, 2026, a series of updates introduces conversational reporting, personalized routing, and specialized modes for motorcyclists, positioning the app to better compete with rivals such as Apple Maps.

Conversational AI and Voice Integration

The most significant shift is the rollout of Conversational Reporting. This feature allows drivers to report road incidents verbally—such as mentioning a pothole or a car stopped on the shoulder—without manually selecting icons from a list. Using natural language processing, Gemini interprets these descriptions and converts them into real-time alerts for other users.

This capability has now expanded beyond traffic incidents to include map updates. According to Waze, users can now say The road is closed here to send details directly to local map editors for verification. This conversational reporting is rolling out globally on iOS and Android.

For iPhone users, Waze is officially replacing Google Assistant with Gemini to overcome previous technical limitations. The Gemini-powered system can understand a wider range of phrases and ask follow-up questions to clarify ambiguous reports. While Android devices continue to use Google Assistant for now, a transition to Gemini is expected in the coming months to align both platforms.

Additionally, Waze is testing Gemini-powered voice searches for its beta community globally. Users can ask natural language questions such as Find me a coffee shop that's open right now or Find me a gas station nearby with the lowest prices to receive a list of tailored options.

Personalized Navigation and User Control

Waze is introducing personalized navigation that suggests routes based on a combination of city traffic patterns and a user's trip history. If a driver typically prefers highways over local streets, the app will prioritize those options. This feature is rolling out globally on Android and iOS, though users can select alternate routes or disable personalization entirely in their settings.

To reduce driver distraction, a Less Chatty mode is also launching globally. This setting minimizes the number of voice prompts and shortens those that remain, focusing only on critical reminders for turns and hazards. While some reports indicate this has been in the app for a couple of months, it is part of the current suite of customization updates. Some versions of the app also show a Smart Mute setting, though Waze has provided no description of its function.

Specialized Modes and Safety Alerts

A new Motorcycle mode uses AI to account for road restrictions and shortcuts specific to two-wheeled vehicles. This mode provides more accurate ETAs and highlights hazards particularly dangerous for riders, including:

• Potholes and speed bumps
• Raised crosswalks
• Shoulder endings
• Narrow bridges

The Motorcycle mode relies on a combination of real-time traffic data and a team of human, motorcycle-focused editors. It is currently rolling out on Android and iOS in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, and the Philippines, with plans for further expansion.

Waze is also introducing school zone alerts to notify drivers to slow down in residential areas where children may be walking. While initially planned for later in the year, these alerts are part of a broader push to turn the app into an entertainment guide that offers curated tips on restaurants and bars based on user preferences.

Global Rollout and Ecosystem

Google is leveraging Waze's 180 million monthly users to create a more responsive driving ecosystem. While the Gemini-powered search remains in beta and Motorcycle mode is limited to specific countries, the personalization features, Less Chatty mode, and Conversational Reporting are available globally.

The current rollout is active in the U.S. For both Android and iOS, with plans to expand to more regions and languages in the coming months. It remains unclear if these features will extend to Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.