Waymo Tests Gemini Voice Assistant in Robotaxis

Alphabet’s Waymo is extending generative AI into the autonomous-vehicle cabin as it looks beyond ride fares for new revenue. A Gemini-powered assistant could let passengers use natural-language commands for information and trip-related services, while creating a potential gateway to agentic commerce such as reservations and purchases. The move also brings Google’s AI ecosystem into a market where software, mobility and in-car services increasingly overlap.

Waymo said it is testing Gemini as a passenger-focused voice assistant in its next-generation robotaxi, but did not disclose a launch date, fleet size or commercial terms. The company said the AI assistant is fully isolated from the vehicle’s autonomous-driving and control systems, limiting it to cabin interactions. That separation is central to the safety case, preventing errors or unpredictable responses from a generative model from affecting driving decisions.