Waymo is testing Google's Gemini AI chatbot in its robotaxis to provide an AI assistant that accompanies riders and answers their queries, according to findings by app researcher Jane Manchun Wong. Wong discovered the complete system prompt for the unreleased Gemini integration whilst examining Waymo's mobile app code, with the document internally titled Waymo Ride Assistant Meta-Prompt comprising a 1,200-plus line specification that defines exactly how the AI assistant is expected to behave inside a Waymo vehicle. The feature has not shipped in public builds yet, but the discovered setup suggests the assistant's main intended functions are answering questions, managing certain in-cabin functions like climate control, and reassuring riders.
The assistant is instructed to be a friendly and helpful AI companion integrated into a Waymo autonomous vehicle whose primary goal is to enhance the rider's experience by providing useful information and assistance in a safe, reassuring, and unobtrusive manner, using clear, simple language whilst keeping responses succinct to one to three sentences. The setup currently lets Gemini access and control in-car features, including temperature, lighting and music, whilst the assistant is directed to maintain a clear distinction between its identity as Gemini the AI bot and the autonomous driving technology. The assistant is directed to avoid speculating on, explaining, confirming, denying, or commenting on real-time driving actions or specific driving events, so if a passenger asks about a video they saw of a Waymo hitting something, the bot is instructed to not answer directly and deflect.
Waymo is not the only company integrating AI assistants into driverless vehicles, as Tesla is doing something similar with xAI's Grok, though Gemini appears to be programmed to be more pragmatic and ride-focused, whilst Grok is pitched more as an in-car buddy that can handle long conversations and remember context from previous questions. The comprehensive set of guidelines unearthed by Wong details how the AI should respond to general knowledge queries, manage in-cabin controls like music and climate settings, and provide reassurance during rides, establishing a framework for AI-assisted autonomous transport experiences.
Sources:
1. https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/24/waymo-is-testing-gemini-as-an-in-car-ai-assistant-in-its-robotaxis/
2. https://www.webpronews.com/waymo-tests-googles-gemini-ai-as-robotaxi-in-car-assistant-2/
