Waymo appears to be testing adding Google’s Gemini AI chatbot to its robotaxis to integrate an AI assistant that accompanies passengers and answers their questions, according to research by researcher Jane Manchun Wong.
“While examining the code of Waymo’s mobile app, I discovered a complete system prompt for the unreleased Gemini integration,” Wong wrote on his blog. “This document, internally titled ‘Waymo Ride Assistant Meta-Prompt,’ is a more than 1,200-line specification that defines exactly how the AI assistant is expected to operate inside Waymo vehicles.”
Although the feature hasn’t shipped in a public build, Wong said the system prompts make it clear that this is “more than just a chatbot.” The assistant is said to be capable of answering questions, managing certain in-car functions such as climate control, and reassuring passengers when needed.
“While we don’t have any details to share today, our team is always working on features to make riding with Waymo fun, seamless, and convenient,” Waymo spokesperson Julia Ilina told TechCrunch. “Some of that may or may not be reflected in our rider experience.”
This isn’t the first time Gemini has been integrated into the Alphabet-owned self-driving company’s stack. Waymo says it has used Gemini’s “world knowledge” to train self-driving cars to navigate complex, rare and high-stakes scenarios.
Wong wrote that the assistant has been instructed to have a clear identity and purpose, meaning that the primary goal of the “friendly and helpful AI companion integrated into Waymo self-driving cars” is to “enhance the rider experience by providing useful information and assistance in a safe, secure, and unobtrusive manner.” Bots are instructed to use clear and simple language, avoid jargon, and keep their responses concise, one to three sentences.
Following the system’s prompts, when the rider activates the assistant via the in-vehicle screen, Gemini can select a set of pre-approved greetings personalized with the rider’s first name. The system can also access contextual data about passengers, such as how many Waymo rides they have taken.
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Now, prompts allow Gemini to access and control in-car features such as temperature, lights, and music. Notably missing from the feature list, Wong noted, are things like volume control, route changes, seat adjustments, and window controls. If a rider requests a feature that Gemini cannot control, the bot is supposed to respond with an “aspirational phrase” such as “That’s not something I can do yet.”
Interestingly, the assistant has been instructed to clearly differentiate between its identity as Gemini, an AI bot, and its self-driving technology (Waymo Driver). So when answering a question like “What does the road look like?” Gemini should not say “We use a combination of sensors,” but instead should answer “Waymo drivers use a combination of sensors…”
System prompts include a variety of compelling information, including how the bot handles questions about competitors like Tesla and the now-defunct Cruise, and what trigger keywords will stop the bot from talking.
Assistants are also instructed to avoid speculating, explaining, confirming, denying, or commenting on real-time driving behavior or specific driving events. So if a passenger asks about a video of the Waymo hitting something, the bot is instructed to deflect rather than answer directly.
“Your role is not to be a spokesperson for the performance of the drive system, and you must not adopt a defensive or apologetic tone,” the prompt reads.
The in-car assistant can answer general knowledge questions like the weather, the height of the Eiffel Tower, the closing time of your local Trader Joe’s, and who won the previous World Series. Real-world activities such as ordering food, making reservations, and responding to emergencies are not allowed.
Waymo isn’t the only company integrating AI assistants into self-driving cars. Tesla is doing something similar with xAI’s Grok. However, the two different car assistants perform different functions. Gemini seems to be programmed to be more practical and vehicle-focused, while Grok serves as an in-car sidekick that can handle long conversations and remember previous questions.
