Waymo robotaxis may get Gemini AI in-car assistant
Waymo has been testing an integration of Google’s Gemini AI chatbot into its robotaxis as an in-car assistant, according to researcher Jane Manchun Wong.
Wong discovered a 1,200-line “Waymo Ride Assistant Meta-Prompt” within Waymo’s mobile app code, detailing the AI assistant’s expected behavior inside a vehicle. The integration has not shipped in public builds but indicates functionality beyond a standard chatbot, including the ability to answer questions, manage cabin functions, and reassure riders.
Julia Ilina, a Waymo spokesperson, said the company continually prototypes features to enhance the rider experience. Waymo has previously utilized Gemini’s world knowledge for training its autonomous vehicles in complex scenarios.
The assistant’s identity and purpose are defined as “a friendly and helpful AI companion integrated into a Waymo autonomous vehicle,” aiming “to enhance the rider’s experience by providing useful information and assistance in a safe, reassuring, and unobtrusive manner.” It is instructed to use clear, simple language, avoid jargon, and keep responses to one to three sentences.
When activated via the in-car screen, Gemini can use pre-approved greetings personalized with the rider’s first name and access contextual data, such as the number of past Waymo trips. The prompts allow Gemini to control in-car features like temperature, lighting, and music but exclude volume control, route changes, seat adjustment, and window control. For unavailable features, the bot is to respond with “aspirational phrases.”
The system directs Gemini to distinguish its identity from the autonomous driving technology, the Waymo Driver. For example, if asked, “How do you see the road?” Gemini should reply, “The Waymo Driver uses a combination of sensors,” rather than “I use a combination of sensors.”
Waymo is working on Gemini AI in-car assistant
They tried to hide it from the app, but here’s the full 1200-line system prompt pic.twitter.com/weh1EBPj7y
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) December 24, 2025
Instructions also detail how the bot should handle queries about competitors like Tesla or Cruise, and which keywords will end its responses. The assistant is directed to avoid speculating on, explaining, confirming, denying, or commenting on real-time driving actions or specific driving events, and to deflect questions about vehicle incidents without adopting a defensive or apologetic tone.
The in-car assistant can answer general knowledge questions, such as weather information, the height of the Eiffel Tower, local store closing times, and sports results. It is not permitted to perform real-world actions like ordering food, making reservations, or handling emergencies.