Waze is updating its navigation platform with a suite of new features designed to increase route customization and integrate Gemini capabilities. The update includes a dedicated motorcycle mode, which provides two-wheeler-specific routing and hazard alerts for conditions like potholes, speed bumps, and narrow bridges. This mode is currently available in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, and the Philippines on both Android and iOS devices, with plans for a broader international rollout.
The platform is also introducing personalized navigation, which suggests routes based on a driver's historical trip preferences. By analyzing past driving habits, the app can prioritize highways or local streets according to individual user patterns. Users retain control over these suggestions and can opt to disable the personalization feature or select alternate routes through the application settings at any time.
To reduce distractions for drivers who prefer listening to music or podcasts, Waze has launched a less chatty mode. This setting minimizes the frequency of voice prompts while ensuring that critical navigation information, such as upcoming turns, lane changes, and hazard warnings, remains audible. The feature is designed to provide a quieter driving experience without compromising essential safety notifications.
Gemini integration is expanding to include conversational map updates and enhanced search functionality. Drivers can now report road closures or outdated addresses by speaking naturally to the app, which then forwards the information to local map editors for verification. Additionally, the Waze beta community can now use voice queries to find specific destinations, such as open coffee shops, nearby parking, or gas stations with the lowest prices.
These updates represent a shift toward more intelligent, conversational interactions between the driver and the navigation software. By leveraging real-time traffic data and community-verified map edits, the company aims to provide more flexible routing options. The global rollout for these features, excluding the motorcycle-specific mode, is currently underway for all mobile users.