In addition to an update for its power outage problem, Waymo is also working on an AI Ride Assistant. That’s according to security researcher Jane Manchun Wong, who found details on the bot’s system prompt from Waymo’s mobile app code.

Waymo is testing a Gemini-powered in-car AI assistant, per findings from a 1,200-line system prompt. The assistant can answer general knowledge questions, control certain in-cabin features, and more.

Last week, Waymo and Santa Monica filed competing lawsuits, with Waymo claiming its vehicles “do not constitute a public nuisance.” And after failed exchanges between the parties, the case is headed to Los Angeles County Superior Court sometime in 2026.

Driverless vehicles no longer exist solely in spy movies and futuristic dreams. In fact, Solano County streets are one step closer to a future that features these self-driving “robotaxis.”

Waymo has long maintained a strict rule: Passengers are not allowed to sit in the driver’s seat or touch the vehicle’s controls. The policy is outlined in Waymo’s rider guidelines and onboarding materials, which explain that the front seat is reserved for trained personnel and off-limits during public rides.

A blackout in San Francisco revealed a new way for robotaxis to go wrong. Waymo’s self-driving robotaxis can successfully nail a tricky left turn, weave through lanes to drop you off at the airport, and safely pass a U-Haul that’s idling in the middle of the street. But during a blackout, they apparently turn into four-wheel bricks.

A driverless Waymo robotaxi edging into the path of oncoming cars has become the latest viral flashpoint in the debate over autonomous vehicles. The short clip, filmed on a quiet Austin street, shows the vehicle drifting toward traffic that clearly has the right of way,

Waymo sues Santa Monica for trying to stop it charging driverless cars overnight - The beeping noises and flashing lights from two charging ports, which continued through the night, have kept some residents awake since they were installed a year ago,