Waymo, the autonomous driving company under Google, has launched its first self-driving car designed from scratch for ride-hailing scenarios, called Ojai. It also introduced the in-car AI assistant Gemini in Waymo and a completely renewed three-screen interface. Waymo aims to turn the cabin into a flexible space that passengers can use independently, and will soon invite more members of the public to experience it.

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Gemini is on board but does not hold the steering wheel, voice interaction covers the cabin

The Gemini in Waymo conversational AI assistant installed inside the Ojai runs independently from the Waymo Driver driving system. After passengers click on the Gemini icon on the screen, they can adjust the air conditioning temperature, view trip information, ask about nearby coffee shops or landmark histories, and even directly control the cabin by saying "set the air conditioning to 18 degrees Celsius." Passengers can also request to pull over by voice, but Waymo clearly states that Gemini does not control vehicle movement or route, nor can it access real-time driving data.

This screen update is the first major interface change Waymo has made in years. The new interface highlights trip information, music control, and cabin media settings. The Ojai features three screens, and the system displays different content based on the seat—passengers sitting alone in the rear right seat can access full control options, while other screens display simplified trip status or ambient media players. It also offers Calm Mode, which dims the screen to keep only the minimum trip information. From custom hardware to AI cabin to scenario-based interaction, Waymo is trying to redefine what it means to "ride in a car"—handing the steering wheel over to algorithms and returning the rest of the space to passengers.