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Waze Launches New AI Feature Powered By Gemini To Report Road Incidents
- Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- Conversation Reporting allows drivers to talk to Gemini about road incidents and the AI feature automatically reports it in the platform
- The Gemini-powered feature is in beta mode for selected drivers globally and will expand to more users soon
- School Zones will alert drivers when they drive near a school later this year
Waze launched a new Conversational Reporting feature powered by Gemini’s AI technology for drivers to report traffic incidents by speaking, and another feature called School Zones alerts drivers when they are driving near a school.
According to the official announcement shared by Google, Conversational Reporting has been released in beta mode in English for selected drivers across the world for iOS and Android devices and will expand in the upcoming months to more users and in more languages. The School Zones feature will be released later this year.
Conversational Reporting allows Gemini to listen to drivers’ reports and descriptions in different scenarios—from potholes to constructions to traffic jams—and automatically adds it to the collaborative platform to inform other drivers.
“All you need to do is tap the reporting button and speak naturally, as if you’re chatting with a friend: ´Looks like there are cars jammed up ahead!´” wrote Gai Berkovich, Waze General Manager in the document. “With the help of Gemini capabilities, Waze will understand what you’re saying and quickly add a real-time report to the map for you — no need to use a specific voice command or tap extra buttons.”
Berkovich explains they believe this will help avoid car accidents and help drivers share updates in a safer and easier way. If Gemini needs more information it will ask the driver for more details to include in the app report.
School Zones has been designed to increase safety and keep drivers alert. “When you’re driving near a school when it’s open and we have information for that school zone available, you’ll receive an alert that reminds you to be extra cautious,” explained Berkovich.
📣 Conversational Reporting empowers drivers to speak naturally, as Waze leverages Gemini capabilities to intuitively understand you. pic.twitter.com/QQKUfXgXwv — waze (@waze) October 31, 2024
Other companies have also announced new platforms and updates to reduce car accidents and make roads safer. Toyota and NTT will launch an AI-powered platform for a zero-traffic accident initiative, and Uber recently launched another AI-powered update to help drivers with electric vehicles.
Image by Tamas Tuzes-Katai, from Unsplash
Google Maps Announces New AI-Powered Features
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- Google Maps adds AI-powered suggestions using its Gemini model for tailored recommendations.
- Users can ask Maps for activities with friends, like speakeasies or live music.
- New navigation features show landmarks, dining spots, and clearer lane markings.
Google has announced a series of updates to its Maps application, leveraging its generative AI model, Gemini, to enhance user experience. The new features, rolling out this week for users in the United States, aim to streamline the process of discovering and navigating places.
One of the primary updates includes the ability for users to receive tailored suggestions by simply querying the application. For example, if someone is seeking activities to enjoy with friends, they can ask Google Maps for “things to do with friends at night” and receive curated recommendations.
This functionality is powered by Gemini’s summarization and reasoning capabilities, which analyze data from over 250 million locations and insights from the Maps community. Additionally, users can access summarized reviews, offering a quick overview of popular attractions.
The updates also focus on improving navigation. Users can now explore potential stops along their route before embarking on their journey, with features that highlight landmarks, attractions, and dining options.
Enhanced navigation capabilities will provide clearer visual cues, such as lane markings and road signs, making it easier for drivers to navigate complex intersections. To further assist drivers, the application will now enable users to report and view weather-related disruptions along their routes, ensuring better preparedness during travel.
Upon arrival, Google Maps will guide users to their destinations by illuminating building entrances and displaying nearby parking options. This includes reminders to save parking locations and walking directions from the vehicle to the entrance, utilizing features like Street View and augmented reality.
In addition to these updates, Google plans to expand its Immersive View feature to 150 cities globally, allowing users to visualize locations and assess conditions like traffic and weather before planning their visits.
