Waze's latest update is all about Gemini, and it's picking up your driving habits too

Waze is rolling out an update that integrates Google's Gemini artificial intelligence model to personalize route recommendations and expand conversational reporting capabilities, the company announced Monday. The update allows the navigation app to remember user preferences for routes, such as favoring highways or quicker lanes, and optimize future suggestions accordingly. Users can disable the personalized recommendations if they choose. The update also enhances the AI-powered Motorcycle mode with bike-specific routing that includes narrow lanes or shortcuts unsuitable for cars, along with hazard notifications for speed bumps, raised crosswalks and narrow bridges. The improved Motorcycle mode is rolling out in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru and the Philippines. Gemini's conversational abilities now let users report a wider variety of incidents, including road closures and incorrect addresses, by speaking to the app. The system can also handle vague search queries, such as finding a gas station that sells coffee with vegan milk options. A new "less chatty" mode limits voice alerts to crucial hazards or obstructions. Apart from the Motorcycle mode improvements, all features are rolling out to Android and iOS users worldwide.