Google Assistant Comes to Waze

Google announced this morning that it is making the Google Assistant available in Waze, its other navigation app.

“Google Assistant can already help with navigation in Google Maps, so it’s easier to search for places along your route or add a new stop while you’re on the go,” Google’s Austin Chang writes. “And starting to roll out today in the U.S., you can get help from the Assistant in Waze on Android phones in English.”

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday — and get free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (normally $9.99) as a special welcome gift!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

If you’re not familiar with Waze, it’s like a community-driven version of Google Maps that focuses exclusively on navigation. Waze users report traffic, road problems, accidents, speed traps, and other issues to the community, helping the app improve for all of its users. (And yes, some of those features are starting to find their way into Maps, as well.)

Now, this functionality can be controlled via voice. Just say “Hey Google, report traffic” or “Hey Google, avoid tolls” when navigating with Waze and your Google Assistant will help keep you connected and informed, Google notes, while minimizing distractions. This is almost certainly better than looking at and touching your phone’s screen while driving.

I assume that Google Assistant support in Waze will expand beyond English and the U.S. but the firm doesn’t mention this.

 

Tagged with

Share post

Please check our Community Guidelines before commenting

Conversation 7 comments

  • Scott Ross

    10 June, 2019 - 10:05 am

    <p>Sounds good to me. Waze does have Hands free assistance but you practically have to yell at it. I have a nice long trip to the Pittsburg area later in the month, cant want to try it out. </p>

  • mestiphal

    10 June, 2019 - 10:24 am

    <p>Instead of using resources to add new features to both Google Maps and Waze. Google should just merge the two programs, and concentrate on features on a single application</p>

    • X911ty12

      10 June, 2019 - 11:02 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#434375">In reply to Mestiphal:</a></em></blockquote><p>As long as the heanous full screen ads don't come to Google maps. It's bad enough I have to close Uber ads disquised as route choices when I search in maps.</p>

  • RonV42

    Premium Member
    10 June, 2019 - 11:04 am

    <p>Can't they just leave Waze alone? I never used voice in Waze and never will.</p>

  • jonsimon

    Premium Member
    10 June, 2019 - 3:26 pm

    <p>I like Android auto integration with Waze…but adding Google Assistant will allow me to bypass it as I only use it to control Waze by voice. Looking forward to its Canadian availability and will compare the two environments on my Pixel Xl</p>

  • michael.dice

    Premium Member
    10 June, 2019 - 4:08 pm

    <p>How would one discover what commands are available?</p>

  • rinku01

    12 June, 2019 - 12:34 am

    <p><a href="https://technologyax.com/sYD9&quot; target="_blank">Grow with Google</a></p>

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Thurrott © 2024 Thurrott LLC