Autonomous ride-hailing is now moving from simply proving the car can drive itself to making the in-cabin experience better for passengers. Waymo has officially unveiled a major redesign of its rider screen interface, complete with a new conversational AI integration powered by sister company Google’s Gemini.
The updated software layer is launching inside the Ojai, Waymo’s sixth-generation, purpose-built robotaxi platform manufactured in partnership with Chinese automaker Zeekr. Designed as an all-electric, boxy passenger van featuring a spacious interior and elevator-style sliding doors, the Ojai reimagines the cabin as a flexible living room on wheels.
Not a Tesla App
Unlike Tesla’s Cybercab, which is another purpose-built robotaxi that’s currently testing fully autonomous employee rides at Giga Texas without manual controls, the Ojai still retains traditional driving controls like a steering wheel. Ojai incorporates Waymo’s multimodal approach to vehicle autonomy, combining cameras, radar, and LiDAR hardware to navigate complex city streets.
Google Gemini Comes to the In-Car Screen
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In an official Waymo blog post, the team detailed how Google’s Gemini voice assistant is being deployed directly into the passenger cabin. Riders can tap a dedicated Gemini icon on the screen to control cabin climate, ask about nearby points of interest, or check journey progress using natural conversational prompts.
Waymo noted that Gemini in Waymo operates as a standalone conversational assistant, operating completely independently from the Waymo Driver software steering the car. While passengers can issue voice requests for a pullover, Gemini does not control vehicle routing or movement and stays inactive until a rider explicitly engages with it.
Choreographed Tri-Screen Experience and Early Feedback
The UI redesign introduces a choreographed tri-screen layout (a central touchscreen in the front and one behind each front seat for rear passengers) across the Ojai cabin. Instead of mirroring identical information on all three displays, the software adapts dynamically based on seat occupancy. A solo passenger sitting in the rear right seat receives full climate and media controls on their display, while unoccupied seating positions show a simplified trip view or ambient art. The update also introduces Calm Mode, which dims screen brightness and only shows essential trip stats for maximum comfort.
Early access testing is underway, giving Ojai riders in active markets a hands-on preview of the software. Sharing their impressions on X, rider @ethanmckanna praised the Ojai’s door closure automation and interface animations while critiquing early self-driving behavior:
“I really like that you only have to press a button once after getting in. The Ojai auto-closes the doors and then immediately is off.”
I really like that you only have to press a button once after getting in. The Ojai auto closes the doors and then immediately is off
Also the full screen to windowed transition is insanely well done
Video also captures how indecisive the Ojai is, much more so than the 5th gen.… pic.twitter.com/CHFmRyClfS
— Ethan McKanna (@ethanmckanna) July 30, 2026
They added that the transition from the windowed UI you see when you get into the Ojai to the fullscreen navigation view when the car starts driving is really “well done.” However, the Ojai’s self-driving logic appears to be less confident than even Waymo’s fifth-generation Driver platform, which the Ojai is supposed to succeed. “That and the really terrible speakers are my only issues with Ojai,” said @ethanmckanna.
There’s likely only so much Waymo can do about the subpar sound system in software. That said, the minor hesitations noticed in early Ojai software compared to the fifth-generation Driver setup are bound to improve with updates as public availability expands to broader service areas soon.