Recently, Waymo, the autonomous driving subsidiary of Alphabet, Google's parent company, officially launched its new dedicated autonomous ride-hailing vehicle, Ojai. This model was built from the ground up for shared mobility scenarios, offering flexible and customizable cabin space, and also features a major interface overhaul that marks the first significant update in years. It also deeply integrates conversational artificial intelligence.
In terms of intelligent experience, Ojai is fully equipped with an AI assistant called Gemini in Waymo. Passengers can easily adjust the air conditioning temperature or access general knowledge through voice or the screen. They can also issue voice commands to request the vehicle to pull over. However, to ensure driving safety, this AI system operates independently from the underlying Waymo Driver driving system and cannot directly control the vehicle's movement or access real-time driving data.
In addition to its powerful AI interaction, the new vehicle has undergone a complete reconfiguration of hardware and interior interactions. It is equipped with three screens that intelligently distribute content based on the passenger's seat position. For example, the passenger in the rear main seat can access full vehicle control options, while other screens primarily display simplified trip status or ambient media players. Additionally, the infotainment system offers a "Calm Mode" that automatically dims screen brightness and hides non-essential elements, creating a more relaxed and comfortable riding atmosphere for passengers.
