Waze has announced that it is removing Google Assistant from its iPhone app due to persistent integration issues. The company shared the update on Tuesday, explaining that it will phase out the feature and introduce an improved voice assistant, possibly Google’s new AI, Gemini.
“For more than a year, many of you have experienced problems with this feature [Google Assistant], and we sincerely apologise for the ongoing inconvenience,” Waze stated. “Instead of trying to fix a feature that has faced continuous challenges, we have decided to remove Google Assistant from iOS starting tomorrow.”
Users have faced ongoing problems for over a year
iPhone users have complained about issues with Google Assistant on Waze for some time. Many have reported that the voice command function was not working correctly. Some users noted that saying “Hey Google” would open the assistant but failed to process or respond to commands.
Voice recognition not working on iPhone
byu/nestorph inwaze
While the removal only affects iPhone users, Google Assistant will remain available on Waze for Android devices. However, it is unclear how long that will last. Earlier this month, Google announced its plan to shift more users from Google Assistant to Gemini. The company also confirmed that Google Assistant “will no longer be accessible on most mobile devices or available for new downloads on mobile app stores” later this year.
Waze is testing Gemini for voice commands
Waze has already begun testing Gemini-powered voice commands, allowing users to report incidents naturally through conversational speech. This change suggests that Waze may integrate Gemini as its primary voice assistant in the future.
For now, iPhone users will have to rely on manual inputs or alternative voice assistants like Siri while driving with Waze. The company has not provided a timeline for when the new voice integration solution will be available.
