If you’re using Waze on an iPhone and relying on Google Assistant for voice commands, get ready for a major change. Starting this week, Waze is officially removing Google Assistant from its iOS app, citing “ongoing difficulties” with the feature.
The announcement comes after over a year of user frustration. Many iPhone users have reported persistent issues — from voice commands failing to register to Assistant opening without responding at all. Rather than continue patching a broken feature, Waze says it’s pulling the plug and looking ahead to a “new enhanced voice integration solution.”
Google Assistant Out, Gemini In?
While Waze hasn’t named a specific replacement, all signs point to Gemini, Google’s next-gen AI assistant. In a blog post on Tuesday, Waze addressed user concerns directly:
“As many of you have likely experienced, this feature has not been working as intended for over a year, and we sincerely apologize for the prolonged inconvenience,” the company said. “Rather than simply patching a feature that has faced ongoing difficulties, we’ve decided to phase out Google Assistant on iOS starting tomorrow.”
The move reflects a broader shift happening at Google. Earlier this month, the company announced plans to transition most users from Google Assistant to Gemini. Its more advanced AI assistant. By the end of the year, Google Assistant will no longer be available on most mobile devices or accessible from app stores.
While Google Assistant will remain functional on Waze for Android — for now — it’s unclear how long that will last. With Gemini slowly being integrated across Google’s ecosystem. Including Pixel devices and the Android OS, its expansion into apps like Waze appears inevitable.
Waze has already begun testing conversational reporting features powered by Gemini. Allowing users to naturally report traffic incidents just by speaking. This aligns with Gemini’s broader goal of offering more context-aware, human-like interactions across Google products.
The shift also highlights Google’s continued efforts to unify its AI strategy under the Gemini brand. Even if it means retiring long-standing features like Assistant. For Waze users, it signals a move toward more intuitive, AI-driven voice control that goes beyond simple commands.
For now, iPhone users will have to do without in-app voice control via Assistant, but Waze promises that a better solution is on the way.
