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Google’s big Waze AI update includes a button that makes the app shut up

TL;DR

Google has added Gemini-powered features to Waze, including destination search by voice, conversational map editing, personalised routing, and a dedicated motorcycle mode. The standout is “less chatty” mode, which reduces the number of voice prompts, an anti-feature in an AI announcement. The most strategically interesting change is conversational map editing, which uses Gemini to widen the funnel of contributions to Waze’s human editor community rather than replace it.

Google has given Waze a batch of new features, most of them powered by Gemini. The headline additions are a motorcycle mode, personalised routing, conversational map editing, and Gemini-powered destination search, The Verge reports.

The most interesting one does the opposite of what you would expect. It is called less chatty mode, and it makes the app talk less.

Turn it on and Waze cuts the number of voice prompts and keeps the remaining ones short. Hazards, turns, and lane...

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X just tweaked its algorithm to make it more friendly, less battleground

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Sources: Nous Research, the startup behind Hermes, an open-source agent and OpenClaw rival, is raising $75M+ at a $1.5B valuation led by Robot Ventures

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Hermes agent maker Nous Research in talks for new funding at $1.5B valuation

Nous Research, the startup behind the open-source Hermes agent, is finalizing a new round of funding led by Robot Ventures, with significant participation from USV and other prominent investors at a $1.5 billion valuation, according to three sources with knowledge of the deal. The company is raising at least

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X just tweaked its algorithm to make it more friendly, less battleground

Video generation startup PixVerse raises $439M, valuation soars past $2B

Sources: Nous Research, the startup behind Hermes, an open-source agent and OpenClaw rival, is raising $75M+ at a $1.5B valuation led by Robot Ventures

Hermes agent maker Nous Research in talks for new funding at $1.5B valuation