Waze is officially stopping support for Google Assistant on iPhones

Engadget - Mar 26th, 2025
Open on Engadget

Waze is discontinuing Google Assistant support for its iOS app due to persistent integration issues, opting instead to develop an enhanced voice integration solution for the future. This decision comes after a year of reported malfunctions with Google Assistant by iPhone users, where voice commands were consistently failing. While Google Assistant will still function on Android devices, Waze has acknowledged that the service has not been performing as intended on iOS, and patching the existing issues was deemed unfeasible.

The removal of Google Assistant from Waze on iOS highlights a broader transition within Google's ecosystem. Google has announced plans to phase out the classic Google Assistant across most mobile devices, steering users towards its new AI solution, Gemini. Waze has already started testing Gemini, which supports natural language processing for reporting traffic incidents. This shift underscores evolving strategies in voice assistant technology and could signal future changes in how users interact with navigation apps, impacting user experience and digital assistant market dynamics.

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RATING

6.8
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The news story provides a mostly accurate account of Waze's decision to drop Google Assistant support for iPhones, citing integration difficulties and future plans for a new solution. It presents the information clearly and concisely, making it accessible to a general audience. The article is timely and relevant, addressing ongoing changes in digital assistant technology. However, it could benefit from more transparency in sourcing and additional perspectives to enhance engagement and balance. While it does not provoke significant controversy, it raises questions about the future of voice integration in Waze and the broader implications of Google's transition to Gemini. Overall, the article effectively informs readers about a specific technological development, though it leaves some details and potential impacts open to further exploration.

RATING DETAILS

8
Accuracy

The article accurately states that Waze is dropping Google Assistant support for iPhones, citing difficulties with integration. This is confirmed by Waze's announcement. The claim about Google Assistant continuing to work on Android devices is also accurate, as it aligns with current functionality. However, the article suggests that Google Assistant will be phased out on most mobile devices, which is consistent with Google's transition plan to Gemini. The timeline for the new voice integration solution and the full capabilities of Gemini in Waze require further verification. Overall, the article's claims are mostly accurate, but some details about future developments are speculative.

7
Balance

The article presents a balanced view of the situation by including both the perspective of Waze and the implications for users. It mentions the ongoing issues with Google Assistant on iPhones and the company's decision to seek a better solution, which reflects Waze's stance. However, the article could include more perspectives, such as user reactions or expert opinions on the transition to Gemini. The focus is primarily on Waze's actions and Google's plans without delving into potential user concerns or alternative viewpoints.

8
Clarity

The article is generally clear and concise, presenting the main points in a straightforward manner. The language is accessible, and the structure follows a logical flow from the announcement of the change to the implications for users. However, the article could be clearer about the timeline for the new voice integration solution and the specific features of Gemini, which are currently vague. Despite these minor issues, the article effectively communicates the key information.

6
Source quality

The article appears to rely on official statements from Waze and Google, which are credible sources for this type of news. However, it does not cite specific sources or documents, such as press releases or official announcements, which would enhance the reliability of the information. The lack of direct quotes or references to authoritative documents slightly diminishes the source quality, as readers cannot independently verify the claims.

5
Transparency

The article provides some context for Waze's decision to drop Google Assistant support, mentioning the integration difficulties and the plan for a new solution. However, it lacks transparency in terms of detailing the methodology behind the claims, such as specific user reports or technical issues faced. The article could improve by disclosing more about the sources of its information and any potential conflicts of interest that may affect the reporting.

Sources

  1. https://www.iphoneincanada.ca/2025/03/26/google-assistant-gets-the-boot-from-waze-on-iphone/
  2. https://www.waze.com/discuss/t/google-assistance-not-working-on-waze-when-using-iphone/326280
  3. https://www.howtogeek.com/google-assistant-waze-on-iphone-gemini/
  4. https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/770607
  5. https://support.google.com/waze/answer/9332876