Liven up your Waymo robotaxi with YouTube Music
You can now distract yourself from the terror of your driverless taxi with your favourite tracks on YouTube Music.
The future is now, but that doesn’t mean some of us aren’t a bit nervous about it. Waymo’s driverless taxis may be a bit of an unnerving thought, but then again, why is a complete stranger driving us around so much easier to trust? To help those of us used to the human touch adjust more easily, Waymo has added YouTube Music to its cars to make the journey more enjoyable.
As reported by 9to5Google, passengers can now use YouTube Music as part of the in-car experience, while a new “My car” tab has been added to the app to give riders more control over their journeys.
YouTube Music is now the third streaming option available, joining Spotify and iHeartRadio. Once the feature reaches your vehicle, connecting is simple: open the Waymo app on your phone, go to Account and select Music, then choose Spotify or YouTube Music. You can connect via a QR code inside the car or directly from the mobile app. From there, your YouTube Music library is ready to use, with playlists and saved songs available during the ride.
No more awkward silences between you and your dri… oh, wait.
Alongside music streaming additions, Waymo has introduced the “My car” tab in its Android and iOS apps. This page sits between My trip and Feedback and lets you take control of the “cabin”. You can change the temperature, adjust fan settings with options ranging from Auto to High, and manage audio features such as balance, fade, bass, treble, and subwoofer levels.
You can even set a unique car ID with a chosen initial and colour, enable automatic unlocking when you approach via Bluetooth, select themed cabin experiences for holidays and events, and access accessibility settings. These updates are designed to make every ride feel more comfortable and tailored to each passenger.
If you want a cutting edge commute, or you’d like your Friday night ride into town to feel more futuristic, you’ll need to be based in Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, where Waymo operates. Additionally, its cars are also available through Uber in Atlanta and Austin. The company has confirmed that Miami and Washington, DC, are next on the rollout list.