I start with the weird thing you’ve probably noticed: type the same destination into Waze and Google Maps, and you can get two totally different routes. And that’s not because they’re “two different apps” with totally different data—Google has owned Waze since 2013. In this video I break down how routing actually works: historical traffic + real-time signals + machine learning. Google Maps is the careful planner tuned for reliability, while Waze is the slightly unhinged friend that will cut through alleys and neighborhoods to shave minutes, recalculating constantly. Then I get into the real reason Google keeps two competing apps alive: money and data. Google Maps is basically an advertising platform with a GPS bolted on—promoted pins, paid placements, business listings. Waze monetizes differently with real-time, location-based ads while you’re literally stuck at a red light. And the “genius” (and ugly) part is that Waze is built by users: reports, edits, and every trip’s location/speed patterns—data worth billions—wrapped in gamification so you’ll do it for free. Finally, I talk about the Waze Effect: how aggressive rerouting can flood residential streets (LA, New Jersey, Fremont), turning neighborhoods into de facto highways. And I explain why I don’t think Waze stays truly independent long-term—Google is already absorbing its features into Maps, piece by piece.