Google Maps’ New AI Features: What You Need to Know.

Overview:

Google recently announced a series of updates for its popular apps, including Google Maps, Waze, and Google Earth. These updates are powered by Google’s new Gemini AI technology, which brings several new features designed to enhance user experience.

Enhanced Navigation Experience:

One of the standout features is the enhanced navigation experience in Google Maps. Users can now explore their route before they start driving. This feature allows users to add stops, including top landmarks, attractions, scenic spots, and dining options. During the drive, Google Maps will highlight the correct lanes to take for merging and show crosswalks and road signs on the map.

Google Maps’ Immersive View feature, which creates a 3D model of a destination, is expanding to 150 more cities around the world, including Brussels, Kyoto, and Frankfurt. This feature provides detailed route information, including parking options and complex sections of the drive ahead.

Google Maps’ New AI Features: What You Need to Know.

Gemini AI also brings conversational search capabilities to Google Maps. Users can now ask the app for tips on things to do around specific spots in a neighborhood or city and receive curated lists of nearby attractions. Additionally, Waze users can report road incidents by simply talking to the app, and Gemini AI will process the information and add the correct type of incident to the app.

Google Maps now features AI-powered review summaries for nearby places. Users can ask the app questions about specific destinations, such as whether a restaurant has outdoor seating or a quiet atmosphere, and receive relevant answers in a snap. This feature is initially available in the US, with plans to expand to other regions and Google Search in the future.

Google is also making its Maps data available to third-party apps, including other AI applications that can use location data to better answer questions. This move aims to enhance the overall user experience by providing more detailed and contextual search results.

Google’s VP and GM of Maps, Miriam Daniel, stated that the company is entering a new era of maps, transforming how users navigate and explore the world. The integration of Gemini AI into Google Maps is expected to make the app more competitive with other navigation services and provide users with a more seamless and enjoyable experience.