Main points
- Google Maps is getting a major update with a new Ask Maps feature based on the Gemini AI model to dialogue with the user about places and routes.
- The updated navigation includes 3D route visualization with detailed environmental elements and personalized recommendations.
Google revealed the biggest Maps update in 10 years / Google
Google has introduced a major update to its maps service. Google Maps is getting a new Ask Maps feature based on the Gemini AI model, which answers questions in a dialogue format. In addition, the service is getting a major navigation update with 3D route visualization.
Google has announced one of the biggest updates in the history of its mapping service. Thanks to the integration of Gemini models , maps are gradually transforming from a simple navigator into a tool for dialogue with the user. This is written in the official Google blog.
How is AI Gemini changing the way Google Maps works?
The new Ask Maps feature lets you ask the service complex questions about places and directions. For example, a user can ask where there is a nearby place to charge their phone without a queue or if there is a lighted tennis court where they can play in the evening.
Previously, searching for such information required browsing through many reviews and websites. Now, all you need to do is click the Ask Maps button and formulate your query – the system will respond in a conversational format and show you options right on the map.
The feature is powered by Google Maps' vast database, which analyzes information about more than 300 million places around the world, as well as feedback from a community of over 500 million users.
According to The Verge, the responses are also personalized. For example, if a user often searches for vegan restaurants, Maps can take this into account in its recommendations and suggest establishments that match their preferences.
After selecting a place, you can immediately take the necessary actions – save the location, share it with friends or build a route. In some cases, table reservations at restaurants are also available.
Ask Maps is starting to roll out to users in the US and India on iOS and Android . The feature is planned to be added to the desktop version later.
What has changed in navigation?
In addition to the new way to search for places, Google has also updated navigation, which the company calls the biggest update to Maps navigation in more than a decade.
The new Immersive Navigation feature shows the route in detailed 3D. The map displays buildings, overpasses, terrain and other environmental features. The system also highlights traffic lanes, pedestrian crossings, traffic lights and road signs to help the driver navigate.
To create such maps, images from Google Street View and aerial photography are used, which are analyzed by Gemini models.
The update also changes the way directions are presented during a trip. Voice instructions are now more natural and more like human prompts. For example, the system might say, “Take this exit and turn at the next one.”
The map now shows more route information ahead. With intelligent zooming and translucent buildings, drivers can see tricky turns or lane changes in advance.
Another new feature is explaining the difference between alternative routes . The system can show that one path is faster but has a toll road, while another is longer but without traffic jams.
Every second, Google Maps processes over 5 million traffic updates around the world. In addition, users submit over 10 million reports of accidents, road repairs, and other incidents every day.
Before arriving at your destination, the service also shows details of the last section of the route – the entrance to the building, parking spaces, and the correct side of the street.
Immersive Navigation is already rolling out in the U.S. The feature is planned to be available on iOS and Android devices, as well as on Apple CarPlay, Android Auto , and cars with built-in Google services.