Google Maps is getting new AI features powered by Gemini

Date:

Share post:


Google Maps is getting new features powered by Gemini, Google’s generative AI model. On Thursday the company announced incoming updates that will allow Google Maps users in the U.S. to tap into AI to help them find new places to visit and answer questions about different locations.

The platform is also getting enhanced navigation features to help motorists get to their destination by highlighting things like which lane you’re supposed to be in.

By bringing Gemini into Maps, Google will be looking to ensure that its navigation app is better poised to compete with Apple Maps and navigation startups.

In other updates, Google Maps will allow users to get ideas for places to go and things to do simply by asking the service. For instance, if you have a friend visiting you, you can ask Maps for “things to do with friends at night.” Gemini will then serve up a curated list of options, such as checking out a speakeasy or live music. 

To learn more about the places that Gemini recommends, users can read a quick summary of what people have thought about the place. If you have a specific follow-up question, say if it has outdoor seating, you can also ask Gemini. 

These new capabilities are rolling out in the United States on Android and iOS this week. Google said it plans to bring similar experiences to Search, including AI-powered review summaries and the option to ask questions about places. 

Image Credits:Google

As for the new navigation features, Google is making it easier for Maps users to drive in unfamiliar areas with multiple lanes, forks, and exits. Google Maps will now display lanes, crosswalks, and road signs clearly on the map. Plus, it will show exactly which lane you should be in so you don’t have to merge at the last second. 

The update will also make it easier to explore stuff to do along your route before you start driving. Once you enter your destination, Google Maps will display top landmarks, attractions, scenic spots, and dining options.

Then, once you get to your destination, Google Maps will show you nearby parking lots. After you park, the app will remind you to save your parking space so you don’t forget where you left your car. You can also get walking directions from your car to the entrance of your destination, with the option to launch Street View or AR (augmented reality) walking navigation. 

In addition, Google Maps will allow users to see and report weather disruptions on the road, such as flooded, unplowed, and low-visibility areas. 

Google also announced that Google Maps’ Immersive View feature, which creates a 3D model of a destination, is expanding to 150 cities globally. As part of the expansion, the feature will launch in Brussels, Kyoto, and Frankfurt, among other new locations.

As part of today’s announcement Google revealed that it’s bringing Gemini to Waze, its other navigation app. The company has started testing a feature that will allow users to report traffic incidents using their voice.  For instance, you can tap the reporting button and speak naturally and say something like: “Looks like there are cars jammed up ahead.” 



Source link

Lisa Holden
Lisa Holden
Lisa Holden is a news writer for LinkDaddy News. She writes health, sport, tech, and more. Some of her favorite topics include the latest trends in fitness and wellness, the best ways to use technology to improve your life, and the latest developments in medical research.

Recent posts

Related articles

WhatsApp rolls out voice message transcripts

WhatsApp announced on Thursday it’s rolling out voice message transcripts. The Meta-owned company says the new feature...

Threads adjusts its algorithm to show you more content from accounts you follow

After several complaints about its algorithm, Threads is finally making changes to surface more content from people...

Spotify tests a video feature for audiobooks as it ramps up video expansion

Spotify is enhancing the audiobook experience for premium users through three new experiments: video clips, author pages,...

Candela brings its P-12 electric ferry to Tahoe and adds another $14M to build more

Electric passenger boat startup Candela has topped off its most recent raise with another $14 million, the...

OneRail’s software helps solve the last-mile delivery problem

Last-mile delivery, the very last step of the delivery process, is a common pain point for companies....

Bill to ban social media use by under-16s arrives in Australia’s parliament

Legislation to ban social media for under 16s has been introduced in the Australian parliament. The country’s...

Lighthouse, an analytics provider for the hospitality sector, lights up with $370M at a $1B valuation

Here is yet one more sign of the travel industry’s noticeable boom: a major growth round for...

DOJ: Google must sell Chrome to end monopoly

The United States Department of Justice argued Wednesday that Google should divest its Chrome browser as part...