Apple Maps Introduces AI-Powered Natural Language Search in iOS 26 Beta
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Apple Maps gets natural language search in iOS 26 beta -- what that means for your navigation
With the public beta for iOS 26 now available, more people are testing the new features coming to the iPhone -- and it turns out there are some hidden iOS 26 tools that Apple didn't even announce. One that should make your Apple Maps experience better is the addition of natural language search via Apple Intelligence, one of the better AI tools coming to your iPhone. Spotted by 9to5Mac, Maps will get a new "Search the Way You Talk" option in Apple Maps that lets you use natural language for searches like 'Find cafes with free Wi-Fi.'" We did some testing of natural language search in Apple Maps and found that currently, it's a bit hit or miss. In one search we tried, "Parks with playgrounds" and Apple Maps did provide suggestions like "parks with a good rating" or "parks with boat ramps." However, not every test worked cleanly. Typing "24-hour diner" brings up results. But trying "all-night diner" brings back no results. So your natural language will vary. There are somethings that Apple may not have in its Maps data. Attempting "parks with restrooms" turned up zero results. From our testing, there are more natural search terms but as with everything in these betas, it is a work in progress. Apple never announced this feature was coming but apparently it's available now for beta testers. It may have even launched with the first iOS 26 public beta, and not the current iteration. I did check on an iPhone 16 Pro that has not been in the beta program, and could not find the natural language search there, so I do believe this is currently only an iOS 26 beta feature. Apple added natural language search to other iOS apps like Photos with iOS 18 and the introduction of Apple Intelligence. We tested it out then and were surprised by the results. "This is a much better approach to finding photos," my colleague Tom's Guide editor Philip Michaels wrote. Though he did caution that it too still felt like a work in progress.
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iOS 26 beta gives Apple Maps an AI upgrade - and it might be enough to tempt you from Google Maps
As updated iOS 26 beta versions continue to roll out, we're spotting new features in the software that Apple hasn't officially announced: yesterday it was AirPod charging lights, and today it's AI search in Apple Maps. The team at 9to5Google has spotted that the search function in Apple Maps now encourages users to "search the way you talk" - so you might type out or speak out a search like "find cafes with free Wi-Fi" for example. This is now live in the fifth developer beta version of iOS 26, so you won't see it yet if you're running the public beta. It might also get tweaked or even pulled before the final version of iOS 26 launches in September, though it seems likely that it's here to stay. It's certainly an easier and more intuitive way to search for places, if you need to go beyond the basics and specify some additional criteria for your results - such as Wi-Fi access, food options, electric vehicle charging, wheelchair access, or whatever it is. It's possible that the new functionality has only gone live in the US for the time being, because after updating my iPhone to the iOS 26 developer beta 5, I was unable to get the natural language search feature to show up in Apple Maps here in the UK. What I could do was run a similarly phrased search on Google Maps, and the results were somewhat patchy: it identified cafes without any problem, but it listed several that definitely do not offer free Wi-Fi (and I've been in them and asked). It shows up a limitation in AI features such as these, which is that while the AI might be great at understanding what you're asking for and converting your spoken words into text, it's still relying on cold, hard maps data to get you accurate results. In terms of raw data, Google Maps perhaps still has the edge over Apple Maps - but upgrades like this one in iOS 26 will mean Apple Maps becomes more appealing and useful, and may be enough to grab some users back from Google Maps.
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Apple Maps in iOS 26 beta now features natural language search, allowing users to search "the way they talk" for locations and amenities. This AI upgrade aims to enhance user experience and compete with Google Maps.
Apple Introduces Natural Language Search in Maps
Apple has quietly rolled out a significant upgrade to its Maps application in the iOS 26 beta, introducing natural language search powered by Apple Intelligence. This new feature allows users to search for locations and amenities using everyday language, potentially changing how iPhone users navigate and explore their surroundings 1.
Source: Tom's Guide
How It Works
The new "Search the Way You Talk" option in Apple Maps enables users to input queries in a more conversational manner. For example, users can now search for "cafes with free Wi-Fi" or "parks with playgrounds" 2. This natural language processing aims to make searching for specific locations or amenities more intuitive and user-friendly.
Current Performance and Limitations
Early testing of the feature has shown mixed results. While some queries like "parks with playgrounds" successfully returned relevant suggestions, others like "all-night diner" failed to produce results 1. The effectiveness of the search appears to depend on the specific language used and the availability of data in Apple's mapping system.
Availability and Rollout
The natural language search feature is currently available only in the iOS 26 beta version. It may have been introduced with the first public beta of iOS 26, though Apple did not officially announce its inclusion 1. The feature's availability may also be limited geographically, with some reports suggesting it might only be active in certain regions like the United States 2.
Implications for Apple's AI Strategy
This update aligns with Apple's broader strategy of integrating AI capabilities across its ecosystem. The company previously introduced natural language search to other iOS apps, such as Photos, with the launch of iOS 18 1. These AI-powered features aim to enhance user experience and streamline interactions with Apple's software.
Competition with Google Maps
Source: TechRadar
The introduction of natural language search in Apple Maps is seen as a move to make the application more competitive with Google Maps. While Google Maps may still have an edge in terms of raw data, upgrades like this could make Apple Maps more appealing to users 2. However, the effectiveness of such AI features ultimately depends on the quality and comprehensiveness of the underlying mapping data.
Future Developments
As with many features in beta versions, the natural language search in Apple Maps is likely to undergo further refinement before the official release of iOS 26, expected in September. Users and developers will be watching closely to see how this feature evolves and whether it can significantly enhance the navigation experience on iOS devices.
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