Apple Maps Revolutionizes Search with AI-Powered Natural Language Queries in iOS 26

Apple Maps got a big iOS 26 upgrade for an essential feature - 9to5Mac

Apple Maps recently gained several new features in iOS 26, but the one that could make the biggest impact for users involves an essential app function: search. Here's what's new. Last year when Apple Intelligence began rolling out, I found that some of its most valuable features were the least flashy. For example, the Photos app overhauled its search feature with Apple Intelligence, and search worked so much better as a result. Apple later brought this AI-powered search upgrade to more apps, such as Apple Music and the TV app. And in iOS 26, Maps is the latest app to now infuse search with Apple Intelligence. AI search isn't a special, separate mode in Maps. Rather, for all devices that support Apple Intelligence, the technology simply makes search smarter and more effective than ever. iOS 26 users might notice a popup when using Maps that has the heading, "Search the Way You Talk." Underneath it reads: Use natural language for searches like "Find cafes with free Wi-Fi." Why does natural language search require AI, you might ask? Essentially Apple is applying the same AI language tools that power things like notification summaries, email categorization, and Smart Replies to let you use more complex search queries. So for example, during iOS 26's beta period I performed the following Maps search: "Coffee shops near Disney World that have Wi-Fi." Maps in iOS 18 would have stumbled over the various components of that query. But with iOS 26 and Apple Intelligence, Maps understood exactly what I was looking for. Have you been using Maps' new AI search in iOS 26? How has it been working for you? Let us know in the comments.

Apple Maps in iOS 26 gets Apple Intelligence search

Apple has integrated its Apple Intelligence technology into the search function of Apple Maps with the release of iOS 26. The update enables users on supported devices to perform complex, natural-language search queries directly within the application, enhancing its core functionality. The infusion of artificial intelligence into application search is part of a broader rollout that began last year. Apple Intelligence was first introduced to overhaul the search capabilities of the Photos app, making the feature more effective. Following this initial implementation, the company extended the AI-powered search enhancements to other native applications, including Apple Music and the TV app. The update for Maps in iOS 26 represents the latest step in this progressive integration of AI across the operating system. This new search capability does not function as a separate or special mode within Apple Maps. Instead, it is a background enhancement that improves all searches for users with devices that support Apple Intelligence. Some individuals running iOS 26 may encounter a popup interface with the title, "Search the Way You Talk." This screen prompts users to try natural language for searches, providing the example query, "Find cafes with free Wi‑Fi," to demonstrate the more conversational search style now available. The ability to process these conversational queries is powered by the same artificial intelligence language tools Apple utilizes for other system-level features. These underlying tools are responsible for functionalities such as generating notification summaries, automatically categorizing emails, and providing Smart Reply suggestions. By applying this established technology to Maps, the application gains the capacity to parse and understand more complex, multi-component search requests that combine location, amenities, and other specific criteria into a single query. During the beta testing period for iOS 26, the feature's effectiveness was demonstrated with a specific search. A user entered the query, "Coffee shops near Disney World that have Wi‑Fi," into the application. Apple Maps, powered by Apple Intelligence, correctly interpreted the distinct parts of the search and provided accurate results. It was noted that previous versions of the app, such as Maps in iOS 18, would have had difficulty processing the various components of such a detailed request.