Google Integrates Gemini AI into Maps, Earth, and Waze for Enhanced User Experience

Google Delivers New AI Features To Maps, Google Earth, Waze Apps - Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL)

h: Google also updated Maps and Google Earth with new generative AI capabilities to provide developers with real-world information. Alphabet, Inc.'s GOOG GOOGL Google has added new generative AI capabilities to its Google Maps, Waze and Google Earth offerings through the company's Gemini AI model. Here's a look at the new capabilities available in some of Google's most commonly used apps. Google Maps: Users can now ask Google Maps for inspiration on where to go and what to do curated with Gemini AI. Questions like, "things to do with friends at night" will produce local results curated with Gemini, including a summarized review of the location. Users can also ask follow-up questions like where to park or if the venue offers outdoor seating. Read More: AMD To Benefit From AI 'Competitive Arms Race': Goldman Sachs Waze: Google has added a Conversational Reporting feature to the Waze app which allows users to report a range of incidents, including traffic, potholes and accidents by tapping the reporting button and speaking naturally. Gemini AI models allow Waze to understand the user, add a real-time report to the map and even ask relevant follow-up questions to categorize the report. The new feature will launch in beta to select English-speaking users this week and will expand to more users and languages in the coming months, Google said. Google Earth: Google also updated Maps and Google Earth with new generative AI capabilities to provide developers and urban planners with real-world information and to help solve geospatial problems. "Grounding" is a new capability that allows developers to use Google's place data to help make answers generated by LLMs more factual by reflecting updates from the 250 million places in Google Maps. Starting next month, Google will also bring Gemini capabilities to Google Earth allowing urban planners to access deeper, city-level insights and significantly reduce the time spent analyzing data. Google's new AI-powered features come on the heels of OpenAI's announcement that ChatGPT is now capable of crawling the web for up-to-date news, sports scores, stock quotes and more. The companies are competing, along with other major tech players, to bring AI to the consumer level through everyday devices and apps. GOOG Price Action: According to data from Benzinga Pro, Alphabet shares ended Friday's session 0.02% lower at $172.65. Read Also: Shock October Jobs Report Leaves Fed In 'Tight Spot:' Experts Say Interest Rate Cuts Ahead Image: Shutterstock Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Generative AI comes to your Google Maps, Google Earth, and Waze: this is how it affects you - Softonic

Gemini arrives at Google's three major navigation and geolocation apps to make them more useful than ever Google is clear on how to use generative AI to improve its geolocation and navigation applications. To do this, it will introduce its artificial intelligence, Gemini, into the company's three most used apps in terms of navigation. And the idea is to enhance the experience when searching for something. Google Maps, Google Earth, and Waze will receive feature updates thanks to Gemini, although in some cases only with Google's trusted insiders at first. At some point this week, if you use the Google Maps app for Android or iOS in the U.S., you should start seeing more detailed and contextual search results. Maps will now respond to conversational requests: during a demonstration, Google asked what to do on a night out with friends in Boston, and the app returned a series of results crafted by Gemini. These results included categories of places -for example, cocktail bars- with summaries of reviews and user responses. Regarding the reliability of the results, "we use the Gemini model to examine the facts and data we have in the map database, which includes data from our locations and reviews, and then we retrieve and respond, curate, and fact-check them," explains Chris Phillips, Vice President and General Manager of Geo at Google. This explained that the system will link and attribute third-party information, such as blogs, but that "when we answer the question about the details of the place and the facts about the place and the reviews about the place, the Gemini model is specifically looking into the datasets that we manage and operate and fact-checking there." Google says it has made it easier to explore secondary locations when planning a route, with suggestions for landmarks and other sites of interest available with just a tap of the "add stops" button. At the end of a trip, Google Maps will start suggesting places to park and then switch to walking directions to your final destination, with augmented reality if you need it. This should be available to all iOS and Android users this week, according to Google, along with the ability to report weather disruptions and a more immersive view of 150 cities around the world. And next month, Google will start adding more detailed information about lanes in some metropolitan areas. Waze, now fully integrated into Google's Geo division, continues to offer an alternative road navigation experience and will also benefit from AI-enhanced natural language processing with the addition of conversational reports. In practice, this means you will no longer have to search for the right icon on your phone to report that tire in the middle of the highway or the traffic officer hiding behind a bush. The feature, which will initially only be available to Waze's trusted testers, allows users to verbally describe what they see and potentially ask follow-up questions. Waze also said it is making it easier for map editors to add school zones to the map, and it will alert users when they are passing through one. This feature will arrive on iOS and Android later this year, according to Waze. The improvements to Google Earth will likely be of greater interest to urban planners, although they will need to request access to the Google Earth trusted tester program, which will be launched for beta testers next month. In this case, Gemini is being used to add complex searches like "map the five zip codes with the fewest electric vehicle chargers relative to the size of their geographic area." After determining the answer, Google Earth creates a useful visualization, as you can see on the Google blog.

Google rolls out Gemini-powered features across Maps, Earth, and Waze

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. What just happened? These updates are a significant step forward in integrating generative AI with geospatial technologies. As these features roll out to users, developers, and urban planners, Google hopes they will transform how we interact with our physical environment. Google is updating its mapping platforms with new generative AI capabilities based on its Gemini AI model. The updates, rolling out across Google Maps, Google Earth, and Waze, aim to enhance these services and solve complex geospatial problems. Starting this week, Google Maps users in the US on Android and iOS will receive more detailed and contextual search results powered by Gemini AI. The new feature allows users to make conversational requests, such as asking for suggestions for a night out with friends in a specific city. Gemini curates responses using the vast database of places and user reviews within Google Maps. The Gemini model analyzes and fact-checks information from the Maps database, including place details and user reviews, to ensure accuracy in its responses, said Chris Phillips, VP and General Manager of Geo at Google. The system will also attribute information from third-party sources like blogs when relevant. Other new features include enhanced route exploration, which offers suggestions for landmarks and points of interest along the way. Google Maps has also introduced end-of-route information such as parking suggestions and pedestrian directions. Augmented reality assistance has also been incorporated into Maps, as has weather disruption reporting, which informs users about potential weather-related delays on their routes. Furthermore, Google Maps now features immersive views for over 150 cities worldwide. In urban environments, more detailed lane information is set to be rolled out next month. Google Earth is receiving Gemini capabilities to assist urban planners in accessing deeper, city-level insights and reduce the time spent analyzing data from days to minutes. For example, a transportation planner can ask Google Earth to map the five zip codes with the fewest electric vehicle chargers relative to their geographic area size. The system uses multi-step reasoning to determine the answer and generates a custom visualization. This feature was developed in partnership with Google Research and X, the moonshot factory. Google will begin piloting Gemini capabilities in Google Earth next month. Waze, now fully integrated into Google's Geo division, is introducing AI-enhanced natural language processing for incident reporting. The new "conversational reporting" feature allows users to verbally describe road conditions or hazards without needing to select specific icons on their device. Additionally, Waze is making it easier for map editors to add school zones to the map and will alert users when they're passing through one. This feature is expected to roll out to iOS and Android users later this year. For the more than 10 million websites and apps using Google Maps Platform, Google is introducing "grounding with Google Maps" for developers so they can integrate place data into their generative AI-powered experiences. It is designed to make answers generated by large language models more factual, reflecting real-time updates from the 250 million places in Google Maps. Rivian will soon begin using Gemini capabilities in the Places API to show AI-generated summaries of restaurants, shops, and supermarkets on their vehicle infotainment screens.

Generative AI is coming to Google Maps, Google Earth, Waze

Google revealed today how it plans to use generative AI to enhance its mapping activities. It's the latest application of Gemini, the company's in-house rival to GPT-4, which the company wants to use to improve the experience when searching for something. Google Maps, Google Earth, and Waze will all get feature upgrades thanks to Gemini, although in some cases only with Google's "trusted testers" at first. More than 2 billion people use Google Maps every month, according to the company, and in fact, AI is nothing new to Google Maps. "A lot of those features that we've introduced over the years have been thanks to AI," said Chris Phillips,VP and general manager of Geo at Google. "Think of features like Lens and maps. When you're on a street corner, you can lift up your phone and look, and through your camera view, you can actually see we laid places on top of your view. So you can see a business. Is it open? What are the ratings for it? Is it busy? You can even see businesses that are out of your line of sight," he explained. At some point this week, if you use the Android or iOS Google Maps app here in the US, you should start seeing more detailed and contextual search results. Maps will now respond to conversational requests -- during a demo, Google asked it what to do on a night out with friends in Boston, with the app returning a set of results curated by Gemini. These included categories of places -- speakeasies, for example -- with review summaries and answers from users. As for trusting the accuracy of those results, "we use the Gemini model to actually look at the facts and the data that we have in the maps database, which include our places data and reviews to then pull back and answer, curate it, and it does the grounding fact check," Phillips said. Phillips said that the system will link and attribute information from third parties like blogs, but that "when we're answering the question about the place details and the facts of the place and the reviews on the place, the Gemini model is specifically looking at the data sets that we manage and operate and fact checking it there."

Google brings AI answers to map applications

(Reuters) - Alphabet's Google on Thursday announced a set of features that incorporated Gemini, its artificial intelligence chatbot, into its suite of mapping applications. Widely perceived to have relinquished an early lead on AI development to rivals like Microsoft-backed OpenAI, Google has attempted to catch up by incorporating research advances into existing apps and devices with large user bases. Google Maps is a prominent example. The product surpassed 2 billion monthly active users, CEO Sundar Pichai said Tuesday during quarterly earnings where he touted investments in AI as "paying off" for its top line. Thursday's announcement showcased a new category of search results that can better process open-ended search queries, such as "things to do with friends at night in Boston" or "fun fall activities in Seattle." Past versions of the Google Maps app respond to such queries with more generic results that are not as accurate. In the past, it displayed a wide range of tourist attractions in Boston including some that are closed at night, whereas the updated app will show more tailored options like a list of speakeasies or live music venues. Gemini can better understand context like the time of day or season, said Miriam Daniel, a vice president in charge of consumer experiences for Google Maps, at a press event on Wednesday. "It's not just 'What's near me?' It's actually 'What can I do tonight?'" she said. Similar to AI Overviews, the AI-generated summaries in Google's search tool, the new results in Maps will not replace existing location listings, but rather be displayed above or below them. Consumers can also ask Gemini questions about a specific place and the software will analyze existing user reviews to answer the question. The company has come under fire for inaccurate AI search results, including biased responses and a pizza recipe that listed glue as an ingredient. To avoid such problems, known as hallucinations, with Maps, responses from Gemini are cross-referenced against real-world data that Google has collected. Google also revealed on Thursday new AI capabilities in other tools like Google Earth and vehicle navigation app Waze. They include chatbots to help developers and urban planners to analyze map and geographic data more quickly, and a feature in Waze that allows drivers to report road incidents by voice.

Google Maps just got a huge upgrade with Gemini AI -- here's all the new features

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- The next time you hit the road with Google Maps fired up on your phone, Google's Gemini AI model could be riding shotgun. Google's popular navigation app is picking up new features that tap into AI to not only help you get were you're going but to find things worth discovering in the first place. Gemini's biggest addition to Google Maps is rolling out to the Android and iOS versions of the mapping app right now. It will help generate ideas on where you can go, even producing review summaries and fielding follow-up questions on your destination. But that's the not only change coming to Google Maps, which is also getting more detailed views of your route, easier ways to find stops along the way and alerts about driving hazards triggered by weather conditions. There's also new feature aimed at helping you find places to park and additional guidance to your actual destination once you do park your car. Here's a rundown of what's coming to Google Maps and when you can expect it. Google Maps is no stranger to AI, which analyzes images and data about businesses and places to keep Google's map up-to-date, to the tune of 100 million updates each day. "In just the time it takes me to say this sentence, we've made 10,000 updates to Maps," said Chris Phillips, vice president and general manager of the Geo portfolio at Google that includes products like Maps, Waze ane Google Earth. But Gemini's inclusion in Google Maps will be a more direct one with end users. You'll be able to turn to AI model to get suggestions on things happening in whatever area you're search. Or as Miriam Daniels, vice president and general manager of Google Maps, puts it, you're not just able to ask Google "what's near me?" anymore -- with Gemini, the question becomes "what can I do?" The example Daniels gave at a press event announcing new additions to Google Maps involved a friend unexpectedly stopping by as the result of an unplanned layover. To figure out how to spend that night out, Daniels entered a query into Maps asking for "things I can do with a friend at night in Boston." Suggestions produced by Gemini and marked with a "curated by Google" indicator included speakeasies and live music, with information listed for each venue, club or bar that had been recommended. Tap on one of the Gemini suggestions, and you can read a summary of verified user reviews posted to Google Maps that the AI model has put together. Further down the page, you can pose follow-up questions to Gemini like whether the venue is noisy or whether there's a full bar. Gemini comes up with an answer, based on the information Google Maps has collected, plus comments from those reviews. This new Google Maps feature extends the app's toolset beyond what people typically turn to Maps for, so expect some kind of prompt letting you know you can now search for more than just directions from Point A to Point B. If Google's successful at using its AI model to offer suggestions people can act on, it would make the app even valuable than before. Google says the Gemini integration starts rolling out this week to both iOS and Android versions of Google Maps in the U.S. The company added that there's no time frame on when other countries are set to gain this update, but it seems like it's on track to happen once Google has a chance to fine-tune the feature based on its use among U.S.-based users. Other changes Google Maps are focused more specifically on navigation, including an easier way to add stops to your route. When you get directions in Google Maps and tap add stops, Google Maps will automatically produce a list of points of interest including landmarks, restaurants and attractions you can then insert into your route. It's a feature aimed not only at improving discovery of new sites in the app but also simplifying the ability to add stops along your way. Enhanced navigation improvements add more information to the map screen designed to make it easier to find your way around unfamiliar places. Rich details like crosswalks and road signs now appear on the map itself, and the blue line guiding your path will specifically indicate what lane you need to be in to turn, merge or exit. An earlier improvement to Google Maps that let drivers report traffic and other incidents on their route is expanding to include weather issues -- thinking flooded roads, low visibility areas due to fog and, with winter coming up in the U.S., unplowed roads. A final navigation improvements looks to take over when you've arrived at your destination, not only by flagging parking in the immediate area, but by providing walking directors from where you're parked to the destination itself. In street view, the building or place you're headed to will even be highlighted, and Google Maps will now remind you to save your parking location before you head off. The ability to explore stops along your route, the weather reporting feature and parking and arrival guidance all come to Google Maps this week. The enhanced navigation changes will first appear in 30 U.S. metro areas starting next month, with plans to expand the feature. Google Maps' Immersive View feature, launched last year as a way to provide a 3D view of your route using both AI and computer vision, is also due for an update. As you may remember, Immersive view not only offers a more realistic view of where you're headed, but can also show expected weather conditions and traffic patters patterns by adjusting the time for when you'll be in a place. Google plans to extend Immersive View to 150 more cities starting this week. It's also getting navigation details like flagging tricky turns and showing you where to park. Those changes roll out to Android and iOS this week, too. Thanks to AI, we can give you what you need to know before you go," Phillips said. Google's Waze app joins Google Maps in adding new features. You'll now be able to report traffic and road hazards with your voice. Even better, Waze will recognize natural speech when you're reporting an incident. You can say "It's bumper to tumper on Interstate 880," and the app will know that you're talking about traffic in your specific location. If the app needs more info, it will ask follow-up questions. The Android and iOS versions of Waze gain this new Conversational Reporting feature in English, starting this week. The feature is set to expand to other languages and users in the coming months. Meanwhile, in an update coming to Waze later this year, the app will now show school zones along your route. Developers are getting some tools related to Google's mapping products and AI. In Google Earth, city planners will gain access to Gemini, which should speed up data analysis involving the mapping tool. App makers will be able to tap into the rich place data of the Google Maps platform to add generative AI features to their apps.

Google Maps is getting new AI features powered by Gemini

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. 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.

Google Maps, Meet Gemini: New AI Tools Coming to Maps and Waze

Google hopes the next time you're looking for a new restaurant or something to do, you'll find it with Google Maps. Powered by Gemini, Google's generative AI model, Google Maps is getting a recommendations engine that curates experiences and suggestions based on your searches. It's one of several new features coming to Google Earth, Waze and Google Maps in the coming weeks. Instead of using the Google Maps search bar to type in an address or a generic term like "restaurant," you can be more specific with requests. One demo Google showcased at a press event on Wednesday was searching for the term "things to do with friends at night in Boston," which brought up recommendations in the city based on both location and context. This generates a selection of activities with star ratings, photos and videos, while Gemini summarizes user reviews from Google Maps. You can also ask specific questions about these curated selections further down on the results page. But these Gemini-powered tools are invoked only when you start the search from within Google Maps, rather than querying from Gemini's interface on device or through the Google app. However, Google Search will get similar AI review summaries when searching for places and the option to ask further questions about selections in the coming months. Gemini and other AI chatbots are known to hallucinate, so Google is attempting to address this using a process it calls grounding. "We look at the billions of pieces of information in Maps to almost fact-check those answers," said Miriam Daniel, vice president and general manager of Google Maps. "So the information you actually see in this experience, you can be confident that that place exists in Maps." This AI inspiration tool with Gemini is rolling out to all Google Maps users on iOS and Android in the coming weeks. Google Maps will also get detailed lane markings, crosswalks and signage in navigation view, with guidance to show which lane you need to take using the blue navigation line. Apple Maps already supports a similar lane guidance system. Weather reporting is also coming to Google Maps to mark disruptions like flooded roads or low-visibility on the road. Waze is also getting a conversational reporting option powered by Gemini. Bring up the reporting button and speak in natural language to document incidents or objects in the road and it might ask follow-up questions to help categorize the report. I tried a using Australian slang term for traffic and after asking one follow-up, it understood that I was documenting heavy traffic up ahead. This feature is coming to the trusted testers program in English on Android and iOS, then to more users later. Watch the video above for more on the new AI tools coming to Google Maps and a demo showing the features in action.

Google brings AI answers to map applications

Oct 31 (Reuters) - Alphabet's (GOOGL.O), opens new tab Google on Thursday announced a set of features that incorporated Gemini, its artificial intelligence chatbot, into its suite of mapping applications. Widely perceived to have relinquished an early lead on AI development to rivals like Microsoft-backed (MSFT.O), opens new tab OpenAI, Google has attempted to catch up by incorporating research advances into existing apps and devices with large user bases. Google Maps is a prominent example. The product surpassed 2 billion monthly active users, CEO Sundar Pichai said Tuesday during quarterly earnings where he touted investments in AI as "paying off" for its top line. Thursday's announcement showcased a new category of search results that can better process open-ended search queries, such as "things to do with friends at night in Boston" or "fun fall activities in Seattle." Past versions of the Google Maps app respond to such queries with more generic results that are not as accurate. In the past, it displayed a wide range of tourist attractions in Boston including some that are closed at night, whereas the updated app will show more tailored options like a list of speakeasies or live music venues. Gemini can better understand context like the time of day or season, said Miriam Daniel, a vice president in charge of consumer experiences for Google Maps, at a press event on Wednesday. "It's not just 'What's near me?' It's actually 'What can I do tonight?'" she said. Similar to AI Overviews, the AI-generated summaries in Google's search tool, the new results in Maps will not replace existing location listings, but rather be displayed above or below them. Consumers can also ask Gemini questions about a specific place and the software will analyze existing user reviews to answer the question. The company has come under fire for inaccurate AI search results, including biased responses and a pizza recipe that listed glue as an ingredient. To avoid such problems, known as hallucinations, with Maps, responses from Gemini are cross-referenced against real-world data that Google has collected. Google also revealed on Thursday new AI capabilities in other tools like Google Earth and vehicle navigation app Waze. They include chatbots to help developers and urban planners to analyze map and geographic data more quickly, and a feature in Waze that allows drivers to report road incidents by voice. Reporting by Kenrick Cai; editing by Diane Craft Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Kenrick Cai Thomson Reuters Kenrick Cai is a correspondent for Reuters based in San Francisco. He covers Google, its parent company Alphabet and artificial intelligence. Cai joined Reuters in 2024. He previously worked at Forbes magazine, where he was a staff writer covering venture capital and startups. He received a Best in Business award from the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing in 2023. He is a graduate of Duke University.

Google brings AI answers to map applications

Widely perceived to have relinquished an early lead on AI development to rivals like Microsoft-backed OpenAI, Google has attempted to catch up by incorporating research advances into existing apps and devices with large user bases.Alphabet's Google on Thursday announced a set of features that incorporated Gemini, its artificial intelligence chatbot, into its suite of mapping applications. Widely perceived to have relinquished an early lead on AI development to rivals like Microsoft-backed OpenAI, Google has attempted to catch up by incorporating research advances into existing apps and devices with large user bases. Google Maps is a prominent example. The product surpassed 2 billion monthly active users, CEO Sundar Pichai said Tuesday during quarterly earnings where he touted investments in AI as "paying off" for its top line. Thursday's announcement showcased a new category of search results that can better process open-ended search queries, such as "things to do with friends at night in Boston" or "fun fall activities in Seattle." Past versions of the Google Maps app respond to such queries with more generic results that are not as accurate. In the past, it displayed a wide range of tourist attractions in Boston including some that are closed at night, whereas the updated app will show more tailored options like a list of speakeasies or live music venues. Gemini can better understand context like the time of day or season, said Miriam Daniel, a vice president in charge of consumer experiences for Google Maps, at a press event on Wednesday. "It's not just 'What's near me?' It's actually 'What can I do tonight?'" she said. Similar to AI Overviews, the AI-generated summaries in Google's search tool, the new results in Maps will not replace existing location listings, but rather be displayed above or below them. Consumers can also ask Gemini questions about a specific place and the software will analyze existing user reviews to answer the question. The company has come under fire for inaccurate AI search results, including biased responses and a pizza recipe that listed glue as an ingredient. To avoid such problems, known as hallucinations, with Maps, responses from Gemini are cross-referenced against real-world data that Google has collected. Google also revealed on Thursday new AI capabilities in other tools like Google Earth and vehicle navigation app Waze. They include chatbots to help developers and urban planners to analyze map and geographic data more quickly, and a feature in Waze that allows drivers to report road incidents by voice.

Gemini in Google Maps may be the best use of mobile AI yet | Digital Trends

We scarcely need reminding that Google is putting AI into everything, but its latest push is probably one of the most interesting and immediately helpful yet, as Google Maps has now entered its Gemini era. Vast experience Before going into the many AI updates happening across all of Google's "Geo" (the collective name for all its mapping tools) departments, it's helpful to understand just how rich Google's location data already is. Collected over the last 20 years, Google's mapping expertise is available in more than 250 countries and territories across the world, and Google Maps alone has more than 2 billion active users each month. Recommended Videos Google already uses AI in its mapping products, such as the Lens overlay in Maps' AR mode, which puts live place information in front of you on the map. Google is now using AI to improve the photo-realistic 3D tour in Immersive View, a feature first launched last year, with live data on the location, including weather, parking, and turn-by-turn information. Immersive View is now set to launch in 150 cities this week and will include university campuses, too. While helpful, it's in Google Maps where AI and Google Gemini are likely to make the most impact. A new feature called Ask Maps allows you to use the search bar for more complex questions, such as asking about things to do in a city, and Gemini will return a curated list of ideas and suggestions. Further down the results page, Gemini will summarize user reviews, and you'll be able to ask further questions about granular details, such as whether a location is quiet or noisy. Driving with Maps and Waze The Ask Maps feature leverages another huge strength of Google Maps, as there are more than 500 million contributors and editors and more than 100 million map updates daily. It creates a vast, real-time database for Gemini to pull from when you search for the latest information, in addition to using sources from across the web. Don't worry, the summaries will be balanced, so you'll get to see the good and bad. Ask Maps will launch in the U.S. this week, and it joins some updates to driving navigation. Further leaning on its successful crowdsourcing system, drivers using Maps will be able to add real-time information on any weather disruptions. Another new feature, Enhanced Navigation, examines a planned route and can make recommendations on places to stop along the way while expanding information on lane details, restrictions, crosswalks, and more. When you arrive, Maps will highlight parking options and alert you to save the location when you stop. The Enhanced Navigation suite will launch in 30 U.S. cities in November, while the Explore and weather reporting system will be available globally this week. Google-owned Waze will also begin testing a new reporting system, which will use Gemini for conversational voice control. For example, you can verbally tell Waze there's a double-parked car holding you up, and Waze will add an alert to the map that there's an object blocking the road for others to note. Waze also shares this data, along with information it brings in from city partners, across other Google Geo products. It will launch as a beta product for trusted testers globally first, and an expanded launch is expected early next year. Gemini has already replaced Google Assistant on many Android smartphones and is being used extensively across other Google products, from Google Drive to Gmail. Not all of its functionality is immediately helpful to everyone, but Gemini in Maps looks to be one of the more interesting additions many will find a way to try to use quickly.

Google is adding Gemini AI-powered tools to Maps

Have a casual chat with the assistant or get better driving directions. Google is bringing its Gemini AI assistant into more of its software suite, announcing several new features for Google Maps. Users looking for ideas about places to go in Maps can now ask conversational questions about the type of location they want and receive answers from Gemini. Maps can also use AI to respond to deeper queries about a specific locale. When you're looking at a location on Maps, Gemini can also provide a summary of reviews. These AI-powered features will roll out to the Maps app on Android and iOS beginning this week. The Maps feature introduced last year is growing. Google can now apply AI to show what locations will look like at the date and time a person will be present. Immersive View will be available in 150 cities internationally, including Brussels, Kyoto and Frankfurt. New place categories, such as college campuses, are also being added. Driving directions are getting an update too. A button to add stops to driving directions will let users explore notable landmarks or stops along their route. Navigation has also been improved to show more exact details about potentially complicated areas of a route, such as clearer directions about what lane to be in or when to merge. The enhanced driving experience will be available on both Android and iOS, the rollout starts next month in more than 30 metro areas. Waze is also receiving the Gemini treatment in today's announcements. Conversational Reporting that will allow drivers to use natural language to alert the app to road hazards or delays. And why limit AI to Maps when it can be on the whole planet? Google Earth is also getting generative AI tools specifically targeting urban planners with fast access to data.

Google Maps just got a fresh injection of AI features -- here's what you can do now

PALO ALTO, Calif. (AP) -- Google Maps is heading down a new road steered by artificial intelligence. The shift announced Thursday will bring more of the revolutionary AI technology that Google already has been baking into its dominant search engine to the digital maps service that the internet company launched nearly 20 years ago as part of its efforts to expand into new frontiers. Google Maps recently surpassed 2 billion monthly users worldwide for the first time, a milestone that illustrates how dependent people have become on the service's directions during their daily commutes and excursions to new places. With the introduction of Google's AI-powered Gemini technology, the maps are now being set up to become entertainment guides in addition to navigational tools. Starting this week in the U.S. only, users will be able to converse with Google Maps to ask for tips on things to do around specific spots in a neighborhood or city and receive lists of restaurants, bars and other nearby attractions that include reviews that have been compiled through the years. The new features will also provide more detailed information about parking options near a designated destination along with walking directions for a user to check after departing the car. "We are entering a new era of maps," Miriam Daniel, general manager of Google Maps, told reporters Wednesday during a preview of the features presented in Palo Alto, California. "We are transforming how you navigate and explore the world." Google Maps also is trying to address complaints by introducing more detailed imagery that will make it easier to see which lane of the road to be situated in well ahead of having to make a turn. In another AI twist, Google Maps is going to allow outside developers to tap into the language models underlying its Gemini technology to enable pose questions about specific destinations, such as apartments or restaurants, and get their queries answered within seconds. Google says this new feature, which initially will go through a testing phase, has undergone a fact-checking procedure that it calls "grounding." Google's Waze maps, which focus exclusively on real-time driving directions, will use AI to offer a conversational way for its roughly 180 million monthly users to announce hazards in the road and other problems that could affect traveling times. The decision to bring AI into a service that so many rely upon to get from one point to the next reflects Google's growing confidence in its ability to prevent its Gemini technology from providing false or misleading information, also known as "hallucinations," to users. Google's AI has already been caught hallucinating in some of the summaries that began rolling in May, including advice to put glue on pizza and an assertion that the fourth U.S. president, James Madison, graduated from the University of Wisconsin, located in a city named after him.

Google Maps adds AI features to help users explore and navigate the world around them

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Google Maps is heading down a new road steered by artificial intelligence. The shift announced Thursday will bring more of the revolutionary AI technology that Google already has been baking into its dominant search engine to the digital maps service that the internet company launched nearly 20 years ago as part of its efforts to expand into new frontiers. Google Maps recently surpassed 2 billion monthly users worldwide for the first time, a milestone that illustrates how dependent people have become on the service's directions during their daily commutes and excursions to new places. With the introduction of Google's AI-powered Gemini technology, the maps are now being set up to become entertainment guides in addition to navigational tools. Starting this week in the U.S. only, users will be able to converse with Google Maps to ask for tips on things to do around specific spots in a neighborhood or city and receive lists of restaurants, bars and other nearby attractions that include reviews that have been compiled through the years. The new features will also provide more detailed information about parking options near a designated destination along with walking directions for a user to check after departing the car. "We are entering a new era of maps," Miriam Daniel, general manager of Google Maps, told reporters Wednesday during a preview of the features presented in Palo Alto, California. "We are transforming how you navigate and explore the world." Google Maps also is trying to address complaints by introducing more detailed imagery that will make it easier to see which lane of the road to be situated in well ahead of having to make a turn. In another AI twist, Google Maps is going to allow outside developers to tap into the language models underlying its Gemini technology to enable pose questions about specific destinations, such as apartments or restaurants, and get their queries answered within seconds. Google says this new feature, which initially will go through a testing phase, has undergone a fact-checking procedure that it calls "grounding." Google's Waze maps, which focus exclusively on real-time driving directions, will use AI to offer a conversational way for its roughly 180 million monthly users to announce hazards in the road and other problems that could affect traveling times. The decision to bring AI into a service that so many rely upon to get from one point to the next reflects Google's growing confidence in its ability to prevent its Gemini technology from providing false or misleading information, also known as "hallucinations," to users. Google's AI has already been caught hallucinating in some of the summaries that began rolling in May, including advice to put glue on pizza and an assertion that the fourth U.S. president, James Madison, graduated from the University of Wisconsin, located in a city named after him.

Google Maps adds AI features to help users explore and navigate the world around them

PALO ALTO, Calif. (AP) -- Google Maps is heading down a new road steered by artificial intelligence. The shift announced Thursday will bring more of the revolutionary AI technology that Google already has been baking into its dominant search engine to the digital maps service that the internet company launched nearly 20 years ago as part of its efforts to expand into new frontiers. Google Maps recently surpassed 2 billion monthly users worldwide for the first time, a milestone that illustrates how dependent people have become on the service's directions during their daily commutes and excursions to new places. With the introduction of Google's AI-powered Gemini technology, the maps are now being set up to become entertainment guides in addition to navigational tools. Starting this week in the U.S. only, users will be able to converse with Google Maps to ask for tips on things to do around specific spots in a neighborhood or city and receive lists of restaurants, bars and other nearby attractions that include reviews that have been compiled through the years. The new features will also provide more detailed information about parking options near a designated destination along with walking directions for a user to check after departing the car. "We are entering a new era of maps," Miriam Daniel, general manager of Google Maps, told reporters Wednesday during a preview of the features presented in Palo Alto, California. "We are transforming how you navigate and explore the world." Google Maps also is trying to address complaints by introducing more detailed imagery that will make it easier to see which lane of the road to be situated in well ahead of having to make a turn. In another AI twist, Google Maps is going to allow outside developers to tap into the language models underlying its Gemini technology to enable pose questions about specific destinations, such as apartments or restaurants, and get their queries answered within seconds. Google says this new feature, which initially will go through a testing phase, has undergone a fact-checking procedure that it calls "grounding." Google's Waze maps, which focus exclusively on real-time driving directions, will use AI to offer a conversational way for its roughly 180 million monthly users to announce hazards in the road and other problems that could affect traveling times. The decision to bring AI into a service that so many rely upon to get from one point to the next reflects Google's growing confidence in its ability to prevent its Gemini technology from providing false or misleading information, also known as "hallucinations," to users. Google's AI has already been caught hallucinating in some of the summaries that began rolling in May, including advice to put glue on pizza and an assertion that the fourth U.S. president, James Madison, graduated from the University of Wisconsin, located in a city named after him.

Gemini AI starts riding shotgun on Google Maps

Upcoming Gemini Extensions will handle your WhatsApp and Spotify requests Google Maps is becoming more of a tour guide thanks to Google's Gemini AI models. The AI assistant will offer suggestions for places to visit, sum up reviews, and answer your questions about locations from the Maps app on Android and iOS devices in the U.S., based on insights culled from data about millions of locations worldwide. The update shows that Google's infusion of Gemini AI across its services, especially on mobile devices, is accelerating, as Google Maps sees more than 2 billion users a month and is updated 100 million times a day. The most notable update melds Google Maps with Gemini's flexible conversational interface to provide ideas for places to go based on your queries. You might ask for family-friendly spots to visit on a Saturday or cheap restaurants to eat at that are near a concert you're attending at night. Gemini will sort through data from Google Maps to curate recommendations. The idea is that Gemini will not only have a list of spots but AI-generated information that goes as deep as you want it to. That's why Gemini will also summarize reviews of locations you're interested in. Instead of scrolling through what people have said, you can see a Gemini-written composite that spotlights elements, good and bad that reviewers have highlighted. Google suggests this will speed up decision-making as it is a more concise snapshot of how people feel about a place. Should the review summary not be enough, Google Maps is also leveraging Gemini to answer your specific questions about a location. You can ask about any facet of a venue, whether factual, like its opening time, or more opinion-based, like how people feel about the atmosphere. Gemini will dive into the information available from the location and people's reviews to answer. The response will also use Gemini to be conversational, even throwing in extra details you might not have asked for but that are relevant to your initial question. This feature won't be limited to Maps for long, either, according to Google. "All of these features are made possible thanks to Gemini's powerful creation, reasoning, and summarization capabilities -- grounded in our trusted data about 250 million places around the world and insights from the Maps community," Google wrote in a blog post. "You'll also see similar experiences in the coming months on Search -- including AI-powered review summaries and the option to ask detailed questions about places." The Gemini AI upgrades complement several other new Google Maps tools now rolling out. You can now use the app to look at route stops before you leave, see detailed visual navigation guides for when an intersection has complex entrances and exits, and even see weather disruptions along your route as they develop. Google Maps is also taking up a more holistic approach to managing your arrival, showing parking spots, and walking directions to the entrance of your destination.

Google Maps adds AI features to help users explore and navigate the world around them

PALO ALTO, Calif. (AP) -- Google Maps is heading down a new road steered by artificial intelligence. The shift announced Thursday will bring more of the revolutionary AI technology that Google already has been baking into its dominant search engine to the digital maps service that the internet company launched nearly 20 years ago as part of its efforts to expand into new frontiers. Google Maps recently surpassed 2 billion monthly users worldwide for the first time, a milestone that illustrates how dependent people have become on the service's directions during their daily commutes and excursions to new places. With the introduction of Google's AI-powered Gemini technology, the maps are now being set up to become entertainment guides in addition to navigational tools. Starting this week in the U.S. only, users will be able to converse with Google Maps to ask for tips on things to do around specific spots in a neighborhood or city and receive lists of restaurants, bars and other nearby attractions that include reviews that have been compiled through the years. The new features will also provide more detailed information about parking options near a designated destination along with walking directions for a user to check after departing the car. "We are entering a new era of maps," Miriam Daniel, general manager of Google Maps, told reporters Wednesday during a preview of the features presented in Palo Alto, California. "We are transforming how you navigate and explore the world." Google Maps also is trying to address complaints by introducing more detailed imagery that will make it easier to see which lane of the road to be situated in well ahead of having to make a turn. In another AI twist, Google Maps is going to allow outside developers to tap into the language models underlying its Gemini technology to enable pose questions about specific destinations, such as apartments or restaurants, and get their queries answered within seconds. Google says this new feature, which initially will go through a testing phase, has undergone a fact-checking procedure that it calls "grounding." Google's Waze maps, which focus exclusively on real-time driving directions, will use AI to offer a conversational way for its roughly 180 million monthly users to announce hazards in the road and other problems that could affect traveling times. The decision to bring AI into a service that so many rely upon to get from one point to the next reflects Google's growing confidence in its ability to prevent its Gemini technology from providing false or misleading information, also known as "hallucinations," to users. Google's AI has already been caught hallucinating in some of the summaries that began rolling in May, including advice to put glue on pizza and an assertion that the fourth U.S. president, James Madison, graduated from the University of Wisconsin, located in a city named after him.

Google Maps Adds AI Features to Help Users Explore and Navigate the World Around Them

PALO ALTO, Calif. (AP) -- Google Maps is heading down a new road steered by artificial intelligence. The shift announced Thursday will bring more of the revolutionary AI technology that Google already has been baking into its dominant search engine to the digital maps service that the internet company launched nearly 20 years ago as part of its efforts to expand into new frontiers. Google Maps recently surpassed 2 billion monthly users worldwide for the first time, a milestone that illustrates how dependent people have become on the service's directions during their daily commutes and excursions to new places. With the introduction of Google's AI-powered Gemini technology, the maps are now being set up to become entertainment guides in addition to navigational tools. Starting this week in the U.S. only, users will be able to converse with Google Maps to ask for tips on things to do around specific spots in a neighborhood or city and receive lists of restaurants, bars and other nearby attractions that include reviews that have been compiled through the years. The new features will also provide more detailed information about parking options near a designated destination along with walking directions for a user to check after departing the car. "We are entering a new era of maps," Miriam Daniel, general manager of Google Maps, told reporters Wednesday during a preview of the features presented in Palo Alto, California. "We are transforming how you navigate and explore the world." Google Maps also is trying to address complaints by introducing more detailed imagery that will make it easier to see which lane of the road to be situated in well ahead of having to make a turn. In another AI twist, Google Maps is going to allow outside developers to tap into the language models underlying its Gemini technology to enable pose questions about specific destinations, such as apartments or restaurants, and get their queries answered within seconds. Google says this new feature, which initially will go through a testing phase, has undergone a fact-checking procedure that it calls "grounding." Google's Waze maps, which focus exclusively on real-time driving directions, will use AI to offer a conversational way for its roughly 180 million monthly users to announce hazards in the road and other problems that could affect traveling times. The decision to bring AI into a service that so many rely upon to get from one point to the next reflects Google's growing confidence in its ability to prevent its Gemini technology from providing false or misleading information, also known as "hallucinations," to users. Google's AI has already been caught hallucinating in some of the summaries that began rolling in May, including advice to put glue on pizza and an assertion that the fourth U.S. president, James Madison, graduated from the University of Wisconsin, located in a city named after him. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Google Maps and Waze will have AI to rival Apple, upstarts

Alphabet's Google announced new features for its two mapping apps, part of the search giant's ongoing effort to revamp products with its Gemini artificial intelligence models. Users of Google Maps will be able to ask natural-language questions about places on the map and see AI-generated summaries of human-written reviews, the company said in an announcement Thursday. Waze users will be able to verbally report traffic issues on the go, without having to type or use specific commands. Google also said it would allow developers building products with AI models to verify responses using the company's vast database of places. Executives said this would help combat hallucinations, when language models deliver inaccurate information in convincing fashion. Google has long dominated consumer mapping, and Alphabet Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai said this week that Google Maps now has more than 2 billion monthly users. But Google can't afford to stand still. Companies across Silicon Valley are racing to build digital assistants that can guide users as they go about their daily lives, and mapping is shaping up to be a key ingredient, said Bob O'Donnell, an analyst with TECHnalysis Research. "What is going to be interesting to watch is how mapping ends up getting subsumed, as it were, as a service into generative AI agents," O'Donnell said. "More often than not, mapping requests are part of a larger picture -- take me to the place I'm going for dinner." Other companies are trying to push the frontiers of mapping and place data. Gaming firm Niantic, maker of the hit mobile game Pokemon Go, in August released an app that lets users create immersive 3D models of real-world objects and share those images with others on a collective map. "You need to know precisely where you are standing if you are going to augment the world around you. The challenge is the maps that Google built don't answer that question," said Brian McClendon, a senior vice president at Niantic, who led mapping at Google. "We have started to build that map." In September, AI pioneer Fei-Fei Li launched a startup, World Labs, which aims to build software that can use images and other data to make decisions about the three-dimensional world. Spatial data promises to "change the course of AI," Li told Bloomberg. Google also faces heightened competition from Big Tech rivals, including Apple Inc. Apple Maps, which suffered a rocky launch in 2012, has come a long way and is now on par with Google in some key markets. Apple Maps has focused on improving its directions interface in recent years. In 2021, the service began showing detailed three-dimensional models and multiple roadway lanes in some cities, while Google only introduced a similar lane feature Thursday. On the other hand, Apple Maps has taken a restrained approach to displaying crowdsourced information; it doesn't even allow users to review places they've visited. Google's scale remains difficult to match. In a blog post detailing the announcements, Google Vice President Miriam Daniel wrote that the company makes over 100 million updates to its maps daily. "AI has helped us build new experiences for over a decade," Daniel wrote. "And now, we're transforming Maps with the power of Gemini models, helping you get answers to complex questions about the world." In other new features, Google said it would make it easier for users to find parking along their routes and get walking directions to their final destinations.

Google Maps Is Getting Better With Gemini

Google Maps has announced a series of updates and new features powered by artificial intelligence. This includes better navigation and some cool new features to its Immersive View. ✕ Remove Ads One of the most significant updates is the integration of Gemini, Google's AI model. This integration lets users ask complex questions about places within Maps, like finding activities to do with friends or getting helpful review summaries. Gemini-powered features will be rolling out in the U.S. this week on Android and iOS, with similar updates coming to Google Search in the next few months. Google Maps has also introduced a major update to its driving navigation app. You can now explore along their route before starting your trip by adding stops and viewing top landmarks, attractions, and restaurants. The navigation system will provide clear visual cues, including lane guidance, crosswalks, and road signs. ✕ Remove Ads You can also now view and report weather disruptions like flooded, unplowed, and low-visibility roads to assist with winter driving. Arrival guidance has also been improved to show parking lot information, a parking reminder, and walking directions from the car to the destination. Street View or AR walking navigation are also available. These driving-related updates are being rolled out globally on Android and iOS this week, while the updated navigation will be available in over 30 metro areas starting next month. Google Maps' Immersive View feature uses AI, imagery, and computer vision to create an far more detailed view of various locations. It's like having a drone in the sky that you can move with your finger. Immersive View for places will be available in 150 cities globally, including Brussels, Kyoto, and Frankfurt. The feature has added new categories of places, like college campuses. Finally, Immersive View for routes has also been improved to provide information on parking locations and highlight potential issues along the route. ✕ Remove Ads Source: Google

Google Maps Is Getting These New Gemini-Powered AI Features

The app will show nearby parking lots to help users park their vehicles Google Maps is getting several new artificial intelligence (AI) features powered by Gemini. Announced on Thursday, these features are aimed at offering more relevant information during navigation and showcasing curated inspirations that users can check to know more about the locality and what they can do. Additionally, Immersive View, which shows nearby structures as well as the weather while planning a trip, is also being expanded to 150 cities across the globe. These features are currently rolling out to the US, and are expected to be made available in more regions in the future. In a blog post, the Mountain View-based tech giant detailed the new features coming to Google Maps. Google highlighted that today AI helps the company make more than 100 million updates to the map every single day, allowing users to see the most up-to-date information while travelling. The first new feature is dubbed Inspirations. Users can now ask Google Maps about "things to do" in an area, and using Gemini AI models, it can curate the most relevant information. For instance, users can ask for "things to do with friends at night", and Maps will show places with live music, special events, and more. These places are shown as separate cards, and if users have specific questions about the places such as if it is wheelchair accessible and if it is kid-friendly, they can ask Maps and get a relevant response. Google said this feature will start rolling out to users in the US on Android and iOS this week. A similar feature will also be added to Search, along with the AI-powered review summaries and the ability to ask detailed questions about places. Navigation is also being upgraded by Google. Maps will now show lanes, crosswalks, and road signs on the map to help users better navigate through unfamiliar routes. It will also show which lane the vehicle should be in to avoid hassles merging in at the last moment. To make the trips more fun, users, when planning a trip, can tap on add stops and see top landmarks, attractions, and dining options along the selected route. Enhanced navigation is being rolled out to 30 metro areas and will be expanded in the future. Users will also be able to see and report weather disruptions such as flooded roads, low visibility, and unplowed roads. Further, the arrival guidance feature will now show nearby parking lots and remind users to save their parking so they do not forget the location of their vehicle. After parking, the navigation system will automatically show the walking direction from the car to the entrance. Immersive View, the new AI experience that lets users see the route as they would appear in real life, is also getting an update. It will now show the weather and traffic conditions on the day and time the user is planning to visit. The feature is now being expanded to 150 cities globally. Immersive View for routes will also show where to park and if a complex turn is coming up. This feature is rolling out this week on Android and iOS wherever Immersive View for routes is available.

Google Maps is teaming up with Gemini to answer your travel questions

Key Takeaways Google Maps introduces Ask Maps for AI-powered search and weather alerts. Other updates feature improved navigation detail and weather reporting while maintaining core features. Waze testing Conversational Reporting, which should expand to Google Maps in the future. ✕ Remove Ads Google has been hard at work wedging Gemini into every product it can for nearly a year now, and this week, it's Google Maps' turn. Google announced a slew of updates to Google Maps, Google Earth, and Waze today, headlined by a new Ask Maps feature in Google Maps that uses Gemini's natural language capabilities to answer questions about nearby places. Waze is also testing a handy new option to report road hazards in natural language -- a feature that Google Maps VP and GM Miriam Daniel tells me will also make its way to Maps someday. Maps gets AI-powered search, weather condition alerts, more Close ✕ Remove Ads The new Ask Maps reminds me a lot of the similarly named Ask Photos, a Gemini-powered feature in Google Photos that lets you ask questions to get answers from your Photos library. Ask Maps works similarly: you can ask Google Maps for specific things -- Google uses the example of "things to do with friends at night" -- and Gemini will use review content from places nearby to provide a list of relevant options. Gemini will also summarize review sentiment for individual businesses, and answer questions about those businesses. For example, you can ask whether a restaurant offers vegetarian options, or if it has outdoor seating. Related Unleash the power of Ask Photos in Google Photos: Everything you need to know Ask Photos finds any memory with just a few words 1 ✕ Remove Ads This week's updates aren't all AI, though; the core Maps experience is also improving. Navigation will show more detail where possible, including lanes, crosswalks, and signage, to help give you a better idea of where exactly you should be on the road at any given moment. There's also a new system to report weather disruptions as you're driving. As with the existing option to report speed traps and stopped cars, you'll soon be able to report conditions like low visibility or unplowed snowy roads, and see other users' reports of the same conditions. Immersive View is expanding, too. Starting this week, you'll be able to look at 3D renditions of areas in 150 cities around the world. Maps is also getting Immersive Views of more types of places, including college campuses. Conversational Reporting in Waze Source: Google ✕ Remove Ads Waze is testing a useful new feature in beta starting this week. "Trusted testers" will be able to report issues along their route by tapping a button and saying what they see in a natural way; Gemini will interpret the input and add the appropriate info to the map. Phrases like "there's a car with a flat tire" or "a trash can fell over in the road" will report a stopped vehicle or an obstacle in the street, respectively. It seems like the feature is getting a narrow test in Waze before it expands more broadly, including to Google Maps. In a briefing, I asked whether Google had plans to bring Conversational Reporting to Maps. Google Maps VP and GM Miriam Daniel said that she can't commit to a timeline, but that she "absolutely" wants to see the feature available in Maps, noting that "Conversational Reporting is the future." Conversational Reporting is coming to English users in beta beginning this week, and to "more users and languages in the coming months." ✕ Remove Ads Rolling out this week It's not hard to see AI integration in navigation products going awry, but it seems like Google's approach here is relatively restrained, using Gemini to improve the experience around the margins rather than revamping any core functionality. The above features are launching in Google Maps and Waze this week. Related Google Maps vs. Waze Which navigation app is better for you?

Google Maps Will Use Gemini AI to Better Plan Your Night Out

It'll also (finally) inform you about lane merges in advance when you're out driving on the highway. It was going to happen eventually; Gemini AI is making its way to Google Maps. This will give Maps two major capabilities: curating your activities and answering your queries. Suppose your friend is in town, and they message you to link up. To take some pressure off of being the perfect host, you can now ask Google Maps for "things to do in New York City at night with friends" and have it curate and present a list of places that seem most appropriate for your prompt. The list will provide all the important details, such as business hours and pricing. You can always modify your prompt and have it generate new lists. Suppose you spot a place from the list you want to visit. Clicking on it previously gave you its details and a long list of reviews you could scroll through. Now, the Gemini Assistant on Google Maps will summarize all the reviews posted about the establishment. So, you can save time reading people's sentiments in a few lines at the top of the page. Google Maps can also talk to you like a regular AI assistant does. You will now see a question field where you can ask about a location, such as "Does it have parking?" "Does it have outdoor seating?" or "What is the atmosphere like?" and have it answer all your queries in real-time. This is meant to save you the effort of skimming through the info page of a bar or, worse, scrolling through the reviews to have your query answered. The features above will roll out in the U.S. on Android and iOS this week. The company says review summaries and the option to ask detailed questions about locations will also be coming to Google Search “in the coming months.†To clarify, the Gemini results on Google Maps will be the same as if you ask Gemini on its app. The only big update is that the AI assistant will now live on Maps, so you don't have to switch between apps. Those sick of seeing AI recently being stuffed everywhere will not be happy about these updates. But, of course, Google had to inject the greatest app of all time with its AI chatbot. This update also includes a few navigation-based changes. Now, when you enter your destination, you’ll instantly see all the top landmarks, attractions, scenic spots, and dining options along the way. This should save the effort of manually looking those up. Google will now be better at letting you know about upcoming lane merges when you're out driving. It claims it’ll help you spot crosswalks and road signs with its “enhanced navigation.†You’ll also be able to see and report weather disruptions, such as flooding and unplowed or foggy roads. This one is coming right in time for the winter months ahead. Google is also introducing arrival guidance in its new updates. Arrival guidance is supposed to make sure the route from your parking spot to the door of your destination is sorted. It’ll show you where to park, remind you to save your parking so you don’t forget it, and once you’ve parked, provide walking directions on how to get to the entrance of your destination. The feature to explore your route in advance, see and report weather hazards, and arrival guidance will all start rolling out globally on Android and iOS this week. Expect to see the enhanced navigation feature on Android and iOS next month in over 30 U.S metros, with “plans to expand to more places over time.â€

Looking for new activities? Google wants you to turn to its navigation app

By Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times The Tribune Content Agency Search giant Google wants people to use its navigation app for more than just finding directions and avoiding traffic. The tech giant is adding generative AI features to Google Maps so people can easily get recommendations for places to go and activities to do. With 2 billion people using Google Maps every month, the company envisions people also will turn to the navigation app for inspiration, executives said at a press event at the company's Street View Garage in Palo Alto on Wednesday. Miriam Daniel, vice president and general manager of Google Maps, said the search giant has the ability to combine billions of pieces of information the company collects about the world and user reviews with generative AI. "When we bring all this together, we will transform the way users interact with maps," she said. Rather than just finding directions or asking Google Maps to find the nearest gas station, users will be able to type out queries such as "things to do with friends at night in Boston" and get answers through the app. Curated with the help of Google's generative AI chatbot and model known as Gemini, users then will see results that may include speakeasies or live music. Once the user taps on results for a business, for example, they'll see a summary of reviews by users in addition to photos and videos of the place. The AI-powered tools are rolling out this week on Apple and Android devices in the United States. Google's latest AI-powered updates underscore how the tech giant is responding to challenges to the company's dominance in search. As the battle for the future of search heats up, the rise of AI tools such as OpenAI's ChatGPT that can quickly summarize search results has the potential to reshape how people find and sift through information online. Tech companies such as Meta, Apple and Microsoft have been responding to this change by infusing more generative AI tools into their products. Google is no exception. At the company's press event, a giant Google Map location icon, a blue Rivian vehicle and Google's Street View cameras used to capture images of various locations filled the space. As tech titans gather a trove of data about their users to power new generative AI tools, concerns about privacy, misinformation and copyright are some of the top issues companies have had to address. Google also has faced scrutiny from regulators on its power over people's lives, with a federal judge ruling in August that the company has an illegal monopoly on the online search market. Daniel said when Google Maps provides users answers to their questions, the company isn't using individualized information to provide personal results but contextual ones. For example, if a user asks Google Maps for things to do this weekend and it's October, some of the suggestions might include seasonal activities such as pumpkin picking and going to a haunted house. "We really take this seriously in making sure we're using generative AI responsibly," she said. Google also is testing more AI-powered tools in another one of its popular navigation apps: Waze. Users will be able to tap a reporting button and tell the app that there's a car accident ahead simply by speaking. Waze also will alert users when they're near a school zone so they can be more careful about driving. Developers are using Google's AI technology to build new features in other products. Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian used Google data so people can see summaries of restaurants, shops and supermarkets from the car's infotainment screen, a tool that will be rolled out starting next month.

Alphabet Adds AI to Google Maps to Fend Off Apple, Upstarts

Alphabet Inc.'s Google announced new features for its two mapping apps, part of the search giant's ongoing effort to revamp products with its Gemini artificial intelligence models. Users of Google Maps will be able to ask natural-language questions about places on the map and see AI-generated summaries of human-written reviews, the company said in an announcement Thursday. Waze users will be able to verbally report traffic issues on the go, without having to type or use specific commands.

Google Maps Gets Gemini-Powered AI Recommendations Based on Reviews

Google Maps is receiving an update that will harness generative AI to create recommendations, summaries, and interactive Q&As based on the mapping service's existing user reviews. The feature, dubbed "inspiration curated," taps Google Gemini, which already provides summaries to queries on Google search. On Maps, Gemini will pull insights from the billions of reviews users have left about restaurants, tourist sights, and other destinations. "When we bring this all together, we will transform the way users interact with Maps," said Google VP Miriam Daniel in a press briefing on Tuesday. "You can now ask any kind of complex question about places to go to, and things to do, and expect Maps to help you with that." In a demo, Daniel showed herself asking the Gemini-powered Google Maps about "things to do at night in Boston." In response, the app showed a revolving carousel of speakeasy bars that had been highly rated, along with live music events. Clicking on a speakeasy expanded the view, which included an AI-generated summary distilling the bar's main attributes based on the human-written reviews posted about the bar. "On the same page, I can ask very pointed, specific questions about the place," Daniel added. "I can say, 'Is it a quiet atmosphere?'" In return, Google Maps looked through the human-posted reviews about the speakeasy and provided an answer, showing the bar actually has a lively atmosphere. "It even pulls out reviews that substantiate this answer," she added. According to Daniel, the update promises to make Google Maps even more helpful and save users time. "So you don't have to go looking all over the place or multiple apps to go find the specific answers you may be looking for," she said. To prevent Gemini from hallucinating made-up answers or fictional places, Google said it "grounded" the AI-generated information to solely use validated human reviews left on Google Maps for verified locations. But for now, Google Maps will only surface AI-generated summaries and insights from human reviews left on the service -- not from any third-party sources. The company is also refraining from placing ads in the AI-generated recommendations component within Google Maps. In addition, Google is avoiding personalizing the recommendations to specific users by relying on collecting any sensitive data. Instead, the AI-powered feature is designed to use the "context" in the query. For example, if the user searches for "iconic bars with a lively atmosphere," Google Maps will take the "live atmosphere" mention, and could note the time of the search to curate the appropriate recommendation. "When we provide these answers, there is no individualized information there," Daniel said. She later added: "That is not something we do today. We don't look at your personal preferences or infer them in any way based on your past queries. The experience you saw today is all about what is your complex query? What is your intent?" To nudge users to try out the feature, Google Maps will include built-in prompts meant to surface the AI-generated recommendations. Expect the Gemini-powered features to arrive this week for US users, starting with the Google Maps Android and iOS apps. "You'll also see similar experiences in the coming months on Search -- including AI-powered review summaries and the option to ask detailed questions about places," the company said.

Google Maps gets Immersive View, real-time weather updates, Gemini integration, and more

Google has introduced new features for Google Maps, designed to enhance user experience with advanced tools like Gemini. These updates include improved navigation, personalized recommendations, and the innovative Immersive View, helping users explore surroundings and plan journeys more intuitively. Miriam Daniel, VP & GM, Google Maps, noted that by leveraging AI to analyze billions of images and collaborating with local partners and the community, Google makes over 100 million map updates daily, ensuring users have access to the most current information, whether traveling globally or locally. Users can now receive customized suggestions on Google Maps. For example, when planning a night out, simply ask "things to do with friends at night," and get curated ideas like nearby speakeasies or live music venues. Gemini's summarization feature offers quick access to reviews and essential details about places, such as outdoor seating options. This feature utilizes data from over 250 million locations globally. Availability: This feature starts rolling out in the U.S. on Android and iOS this week, with a broader rollout planned in Google Search over the coming months. Google is streamlining the driving experience with new features to assist users from route planning to destination. Users can add stops along the way to discover landmarks, dining options, and attractions. Enhanced navigation displays lane markings, road signs, and crosswalks for smoother navigation in unfamiliar areas, guiding users on lane positioning to reduce last-minute merging. Additionally, users can now report and view weather-related disruptions, such as flooded or poorly plowed roads. Updated arrival guidance highlights building entrances and nearby parking options. Users also receive walking directions from parking spots to destinations and can leverage Street View for better orientation. Availability: These updates are rolling out globally this week on Android and iOS. Enhanced navigation begins in over 30 metropolitan areas next month. Immersive View now allows users to visualize stadiums, parks, and travel routes using AI and advanced imagery, with real-time weather and traffic conditions. Availability: Starting this week, Immersive View will expand to 150 cities worldwide, including Brussels, Kyoto, and Frankfurt, adding new categories such as college campuses. Updates for routes, including parking locations and complex turn highlights, will roll out on Android and iOS where available. Alongside these new features, Google has introduced advanced generative AI tools for the Google Maps Platform and Google Earth, supporting developers and urban planners with real-time, accurate data for complex geospatial needs. Enabling Generative AI Apps with Real-Time Location Data The Google Maps Platform, used by over 10 million websites and apps, supports industries like delivery services and real estate. As more developers create generative AI-powered tools, real-time location data is often required. Google's new "Grounding with Google Maps" feature enables developers to integrate up-to-date place data into AI applications. This tool updates information on over 250 million places for accurate, location-based experiences. Rivian vehicles will soon feature AI-powered place summaries in their infotainment systems, utilizing Gemini capabilities through the Places API. Drivers will receive concise summaries of nearby restaurants, stores, and supermarkets, streamlining access to relevant information. Google is extending Gemini capabilities to Google Earth, aiding urban planners with quick city-level insights. This upgrade reduces data analysis time from days to minutes. For example, a transportation planner might ask, "Map the five zip codes with the fewest EV chargers relative to area size." Google Earth will analyze the data, identifying zip codes with limited EV chargers, and generate custom visualizations. The planner can further refine the search to include hotels or shopping centers nearby that lack EV charging facilities. This AI capability, developed with Google Research and X (the moonshot factory), is set for a pilot launch next month. Users can sign up for the trusted tester program. Speaking about the updates, Miriam Daniel, VP & GM, Google Maps, said,

Google Just Announced a Bunch of New AI Features for Maps

You shouldn't have to guess which lane you're supposed to be in anymore. Google Maps is one of those apps that basically does everything I want it to: I punch in my destination, I'm guided to that destination, then I turn the app off. That's not to say there's zero room for improvement, of course. As such, it's always intriguing whenever Google announces a new slew of features and changes for Maps. This time around, many of those changes just happen to be AI-powered. Of course, everyone's all-in on AI right now. And Google being Google, the company is using its AI platform, Gemini, to run some of these new features. Most are launching today, but some are also rolling out in the coming weeks. Here's what's new. Rather than search for specific destinations, Google wants you to use its AI chatbot for advice on what to do. The company says you can ask Gemini things like "fun fall activities," "interactive date ideas," or "things to do on a relaxing Sunday," and the bot will generate suggestions in Google Maps. I guess that saves you a trip to, um, Google. This feature is rolling out today. Generating summaries is one of the features companies advertise most for their AI programs. Apple Intelligence summarizes your notifications, for example, while Google tries to summarize multiple sources into one AI-generated explanation -- with sometimes disastrous results. However, the company wants you to trust Gemini to summarize Google Maps reviews for you: Rather than sift through any number of reviews to determine whether a location is worth your time, Google's view is you should glance at the Gemini summary to learn all you need to. If you want to see where it gets that summary from, you can always look at the reviews themselves. Google continues to build AI features that generate information based on the work of others -- whether that's independent users reviewing a restaurant on Google Maps, or sources across the internet writing articles. This is a minor version of that, but it goes to show that AI-powered feature are often enabled by free participation from users, not by the companies themselves. This feature launches today. Google wants to make it easier to find interesting deviations on your current route: The company says things like "charming local cafes" and "quirky roadside attractions" will pop up if you swipe up on your route preview. If you see something you like, you can add it to your route. This feature also launches today. You can also check in with Gemini with questions about your destination: That includes things like "are reservations recommended?" "what's the parking situation?" or "is there indoor seating?" This is coming to Maps today, but will roll out to Search in general in the coming months. Google is expanding the list of cities compatible with Immersive View: This feature uses AI to build a 3D image of a city from street view images, and has been slowly rolling out for about the past year and a half. Google says now, the feature is available in more than 100 cities, and will grow to 150 by the end of the year. There's also now Immersive View for routes, which will highlight things like parking lots, bike lanes, and difficult driving sections. You can pick a spot along your journey to investigate it further. This particular Immersive View feature rolls out Nov. 11. In addition to Immersive View expansion, Google is also adding more details to general directions. You should know more about which lane you're supposed to be in at any given time, which should reduce those times when you suddenly need to change lanes to make a turn or enter a freeway. That comes out next week. This isn't really about Google Maps, but Google owns Waze so I guess it makes the press release. In any case, this is probably the most useful new feature here. Waze now lets you report hazards on your route using your voice, which is a fantastic update. It never sat right with me that a feature meant for making driving safer required users to fiddle with their phones while driving. That said, you still need to interact with your phone for this feature, but you only need to tap the reporting button before speaking what you're seeing. This option is launching in beta today, in English. In addition to this Waze feature, Google Maps users will be able to report new types of weather disruptions, like flooded or low-visibility roads. That feature comes out next week in the US, India, Canada, and Australia. Google is working on new features for after you've reached your destination. Maps will light up your destination in the app and highlight available parking, as well as detailed instruction for getting to your destination once you leave your car. You'll also see business information here, so you'll know if your destination is open or closed by the time you get there. This feature is rolling out starting next week.

Sick of missing your exit? These new Google Maps features can help

The navigation app is getting enhanced driving directions, plus Gemini-curated suggestions for spots to check out along your route. If you use Google Maps, several new features are on the way to make your journey a little easier -- including Gemini, the company's AI assistant, to help find suggestions and answer your questions, as well as enhanced navigation "from start to finish." In a blog post on Thursday, Google announced a number of new features headed to Maps. Here's what's new: Many people already use Maps to find local restaurants or things to do. Now, you can use Gemini for inspiration. For example, Google says, you could ask Maps for "things to do with friends at night," and it will give you a list of the best nightlife spots in your area. Ask for "places with live music," and you'll see the best places with bands and so on. Also: This $99 Android phone is no Pixel 9 Pro, but performs better than handsets twice the price AI-summarized reviews will show you what people like about a place, though you have to wonder what happens if the AI sees a joke review and sends a faulty response. You can even ask further questions, like whether a restaurant is kid-friendly or has a romantic atmosphere. In a live demonstration of the feature during a press event, a Google representative pulled up a restaurant on Maps and asked Gemini about the atmosphere. Gemini responded that it was "lively and cozy." Also: Chrome adds a quick-fix tool to speed up your browser with a single click The curation feature is rolling out in the US on Android and iOS this week. Your drive is about to get a little easier with enhanced navigation on Maps. First, you can tap "add stops" once you've added a destination to find top landmarks, attractions, scenic spots, and dining options. To help you while you're on the road, enhanced navigation will show you lanes, crosswalks, and road signs clearly on the map, along with lane indicators to show you exactly which lane you should be in. Weather disruption reports are also coming, including flooded, unplowed, and low-visibility roads. If you've ever arrived at an unfamiliar place at night, you know it can be tricky to see where you need to go. A new Maps feature will light up the building entrance and parking lot on the map and remind you to save your parking spot. Also: Google's new AI course will teach you to write more effective prompts - in 5 steps Once you've parked, you'll have the option to see walking directions from your car to the entrance, even with AR walking navigation. This feature should start arriving on Android and iOS this month in 30 metros. Heading to a big game or concert? Immersive View lets you experience what stadiums, parks, college campuses, and routes look like using AI, and even what weather and traffic conditions will be like on a future day. This feature debuted several years ago, but starting this week, Immersive View will expand to 150 cities globally, including in places like Brussels, Kyoto, and Frankfurt. Immersive View is also adding new details, including places to park and a heads-up if you have a complex turn coming. This update starts rolling out this week on Android and iOS.

Google Maps getting Gemini search, review summaries, and Q&A

With over 2 billion monthly users, Google Maps is adding Gemini to power a trio of experiences that do seem quite useful on Android and iOS. Ask Maps lets you enter more conversational queries into the existing search field. For example, "things to do with friends at night" will turn up "Curated with Gemini" suggestions, which feature the sparkle, for Live music and Speakeasies. Each gets a carousel of places that you can browse. Every card features a rating and relevant review, while each carousel features a thumbs up/down to tune the system. Once you open a listing, Gemini will offer a review summary underneath the usual breakdown of ratings, while the rest of this section is unchanged. Finally, you can "Ask Maps about this page." This new inline search bar in the list lets you ask questions, like: Is it a quiet atmosphere? and What's the dress code? These generated answers, which can include images, are accompanied by snippets from the actual review and other relevant web links. Both of these features are also coming to Google Search in the coming months. Gemini in Google Maps for Android and iOS is rolling out in the US starting this week. Continuing on the AI front is how Immersive View for places is expanding to 150 cities around the world, including Brussels, Frankfurt, and Kyoto. It also now lets you explore college campuses. Meanwhile, Immersive View for routes is getting more detailed by highlighting complex turns and where to park. Both these updates are rolling out starting this week.

New in Maps: Inspiration curated with Gemini, enhanced navigation and more

For nearly 20 years, Google Maps has helped people understand and navigate the world -- and today, we're announcing that more than 2 billion users turn to Maps each month because of our fresh, comprehensive map. By using AI to analyze billions of images, alongside data from local partners and our community, we're able to make over 100 million updates to the map every single day. So whether you're traveling the world or across town, you're seeing the most up-to-date information possible. From fuel-efficient routes to Immersive View, AI has helped us build new experiences for over a decade. And now, we're transforming Maps with the power of Gemini models, helping you get answers to complex questions about the world. People already turn to Maps to get ideas for places to go and things to do. Now, we're making it even easier to get inspiration curated with Gemini: All you need to do is ask Maps. Say a friend is visiting and you need to plan an activity. Just ask Maps for "things to do with friends at night" to get ideas curated with Gemini -- like checking out a speakeasy or live music. Find out what people like about a place by reading the helpful review summarized with Gemini -- especially convenient when you're pressed for time. If a place catches your eye and you want to learn more about it, like whether it has outdoor seating or a quiet atmosphere, just ask Maps questions to get relevant answers in a snap.

First Ask Photos, now Google will let you Ask Maps with Gemini

This includes natural language queries in the search bar and the ability to ask questions about a place. Google recently brought its Gemini AI powers to Google Photos, allowing people to use natural language for photo-related queries. Now, the company has announced similar capabilities for Google Maps. The search giant announced three new Gemini-powered features in Maps, starting with Ask Maps functionality. This allows you to type natural language queries in the search bar. Google gave the example of typing "things to do at night with friends in Boston." The app then dishes out a list of recommendations for you and your friends. Google is also using Gemini to offer summaries of user reviews in Maps, allowing you to get a quick impression of a venue if you don't have time to read a ton of reviews. Finally, Gemini will let you ask Maps about specific places. This takes the form of an "Ask Maps about this place" question box below user reviews, along with a few preset questions. These Gemini-powered Maps features are launching this week on Android and iOS in the US. Google didn't reveal a timeline for a wider release. The company did, however, confirm to Android Authority that these capabilities will eventually come to Maps on Android Auto.