Google Maps Introduces 10 AI-Powered Features Exclusively for India

These New Google Maps Features Are Coming Exclusively to India

Proactive Traffic Alerts will tell users about upcoming road issues Google Maps introduced 10 new features to India on Thursday, including Gemini-powered artificial intelligence (AI) features, new safety and disruption notifications, and support for newer travel modes. Among the features, the biggest announcement from the Mountain View-based tech giant was the platform's first hands-free, conversational driving experience in Maps. The company also introduced proactive local tips, which build on last year's AI-powered Inspirations feature. Some of these new features were announced in the US on Wednesday, making India the first expansion. Google Maps India Brings 10 New Features In a press briefing, the tech giant introduced the new India-focused features. Some of these features are exclusive to the country, while others are being added as Google Maps' first expansion outside of the US. However, each feature has its own timeline for when it will be available to users. Coming to the biggest highlight, the hands-free conversational driving experience brings Gemini's voice interaction capability within Maps. With this, users can ask about local places on the route, find electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, and even share their expected time to arrive (ETA) with their friends. Gemini also allows users to ask multi-step questions. Highlighting an example, the company said it will be able to handle the query, "Is there a budget-friendly restaurant with vegan options along my route, something within a couple of miles? What's parking like there?" Users can also take it one step forward, and with permission, let Maps create a Calendar event for the planned itinerary. Google Maps is also bringing Proactive Local Tips to India. Powered by Gemini, the feature provides tips about the destination and the route of the user, letting them stay up-to-date with places of attraction and local businesses. This builds on the Inspirations feature that was introduced within the platform in November 2024. Next, Maps can now answer questions about Places. Another Gemini feature, the platform now answers questions about places using data such as reviews, photos, and details. So, users do not have to switch apps while researching or navigating their destination. All three of these features are coming to iOS and Android in the coming days. Proactive Traffic Alerts are also coming to Indian users. This was announced for the US on Wednesday, and is now being brought to the country. It provides alerts about traffic jams, road closures, and other delays, even when the user is not actively navigating. This will be available to Android users in Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai over the next few weeks. Google Maps is also focusing on user safety with the new Accident-Prone Area Alerts. It uses government data to alert users when they are travelling through an accident-prone area. It is coming to both Android and iOS users in Gurugram, Cyberabad region in Hyderabad, Chandigarh, and Faridabad.

Google Maps gets new features in India: Conversational driving experience, Proactive traffic alerts and more

Google Maps to offer hands-free navigation, accident-prone area alerts and more. Google Maps rolled out ten new features in India on Thursday with a twist of AI. The update brings improved safety alerts, disruption notifications and support for emerging travel modes. Leading the announcements is Google's first hands-free, conversational driving experience, designed to make navigation more intuitive and distraction-free. The company also unveiled proactive local tips, building on last year's AI-powered "Inspirations" feature to offer personalised recommendations. Several of these updates were introduced in the US just a day earlier, making India among the first markets to experience their global rollout. Here's a detailed look into each of the features introduced. This feature lets drivers talk to Google Maps using simple voice commands to find nearby places, locate the closest EV charging stations, or share their arrival time with friends and family, all without having to touch their phones. Users can even ask detailed, conversational questions like, "Can you find an affordable pure veg restaurant on my way to Connaught Place with good parking?" Furthermore, if permitted, Google Maps can also go a step further by adding a reminder or calendar event based on the trip plan; for instance, scheduling a meeting once you reach your destination. Building on its earlier "Inspirations" tool, this AI-powered upgrade offers personalised suggestions about tourist attractions, restaurants, and businesses along your route. For instance, if you're driving from Delhi to Dehradun, Maps might recommend a quick stop at Cheetal Grand near Khatauli, a scenic detour to the historic Gurukul Kangri in Haridwar, or a local favourite maggi point near Mussoorie Road, all based on your travel patterns and preferences. Instead of juggling between multiple apps or websites, you can now ask Google Maps directly, "Does this café have Wi-Fi?" or "Is parking available near the Gateway of India?" The feature uses Gemini AI to instantly compile information from public reviews, photos, and business data, giving you quick, conversational answers. Indian users will soon receive Proactive Traffic Alerts, a new feature that sends real-time notifications about congestion, road closures, and other travel disruptions even when navigation isn't turned on. Initially, this will be available to Android users in Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai, helping commuters plan better routes before they even start their journey. Google is also launching Accident-Prone Area Alerts to further enhance the road safety in India. This feature relies on verified government data to warn drivers as they approach zones with a higher likelihood of accidents. The first rollout will cover Gurugram, the Cyberabad region in Hyderabad, Chandigarh, and Faridabad, with more cities expected to follow. In addition, the app will now show authoritative speed limits on-screen, next to the existing speedometer, in the following 9 cities: Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Mumbai, Hyderabad (including Cyberabad) and Kolkata. These limits are sourced directly from official traffic authorities and will appear across both Android and iOS platforms. Google has partnered with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to access verified information in real-time about road closures and maintenance. This would allow the app to send more accurate and realistic route estimations to the drivers. Apart from this, commuters can now directly book Metro tickets through Google Maps. Available in Delhi, Bengaluru, Kochi, and Chennai for now, the feature directs users to the desired ticketing platform without having to exit the app. The tickets purchased can be saved to Google Wallet and made available under Maps. The service will expand to Mumbai soon. Google Maps is introducing voice-guided flyover navigation in India, helping users decide when to take or skip flyovers without looking at their screens. The feature supports nine Indian languages on both Android and iOS, making it especially useful for two-wheeler riders, who can stay focused on the road while getting clear voice directions. Lastly, Google has also added customisable two-wheeler avatars in the recent update, an India-exclusive feature that lets riders personalise their in-app icons with different colours and styles.