It never once told me to walk into a river.
You may know Gemini as the feature integrated into every Google service you use, like it or not. Though it’s frequently seen in Gmail over the past year, it is a newer addition to Maps — and it’s actually impressive.
Testing it, I had Gemini plan a city itinerary. After an hour of selecting places — playgrounds near the light rail, kid-friendly car-themed restaurants — I was genuinely impressed. Besides a few obvious suggestions, there were spots I hadn’t yet considered.
Gemini had a challenge ahead: replacing my own instincts. As a big Google Maps user, I often explore routes, playgrounds, parks, and new cafes. I would wander around Seattle, frequent bookstores, or stationery outlets all day if possible. Although I tend to decide on familiar neighborhoods out of sheer choice overload, Gemini directed me into unexplored territory.
When you tap “Ask Maps,” Gemini presents a text box, answering questions using Google Maps data and user reviews, and even checks external information like weather forecasts if needed.
I specified the conditions: traveling via public transit, I wanted a lunch stop, a scenic walk, and a laptop-friendly coffee shop, heading home by 4:30. The first suggestions resembled my routines — a café next to a bookstore and a reliable downtown coffee shop — which I’d recently visited. After adjusting, the suggestions resulted in a plan: tacos, plant browsing, and a Scandinavian-inspired coffee shop.
While familiar with Tacos Chukis, I hadn’t visited. Navigating through shops without signage, guided by Gemini, I arrived perfectly timed as they opened. Their specialty — grilled pineapple tacos — came highly recommended and deservedly so. After three fantastic tacos, it was time to proceed.
Slightly ahead of schedule, Gemini suggested Elliott Bay Books, mistakenly claiming it was a block away. It was a minor, yet glaring error in an otherwise useful tool. Thankfully, I stood firm against the rain, refusing to be led astray.
Upon correction, Kobo emerged as the rightful stop — a charming store with Japanese merchandise. I’d frequented their other branch without realizing this one’s proximity.
Eventually arriving at Volunteer Park, my jacket was soaked. Utilizing my umbrella mostly for sheltering belongings, Gemini proposed a park loop or visiting the conservatory — a giant greenhouse — as a dry alternative. I opted for the conservatory.
Plants are fascinating. Tropical trees at the Volunteer Park Conservatory — $6 entry not initially disclosed by Gemini — offer conditions for ants to inhabit and protect them. Despite the frustration of unmet expectations, the tranquil warmth proved worth every penny.
A conservatory staff member, noticing my focus on towering palms, led me to the cacti section, capturing a beautiful snapshot for me. There’s something hauntingly captivating about cacti, their myriad forms and sizes, akin to spotting an owl. Unexpected beauty on a damp Northwest day.
Reflecting on AI’s commercial bent after a discussion with Will Sattelberg at 9to5Google, it’s clear: tech companies encourage AI-centric commerce. The focus on AI-led purchases — flights, shoes, and more — mirrors my tendency to seek tangible rewards on outings.
Visiting places and walking away with new books, or coffee helps mask the anxiety of choices — what if the pick is wrong? Purchases affirm worthiness, but satisfaction wanes, urging another Maps-fueled quest for the ultimate excursion. That day, small but meaningful items joined my haul: a soggy entry pass and kid-sized gardening tools, the latter aligning with my aim to cultivate more yard-play.
Returning via bus, Gemini’s coffee shop pick, Day Made Kaffe, awaited discovery. Though I frequent the area, it hadn’t registered. Descriptions of its warmth and tech-friendliness resonated. Once inside, it resurfaced familiar as an old haunts converted from a home goods store.
Gemini succeeded with Day Made. The ambiance was delightful, the pastry with guava jelly a pleasant weather-wise compensation. Artemis II launched quietly onscreen, my exit at 3:40 as planned, concluding an optimally timed transit. Home by 4:26.
People powered the day’s success — their reviews and recommendations, the backbone of Gemini’s guidance. When navigating expansive datasets like Google Maps, a tool like Gemini proves invaluable.
User reviews help gauge kid-friendliness, and Gemini’s wide search lands places accommodating both dinosaurs and cocktails. Importantly, it accurately syncs with Google Maps for real-time transit details.
Gemini explains its reasoning as it suggests, though not free from errors — a vital consideration in real-world navigation. Knowing this, it remains an impressive tool, suitable for immediate needs or leisurely discovery.
Photography by Allison Johnson / The Verge