Google revealed on Thursday that Google Maps will have a Gemini-enhanced conversational feature called “Ask Maps,” alongside an improved “Immersive Navigation” experience that adds 3D views, road specifics, natural voice guidance, and more to the app.
The new “Ask Maps” functionality enables users to pose intricate, real-world questions using natural language, such as “My phone is dying, where can I charge it without having to wait in a long line for coffee?” or “Is there a public tennis court with lights on that I can play at tonight?”
Google states that this feature can also expedite trip planning. For instance, you might inquire, “I’m headed to the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Coral Dunes, any recommended stops along the way?” Maps will then offer directions, ETAs, and recommendations from real people, like where to discover a hidden trail or secure a free entry ticket.
Ask Maps tailors its replies by utilizing signals from places a user has searched for or saved, Google mentioned. Thus, if a user asks something like, “My friends are coming from Midtown East to meet me after work. Any cozy spots with a table for four at 7 tonight?” Ask Maps might already know the user favors vegan eateries and will propose suitable venues with vegan options.
Ask Maps is currently rolling out in the U.S. and India on Android and iOS, with desktop availability soon, according to Google.
Regarding the new “Immersive Navigation” update, Maps now features a 3D view reflecting nearby structures, overpasses, and terrain, akin to Apple Maps. The app will also underscore road details like lanes, crosswalks, traffic lights, and stop signs.
Beyond the visual modifications, Maps is gaining additional capabilities to keep drivers better informed during their journey.
Maps now provides drivers with a comprehensive view of their route with smart zooms and transparent buildings to assist in anticipating and preparing for complex turns and lane changes beforehand.
Additionally, Google has adjusted Maps’ voice guidance to sound more natural. For example, if you’re exiting the highway in two exits, you will now hear, “Go past this exit and take the next one for Illinois 43 South.”
Maps will now also explain the trade-offs for alternate routes, such as a longer journey with less traffic or a faster one that includes a toll. The app will also alert you to real-time disruptions like roadwork and crashes. These functionalities will draw from both the Google Maps and Waze communities.
Google also announced that before reaching your destination, you can preview it and its surroundings using Street View imagery and receive parking recommendations. As you approach, Maps will highlight the building’s entrance, nearby parking, and which side of the street to be on.
“Our team set to redesign the driving experience with the objective of removing the guesswork out of trips,” said Miriam Daniel, VP of Google Maps, during a briefing with reporters. “Immersive navigation represents a complete transformation of the navigation experience. It features redesigned visuals, fresh real-world information provided just in time, and more intuitive guidance.”
Immersive Navigation starts its rollout across the U.S. today, with extended availability over the coming months to eligible iOS and Android devices, as well as CarPlay, Android Auto, and vehicles with Google built-in.
Thursday’s announcement follows Google’s integration of Gemini in Maps late last year, enabling the AI assistant to respond to questions about locations on a route, provide information on topics like sports or news, and add events to a calendar. It also began employing Gemini with Street View to enhance navigation instructions by referencing nearby landmarks like gas stations, restaurants, or notable buildings instead of mere distances.