As soon as you turn on the Maps camera and point the phone at a nearby location, AI provides information about nearby shops, restaurants, or other famous places.
Google has integrated Gemini AI into its popular navigation app, Google Maps, making Maps even smarter and more interactive. Users can now search for places in Maps by speaking, without having to type.
When you turn on the Maps camera and point your phone at a nearby location, AI will provide information about shops, restaurants, or other famous places.
According to the company, Google Maps is now more than just a guide, it is an expert on road infrastructure that answers every question the user has.
With the integration of Gemini, Google Maps has for the first time provided a hands-free or two-way conversation feature. Drivers can talk to Gemini without taking their hands off the steering wheel. This new feature makes it easy for Android users to find places they want to go, find EV chargers, or share their estimated time of arrival (ETA) with friends, the company said in a statement.
Drivers can ask, “Where is a cheap, vegetarian restaurant on my route, within a few miles, and what is the parking like there?” And, after Gemini responds, they can say, “Yes, I’ll go there.” Users can also connect Google Maps to their calendars with Gemini. The company says that after allowing Maps and calendars to be connected, it can automatically do things like “Add an event to my calendar for tomorrow’s 5 p.m. soccer practice,” and drivers can also ask what dishes are popular at a restaurant or listen to the previous night’s game or news.
Another important improvement in navigation is that Google says that it can now use live location instead of the old-fashioned “turn right in 500 feet” instructions. With Gemini, Google Maps will now show not only traffic lights and stop signs, but also gas stations, restaurants, and famous buildings. Gemini will alert drivers before problems like sudden traffic jams or unexpected road closures occur.
