Alphabet is making its biggest upgrade to its mapping products in more than a decade, rolling out a new feature called "Ask Maps" in Google Maps that allows users to interact with the app like a chatbot.
On Thursday (March 12), Miriam Daniel, vice president and general manager of Google Maps, posted on the official blog, "We have combined the world's latest maps with our most powerful Gemini model to make exploring the map easy and convenient, and through the largest navigation upgrade in more than a decade, the experience has been more intuitive than ever."
Daniel said that the new "Ask Maps" function can answer complex practical questions that maps have not been able to answer before, such as "Where can I charge my phone?" "Where can I buy coffee without waiting in long lines?" or "Where are the public tennis courts with lights tonight?"
According to the press release, Google Maps users can now simply click the "Ask Maps" button to get conversational answers and get customized maps to help users visually understand their options - information that previously required a lot of searching and sifting through reviews.
The press release explains that Google Maps analyzes information on more than 300 million places and reviews provided by a community of 500 million users to provide users with personalized answers. "Rather than looking for places yourself or reading reviews one by one, Ask Maps allows users to 'ask any question, anywhere.'"
Daniel said: "By combining the world's latest map data with our most powerful Gemini model, we are transforming the process of exploring the world into a simple conversation." Gemini has been integrated into products to provide a hands-free experience, and this update will change the way people use maps.
The new feature can also provide personalized restaurant recommendations based on the user's past search history or favorite places. For example, if the system knows that a user has certain dietary restrictions, Ask Maps may proactively recommend vegetarian restaurants, even if the user has not explicitly requested this.
For driving users, another Gemini-powered update will provide a full 3D view of the road and provide alternative routes in the event of traffic jams or real-time disruptions. The feature, called "Immersive Navigation," will also provide drivers with practical guidance such as parking suggestions and building entrance locations.
According to Google, "Ask Maps" will be available for iOS and Android users in the United States and India starting Thursday; "Immersive Navigation" will be available in the United States for eligible iOS and Android devices, CarPlay, Android Auto, and cars with built-in Google systems, and will be rolled out to more regions in the coming months.
Although Google Maps has long been the map application of choice for many consumers, Apple has also invested heavily in developing its own map services in recent years, creating considerable competitive pressure on Google's continued innovation.