Google has expanded the functionality of Maps by integrating the artificial intelligence Gemini into the service, allowing users to receive personalized recommendations and plan their trips more conveniently.
This is reported by Business • Media
New Features for Drivers and Pedestrians
From now on, Google Maps users can interact with Gemini while on the move, without taking their eyes off the road. The artificial intelligence is capable of answering questions about establishments along the route, providing information about news or sports events, and executing voice commands, such as adding events to the calendar. Drivers can engage in a continuous dialogue with the assistant, receiving clarifications about nearby restaurants or the availability of parking at a specific location.
“People will be able to communicate with Gemini while driving and receive route advice.”
The feature also allows users to report traffic incidents by voice, enabling quicker responses to unforeseen situations. The system will send alerts about traffic jams, roadworks, or other obstacles along the way.
Improved Navigation and New Tools
Thanks to the combination of Street View data and navigation, Gemini’s prompts have become more accurate. Now, instead of standard information about the distance to a turn, the maps display the nearest recognizable landmarks, such as gas stations or cafes, and highlight them on the screen for convenience.
Gemini operates with information about over 250 million places and Street View images, allowing for more precise identification of landmarks and optimization of route planning.
Additionally, the integration with Google Lens allows users to simply point their smartphone camera at a building or landmark to receive a detailed description from Gemini and learn about the reasons for the object’s popularity.
In the coming weeks, the new features will become available on iOS and Android devices. Traffic situation alerts will first appear in the U.S. for Android, while the updated visual navigation and Lens features with Gemini will be available to American users by the end of the month.