Google Maps is getting new AI features powered by Gemini | TechCrunch

Google Maps is getting new features powered by Gemini, Google’s generative AI model. On Thursday the company announced incoming updates that will allow Google Maps users in the U.S. to tap into AI to help them find new places to visit and answer questions about different locations.

The platform is also getting enhanced navigation features to help motorists get to their destination by highlighting things like which lane you’re supposed to be in.

By bringing Gemini into Maps Google will be looking to ensure that its navigation app is better poised to compete with Apple Maps and navigation startups.

In other updates, Google Maps will allow users to get ideas for places to go and things to do simply by asking the service. For instance, if you have a friend visiting you, you can ask Maps for “things to do with friends at night.” Gemini will then serve up a curated list of options, such as checking out a speakeasy or live music. 

To learn more about the places that Gemini recommends, users can read a quick summary of what people have thought about the place. If you have a specific follow-up question, say if it has outdoor seating, you can also ask Gemini. 

These new capabilities are rolling out in the United States on Android and iOS this week. Google said it plans to bring similar experiences to Search, including AI-powered review summaries and the option to ask questions about places. 

As for the new navigation features, Google is making it easier for Maps users to drive in unfamiliar areas with multiple lanes, forks, and exits. Google Maps will now display lanes, crosswalks and road signs clearly on the map. Plus, it will show exactly which lane you should be in so you don’t have to merge at the last second. 

The update will also make it easier to explore stuff to do along your route before you start driving. Once you enter your destination, Google Maps will display top landmarks, attractions, scenic spots, and dining options.

Then, once you get to your destination, Google Maps will show you nearby parking lots. After you park, the app will remind you to save your parking space so you don’t forget where you left your car. You can also get walking directions from your car to the entrance of your destination, with the option to launch Street View or AR (augmented reality) walking navigation. 

In addition, Google Maps will allow users to see and report weather disruptions on the road, such as flooded, unplowed, and low-visibility areas. 

Google also announced that Google Maps’ Immersive View feature, which creates a 3D model of a destination, is expanding to 150 cities globally. As part of the expansion, the feature will launch in Brussels, Kyoto, and Frankfurt, among other new locations.