• by Laurie Sullivan  @lauriesullivan, October 31, 2024

Google's generative AI model Gemini will turn Google Maps into a recommendations engine that curates experiences and suggestions based on users' searches.

Search will get many of the same features.

People historically have turned to Maps for directions or to get ideas for places to go, but now the platform serves up ideas based on questions such as "what is the best thing to do with friends visiting from out of state." There are still reviews and summaries, but now users can ask Maps questions like "is the venue quiet or noisy." 

The tools are now using Gemini’s reasoning and summarization capabilities and include data on about 250 million places worldwide, as well as insights from the Maps community. The features begin to roll out in the U.S. on Android and iOS this week.

Similar experiences will roll out on Search in the coming months, which prompts the question of whether Google will eventually roll Search and Maps into one entity, with ads that support the changes.

New Search features will add AI-powered review summaries and the option to ask detailed questions about places.

Immersive View also will get an update to experience stadiums, parks and routes. Users will be able to see what they look like using AI, imagery, and computer vision, along with an estimate of weather and traffic conditions on the day and time user plan their visit.

Enhanced navigation will show how many lanes are in a road or crosswalk as well as road signs, and will show exactly when to merge when a lane should end.

Starting this week, Immersive View for places will expand to 150 cities globally such as Brussels, Kyoto and Frankfurt.

Google also plans to add places such as college campuses, and the ability to add a stop.

The routes features will get new details like when to expect a complex turn along. This update starts rolling out this week on Android and iOS.