Google Maps Intends to Employ Gemini AI for Enhanced Nightlife Itinerary Planning
It was inevitable; Gemini AI is making its entrance into Google Maps. This will grant Maps two significant abilities: managing your activities and addressing your questions.
Imagine your buddy is in town, and they contact you to hang out. To alleviate some pressure as the perfect host, you can now ask Google Maps for "fun activities in New York City at night with friends" and it will produce a list of places that seem fitting for your request. The list will be loaded with crucial information such as business hours and pricing. You can always tailor your request and have it generate new lists.
Suppose you come across a place from the list you're interested in visiting. Previously, clicking on it provided you with its details and an extensive list of reviews you could peruse. Now, the Gemini Assistant on Google Maps will condense all the reviews published about the establishment. Therefore, you can save time by reading people's opinions in a concise summary at the top of the page.
Google Maps can also carry on a conversation with you like a standard AI assistant does. You will now notice a query field where you can ask about a location, such as "Does it have parking?" "Does it have outdoor seating?" or "What is the atmosphere like?" and have it respond to all your queries instantly. This is intended to save you the hassle of browsing through the info page of a bar or, worse, scrolling through reviews to get your query answered.
The aforementioned features will be introduced in the U.S. on Android and iOS this week. The company claims review summaries and the option to ask detailed questions about locations will also be coming to Google Search "in the coming months."
To clarify, the Gemini results on Google Maps will not be the same as if you ask Gemini on its app. The Maps experience is grounded in Maps’ detailed information utilizing insights from millions of contributors to make suggestions for where to go. Those tired of seeing AI recently being integrated everywhere will not be thrilled about these updates. But, of course, Google had to incorporate its AI chatbot into the greatest app of all time.
This update also includes a few navigation-related changes. Now, when you enter your destination, you'll immediately see all the top landmarks, attractions, scenic spots, and dining options along the way. This should save you the energy of manually locating those.
Google will now be more adept at informing you about approaching lane merges when you're driving. It claims it'll help you spot crosswalks and road signs with its "enhanced navigation." Additionally, you'll be able to see and report weather disruptions such as flooding and unplowed or foggy roads. This feature is timely, arriving just in time for the winter months ahead.
Google is also introducing arrival guidance in its new updates. Arrival guidance is meant to ensure the route from your parking spot to the door of your destination is sorted. It'll show you where to park, remind you to save your parking so you don't forget it, and once you've parked, provide walking directions on how to get to the entrance of your destination.
The feature to explore your route in advance, see and report weather hazards, and arrival guidance will all start rolling out globally on Android and iOS this week. Expect to see the enhanced navigation feature on Android and iOS next month in over 30 U.S metros, with "plans to expand to more places over time."
Correction: “The Gemini results on Google Maps will be the same as if you ask Gemini on its app.” was changed to “To clarify, the Gemini results on Google Maps will not be the same as if you ask Gemini on its app. The Maps experience is grounded in Maps’ detailed information utilizing insights from millions of contributors to make suggestions for where to go.”
This upgrade in technology brings us a future where you can ask Google Maps for suggestions like "fun activities in New York City at night with friends," and it will provide a list of suitable options with details like business hours and pricing. Furthermore, the tech advancements allow for review summaries directly on the establishment's page, saving you time in reading through numerous reviews.
As the integration of AI continues to dominate, some may not be thrilled with the updates, but Google's AI chatbot becoming a part of Google Maps, the "greatest app of all time," is undeniably shaping the future of how we navigate and discover places.
