Google today announced a handful of new features for Maps that leverage Gemini AI.
Users can now ask Maps to provide ideas for places to visit and things to do. Gemini allows Maps to plan an activity for you or a group of people in an area. Gemini can also give you a summary of user reviews and you can also ask if a place has outdoor seating or a quiet atmosphere. These features are rolling out this week on Android and iOS in the US.
For drivers who rely on the navigation feature, you can now use the ‘add stops’ feature to add top landmarks, attractions, scenic stops and dining options along your route. Maps now also let you see lanes, crossings and road signs more clearly when navigating and tell you which lane you need to be in to get to that exit. Finally, you can also report weather disruptions along your route so that other drivers can see them.
Maps now also inform you of nearby parking spaces as you approach your destination. You will also receive a walking route from your car to the entrance with Street View or AR walking. These features will later be rolled out globally on Android and iOS in more than 30 metros.
Finally, Maps gets an improved Immersive View experience. For those who don’t know, Immersive View allows you to experience what stadiums, parks and routes look like using AI, imagery and computer vision with the appropriate weather and traffic conditions for the chosen time of day and location.
Now Immersive View will be available in 150 cities worldwide. It will also have new categories of places, such as college campuses. Immersive View for Routes can tell you where to park and highlight complex turns. This update is rolling out this week on Android and iOS in places where the feature is available.
As an aside, Google is also updating Waze with new features, including the ability to report traffic incidents with a new Conversational Reporting feature that works in natural voice and the ability to see school zones on the map.