Google Maps is renewed with recommendations curated by Gemini and improved navigation

Google has introduced new features powered by generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Gemini models for Maps and Earth, allowing users to receive improved recommendations and new ways to explore points of interest along a route, among other new features. .

The technology giant has detailed that currently more than 2,000 million users use its maps daily and that, in order to offer updated information at all times, it introduces more than 100 million updates per day to its maps. To carry out these updates, it uses AI-powered technology, with which it analyzes millions of images and data daily.

Now, in order to continue improving this experience in Maps, Google has announced the integration of the AI ​​​​of its Gemini models into the platform, with which it will offer better personalized recommendations and more information about the points of interest or recognized places that the marked route crosses.

In this sense, by adding Gemini AI, users will be able to use Maps as a recommendation tool to organize their routes and plan activities. As exemplified by Google in a statement on its blog, they will be able to consult questions such as “plans with friends for the night”, and Maps will return results with suggestions related to the current location, such as going to a music-themed bar.

Also, Users will also be able to discover more information about specific places through Gemini’s review summaries. In this way, you can find out what the general opinion is about a place, as well as its advantages or possible problems, before attending.

To offer these recommendations, Google has indicated that it relies on the “powerful creation, reasoning and summary capabilities” of Gemini, which are based on verified data from some 250 million places around the world, as well as opinions published by users in Maps.

Following this line, Google is also implementing a new option in Maps, with which users will be able to find out what they can find on their route “before hitting the road.” That is, with this function, users can consult the route directions and, when adding a stop, the main points of interest, attractions or picturesque places nearby will appear. Likewise, restore options will also appear.

Maps navigation improvements

On the other hand, the company has indicated that it has improved navigation, in order to make it easier to view the map and to better understand lanes, pedestrian crossings and traffic signs.

Also, From now on, drivers will also be able to see and report incidents on their route related to the weather, such as, for example, if a road is heavily flooded, if there is snow on the road or if it is a situation of poor visibility.

Finally, when reaching the destination of the route, Google has announced that it will automatically share useful information such as the location of nearby parking lots, the building in question that users are going to, and even the location-specific entry.

The company has detailed that the new recommendations announced will be launched in the coming weeks for users in the United States, both on iOS and Android devices. However, the feature that allows you to explore points of interest along the route, weather information and new arrival directions will begin to roll out globally next week.

In addition to all this, Google has shared that its Immersive View feature, which allows you to see places such as stadiums, parks, routes or monuments up close, has been expanded to 150 new cities, including Brussels (Belgium), Kyoto ( Japan) and Frankfurt (Germany).

News in Google Earth and Waze

In addition to Maps, the technology company has also added Gemini AI to its Google Earth platform. As a result, it has included new features designed to provide “developers and urban planners with the most up-to-date information.”

As Google explained in a statement on its blog, Earth will also be able to display detailed information about cities and regions. For example, you can offer specific data such as “the five zip codes that have the fewest charging stations in relation to their geographic area?”

This function is designed for cases such as organizations or departments that require analyzing large amounts of data, and has been developed in collaboration with Google Research. For now, it will be launched next week as part of a pilot test.

Regarding Waze, Google has indicated that users will be able to report incidents on the route using voice commands, which will be analyzed by AI. For example, if the user indicates that they are stopped, Waze will understand that there is a traffic jam.

TA new traffic events function has also been integrated into Waze, which will provide information on how these events, such as parades, concerts or sporting events, affect traffic. Thus, it will show detailed information if there are road closures or traffic conditions in real time.

With all this, the new traffic events function in Waze is being implemented globally on both Android and iOS. For its part, voice prompts are under development.