Google Maps is getting an AI ‘Ask Maps’ feature and upgraded ‘immersive’ navigation

Google announced on Thursday that Google Maps is introducing a Gemini-powered conversational “Ask Maps” feature along with an updated “Immersive Navigation” experience that brings a 3D view, road details, natural voice guidance, and more to the app.

The new “Ask Maps” feature lets users ask complex, real-world questions using natural language, such as “My phone is dying, where can I charge it without having to wait in a long line for coffee?” or “Is there a public tennis court with lights on that I can play at tonight?”

The tech giant says the feature can also be used to quickly plan trips. For example, you could ask: “I’m headed to the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Coral Dunes, any recommended stops along the way?” Maps will then give you directions, ETAs, and tips from real people, like how to find a hidden trail or get a free entry ticket.

Image Credits:Google

Ask Maps personalizes its answers using signals including places a user has searched for or saved to their account, Google said. So if a user asks something like, “My friends are coming from Midtown East to meet me after work. Any cozy spots with a table for four at 7 tonight?” Ask Maps may already know the user prefers vegan restaurants and will suggest convenient options that offer vegan choices.

Ask Maps is rolling out now in the U.S. and India on Android and iOS. The feature will be available on desktop soon, Google said.

As for the new “Immersive Navigation” update, Maps is getting a 3D view that reflects nearby buildings, overpasses, and terrain, similar to Apple Maps. The app will also highlight road details like lanes, crosswalks, traffic lights, and stop signs.

Image Credits:Google

In addition to the visual changes, Maps is getting more functionality that’s designed to help drivers stay better informed on the road.

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Maps now gives drivers a broader view of their route through smart zooms and transparent buildings to help them look ahead and prepare for tricky turns and lane changes in advance.

Additionally, Google has updated Maps’ voice guidance to sound more natural. For example, if you’re getting off the highway in two exits, you will now hear something like, “Go past this exit and take the next one for Illinois 43 South.”

Maps will now also explain the trade-offs for alternate routes, such as a longer trip with less traffic or a faster one that includes a toll. The app will also alert you to real-time disruptions along your route, such as road construction and crashes. These features will use data from both the Google Maps and Waze communities.

Image Credits:Google

Google also announced that before you head to your destination, you can preview it and its surroundings using Street View imagery and get recommendations on where to park. As you get closer, Maps will highlight the building’s entrance, nearby parking, and which side of the street to be on.

“Our team set out to redesign the driving experience with the objective of taking the guesswork out of trips,” said Miriam Daniel, VP of Google Maps, in a briefing with reporters. “Immersive navigation is a complete transformation of the navigation experience. It’s got redesigned visuals, fresh real-world information that’s brought to you just in time, and more intuitive guidance.”

Immersive Navigation begins rolling out across the U.S. today, with availability expanding over the coming months to eligible iOS and Android devices, as well as CarPlay, Android Auto, and vehicles with Google built-in.

Thursday’s announcement comes as Google baked Gemini into Maps late last year, allowing the AI assistant to answer questions about places along a route, provide information on topics like sports or news, and add events to a calendar. It also started using Gemini with Street View to improve navigation instructions by referencing nearby landmarks like gas stations, restaurants, or famous buildings instead of just distances.

Topics

AI, Apps, gemini, Google, Google Maps, gps, navigation

Aisha Malik

Consumer News Reporter

Aisha is a consumer news reporter at TechCrunch. Prior to joining the publication in 2021, she was a telecom reporter at MobileSyrup. Aisha holds an honours bachelor’s degree from University of Toronto and a master’s degree in journalism from Western University.

You can contact or verify outreach from Aisha by emailing aisha@techcrunch.com or via encrypted message at aisha_malik.01 on Signal.

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