Google Maps Now Uses AI-Powered Review Summaries For A Better Experience

 

Google Maps' Gemini Saves You Time By Providing Summarized Reviews on Places

Image credit: Google

Google plans to launch a new update on Maps this week. The new update will introduce AI-powered review summaries, Gemini-inspired ideas on places to visit, and relevant answers to questions you may have about places you are interested in, such as the availability of outdoor seating or the general atmosphere of that location. If you want ideas on how to spend an evening with your friends, you can ask Maps and it will give you suggestions.

In addition, the new enhanced navigation feature makes driving in unfamiliar places a lot easier. This feature will display lane restrictions, road signs and crosswalks on the map. It also indicates with a blue line the right route to follow when navigating, to avoid getting on the wrong lane. 

To foster exploration while driving, Maps will show you scenic spots, top landmarks, attractions and restaurants along your route. To see these, click on "add stops" after getting your directions. Google Maps will now report adverse weather conditions along your route such as flooding, snow, low visibility, and unplowed roads. This will save you time by following an alternative route. The enhanced navigation feature will be available this month on Android and iOS in more than 30 metro areas.

An update to Google Maps' "arrival guidance" will be out this week. Not only will Maps show you your destination and building entrance, but it will also display nearby parking lots, set reminders for parking locations and give walking directions to the building entrance. You can even use Street View for better walking navigation.

There has also been an update to"immersive view". Through imagery, AI and computer vision, users can see what stadiums, parks and routes look like. This feature makes it possible to take virtual college campus tours. Maps will even give details on what the weather and traffic will be like on the day and time you decide to visit. The "immersive view" update will also roll out this week on Android and iOS in 150 cities worldwide. 

Google has made many updates to Maps recently to make it easier for people to get to their destinations. From highlighting fuel-efficient routes to AI-inspired ideas for activities and places to visit, Google still plans to update other apps like Search and Waze in the months to come. The updates will include AI-summarized reviews for Search to help you discover new places and conversational reporting for Waze.