Google Maps is integrating its Gemini AI chatbot into various navigation features, aiming to enhance user experience during route planning and navigation. Users will now be able to engage with the AI for more conversational, context-based route suggestions, incorporating landmarks and nearby businesses.
The integration is part of Google’s ongoing effort to incorporate AI into its suite of products. Last year, Google Maps introduced an Immersive View update that allowed users to ask questions about local businesses and activities. The latest update brings AI-centric functionalities directly into the navigation process, with users able to pose open-ended questions while driving or walking.
For instance, users can request restaurant recommendations along their route and modify their navigation to include a selected dining option. Additionally, the Gemini AI can alert users to road hazards and provide summaries of relevant information, such as recent news and emails, during commutes. The AI can be activated through a voice command or a designated icon within the app.
The new features also allow Gemini to interact with other Google applications like Calendar, enabling users to set reminders while discussing navigation matters. Google aims to enhance interaction by connecting web information, user reviews, and geographic data seamlessly.
Google Maps will now provide audible directions anchored in recognizable locations instead of distance-related instructions, relying on a vast database of Street View images. Another feature, Proactive Traffic Alerts, offers users notifications about potential disruptions on their usual routes, allowing them to adjust their paths accordingly.
Finally, users will have the option to utilize Google Lens within Maps to identify local landmarks or businesses by pointing their camera at a location. While concerns about AI inaccuracies, or “hallucinations,” exist, Google asserts that its integration is grounded in reliable real-world data, reducing the likelihood of such errors. These new features are set to be available free for signed-in users on both Android and iOS platforms.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/813588/google-maps-gemini-ai-chatbot-navigation-directions