Google has introduced a new artificial intelligence feature called “Ask Maps” in Google Maps, allowing users to ask complex questions about places through a conversational interface powered by its Gemini AI models.
The feature adds a chatbot-style button in the Maps app that lets users ask questions beyond traditional navigation queries.
For example, users can ask questions 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?” Instead of multiple searches, the app will provide answers conversationally and display results on a map.
Google said responses are personalised using signals such as a user’s past searches and saved locations on Google Maps. The company said this helps users quickly turn plans into action by allowing them to book restaurant reservations, save places or share them with friends directly from the interface.
“Google Maps is fundamentally changing what a map can do,” the company said in a blog post. “By bringing together the world’s freshest map with our most capable Gemini models, we’re transforming exploration into a simple conversation and making driving more intuitive than ever with our biggest navigation upgrade in over a decade.”
The company said Maps analyses information from more than 300 million places, including reviews from a community of over 500 million contributors, to generate recommendations and insights.
Ask Maps is rolling out in the United States and India on Android and Apple’s iOS devices starting Thursday, with desktop support expected to follow.
Miriam Daniel, Vice President at Google Maps, said the tool is designed to answer “complex, real-world questions” that previously required users to manually search and scan through reviews.
Immersive Navigation update
Alongside the AI chatbot, Google also announced a major overhaul of its navigation interface called Immersive Navigation, which the company described as its biggest driving update in over a decade.
The update introduces a vivid 3D map view showing nearby buildings, overpasses and terrain. It also highlights road features such as lanes, crosswalks, traffic lights and stop signs to help drivers prepare for turns and lane changes.
Maps will also provide a broader preview of upcoming routes through smart zoom features and transparent buildings that allow drivers to see further ahead on their journey.
Google has also redesigned voice guidance to make it sound more natural. Instead of simple distance-based directions, the system can provide instructions like: “Go past this exit and take the next one for Illinois 43 South.”
The app will also explain trade-offs between alternate routes, such as whether a longer route may have less traffic or whether a faster option includes tolls. It will also alert drivers about disruptions such as construction and crashes.
Before arriving at a destination, users can preview locations using Street View imagery and get suggestions on where to park. As drivers approach, Maps can highlight building entrances, nearby parking and the correct side of the street.
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