Google Maps Is About To Get Way Easier To Use While Driving

"Google is rolling out some big Gemini-powered updates to its Maps app. Google Maps is getting a conversational navigation feature that lets drivers ask complex questions. You can find specific kinds of locations along your route and ask follow ups. Gone are the days when AI chatbots were only good for composing sonnets about pooping your pants in the style of William Shakespeare. These systems are getting better at doing real, helpful things too."

"The big one: You can now converse with Gemini right in the Google Maps app to ask for nearby restaurants, available EV chargers along your route or what have you. "We're bringing Gemini into navigation, enabling the first intelligent, hands-free, conversational driving experience right in Google Maps," Amanda Moore, a product director for Google Maps, said on a call with reporters."

"According to the example Google gave, you can ask for something like a "budget-friendly restaurant with vegan options along my route," and then ask a follow up about what parking there is like. Gemini parses through the information Google Maps has on hundreds of millions of businessesincluding user feedback on reviews, outdoor dining, parking, pricing, etcand then summarizes that into a succinct answer or list of options. Then it listens for any further questions you might have."

Google Maps gains Gemini-powered conversational navigation that enables hands-free, multi-step interactions while driving. Drivers can ask for specific places along their route, such as budget-friendly vegan restaurants or available EV chargers, and then follow up with additional questions like parking availability. Gemini aggregates Google Maps signals across hundreds of millions of businesses, including user reviews, outdoor dining, parking, and pricing, and summarizes relevant results into concise answers or lists. The system maintains conversational context to handle follow-up queries during navigation. Mercedes also announced a Gemini-backed conversational navigation feature earlier in the year.

Read at insideevs.com