Google Maps Gets Gemini AI and Upgraded Features

Google Maps has launched support to bring Google’s Gemini AI to make it easier to find places to go, interact with the map, and plan trips.

Over 2 billion people use Google Maps every month, and now, Google can make over 100 million updates daily for accurate directions, local landmarks, and business info, thanks to AI, explained Miriam Daniel, VP & GM of Google Maps, in a blog post on Thursday.

For personalized suggestions, users can now ask Google Maps for recommendations like “things to do with friends at night,” and it will give ideas such as popular spots or nightlife activities. This feature also lets users read reviews summarized with AI, offering insights into places at a glance, and answer questions like whether a venue has outdoor seating or quiet areas.

Google says these features will start rolling out in the U.S. first (sorry, Canada) on Android and iOS this week.

For drivers, new Google Maps driving features make navigating easier by highlighting lanes, road signs, and crosswalks, and even suggesting the correct lane to avoid last-minute merges. This winter, Maps will show and allow users to report weather conditions like flooding, unplowed roads, and low visibility. You can also tap “add stops” along your route to add landmarks and other places of interest.

Google Maps is making it easier to finish your trip smoothly with new arrival guidance features. Now, Maps will highlight your building entrance and nearby parking options, plus prompt you to save your parking spot to avoid losing track of it. Once you’ve parked, you can get walking directions straight from your car to the entrance and even switch to Street View or AR navigation to find your way faster.

These updates, including new arrival guidance, exploring along routes, and weather reporting, will start rolling out globally on Android and iOS next week. An enhanced navigation experience is also coming to over 30 metro areas next month, with more locations planned for the future.

With Immersive View, users can preview locations like stadiums, parks, and more, complete with realistic views of weather and traffic conditions at any time. Now, this feature is expanding to 150 cities, including Brussels, Kyoto, and Frankfurt, allowing travelers to get a feel for new places before they arrive. Also, users can view complex turns or parking spots along routes for easier, hassle-free trips.

These updates will start rolling out globally on Android and iOS over the coming weeks, making for a better experience for users that use Google Maps to navigate.