Prime Highlights
- Google has introduced the “Ask Maps” feature in Google Maps, allowing users to ask detailed location-based questions through a chatbot.
- The feature uses Gemini to give personalized suggestions and help users find places more easily.
Key Facts
- Google Maps has more than 2 billion monthly users, making it the world’s most widely used navigation app.
- The “Ask Maps” feature is rolling out in the U.S. and India on Android and iOS, with a desktop version expected soon.
Background:
Google has introduced a new feature called “Ask Maps” in Google Maps that lets users ask detailed location-based questions through a chatbot. The feature uses the company’s Gemini technology and is part of a broader effort to expand AI across its products and improve how people interact with navigation tools.
The new “Ask Maps” button enables users to ask detailed and practical questions that go beyond standard directions. For example, a user can ask where to find a place to charge a phone without waiting in a long line for coffee, or search for a public tennis court with lights available at night. The system analyzes the request and suggests nearby locations that match the user’s needs.
In a blog post about the update, the company said the feature aims to make maps more interactive and easier for users to explore places. By combining up-to-date mapping information with Gemini AI models, Google aims to turn exploration and navigation into a simple conversation rather than a series of manual searches.
The rollout of Ask Maps began Thursday in the United States and India on Android and Apple’s iOS devices, with a desktop version expected to follow soon. Google Maps currently serves more than two billion users each month and remains one of the most widely used navigation apps in the world.
Company executives said the feature will launch without advertisements for now. Andrew Duchi, director of product management at Google, said the team is focused first on delivering a useful experience for users, though advertising options could be considered in the future.
Google Maps mainly earns money from business ads and promoted listings. It also charges companies for using its mapping technology and location data. Google does not share separate revenue numbers for Maps, but analysts say the service has a huge user base and still has room to earn more.
With the new “Ask Maps” feature powered by Gemini, Google is adding more AI tools to one of its most widely used services. The company expects the feature to keep users engaged longer and make navigation easier in daily life.