Google Maps could become smarter than ever thanks to generative AI
Google Maps is getting a dose of generative AI to let users search and find places in a more conversational way, and provide useful and interesting suggestions.
This clever AI technology comes in the form of an “Ask About” user interface where people can ask Google Maps questions, such as where to find “places with a vintage vibe” in San Francisco. That will prompt AI to analyze information, such as photos, ratings and reviews, about nearby businesses and places to make suggestions related to the question asked.
From this example Google said the AI technology served vinyl record stores, clothing stores and flea markets in its suggestions. These include the location along with the rating, reviews, number of times reviewed and distance by car. The AI then provides overview summaries that highlight why a place might be interesting.
You can then ask follow-up questions that remember your previous search and use that for context on your next search. For example, if you are asked, “What about lunch?” the AI will take into account the ‘vintage atmosphere’ comment from the previous prompt and use that to offer an old-fashioned restaurant nearby.
You can save or share the suggestions so you can coordinate with friends who all have different preferences, like being vegan, checking if a location is dog-friendly, making sure it’s indoors, and so on.
Using the search giant’s large language models, Google Maps can analyze detailed information using data from more than 250 million locations and photos, ratings and reviews from the community of more than 300 million contributors to provide ‘trustworthy’ suggestions.
The experimental feature launches this week, but is only coming to ‘select’ Local guides” in the US. It will use the insights and feedback from these members to develop and test the feature ahead of what will likely be the eventual full rollout, for which Google has not provided a date.
Does anyone want this?
Users on the Android subreddit were highly critical of the feature, with some calling AI a buzzword that big companies are chasing for power, user lohet stated: “Generative AI has no place in a simple database query. There is nothing to generate. It’s either there or it’s not.”
Many said they would prefer to see Google improve offline Maps and its location sharing features. User, chronocapybara summed up the sentiments of others on the forum by saying, “If it helps me find the things I’m looking for, I’m all for it. If moving work to the cloud slows down search just to give me more promoted places that are essentially ads, then no.”
However, the integration of AI into our everyday apps is here to stay and its inclusion in Google Maps could mean users can easily discover brand new places and help smaller businesses gain attention and find an audience.
Until the features are available, you can get the most out of Google Maps with our 10 things you didn’t know Google Maps could do.