Google brings Gemini-powered improvements to Maps

Google today announced a handful of new features for Maps that leverage Gemini AI.

Users can now ask Maps to provide ideas for places to visit and things to do. Using Gemini, Maps will be able to plan an activity for you or a group of people around an area. Gemini can also provide you a summary of user reviews and you can also ask it if a place has outdoor seating or a quiet atmosphere. These features will be rolling out on Android and iOS in the US this week.

For drivers relying on the navigation feature, you can now use the 'add stops' feature to add top landmarks, attractions, scenic stops, and dining options along your route. Maps will now also show you lanes, crosswalks, and road signs more clearly while navigating and will tell you which lane you need to be to catch that exit. Finally, you will also be able to report weather disruptions along your route so other drivers can see them.

Maps will now also inform you of nearby parking lots as you approach your destination. You will also get walking directions from your car to the entrance with Street View or AR walking. These features will roll out globally on Android and iOS in over 30 metro cities and more later.

Lastly, Maps is getting an upgraded Immersive View experience. For those unaware, Immersive View lets you experience what stadiums, parks, and routes look like using AI, imagery, and computer vision with appropriate weather and traffic conditions for the chosen time of day and location.

Now, Immersive View will be available in 150 cities globally. It will also get new categories of places, such as college campuses. Immersive View for routes will be able to tell you where to park and highlight complex turns. This update will start rolling out this week on Android and iOS in places where the feature is available.

As an aside, Google is also updating Waze with new features, which include being able to report road incidents with a new Conversational Reporting feature that works with natural voice as well as being able to see school zones on the map.