Google has announced a significant update to Google Maps with the inclusion of new features based on artificial intelligence. Among the new features is “Ask Maps”, a tool that allows you to ask more complex questions directly in the application.
According to the company, the update represents the biggest redesign of the navigation platform in more than 10 years and uses Gemini, a multimodal artificial intelligence model developed by Google.
The new feature allows users to make more specific queries, such as looking for a tennis court with lighting or a salon specializing in a certain hair type. The answers are generated from reviews, photos and information available on the platform.
According to Google, the system combines data from the user’s own activity and searches with information from more than 300 million registered locations and 500 million reviewers.
For Miriam Daniel, vice president of Maps at Google, the update seeks to make the application more personalized and functional for those who use the tool on a daily basis.
According to her, the proposal is to facilitate the planning of activities in the physical world and allow users to quickly transform these searches into actions, such as choosing a location or plotting a route.
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In addition to searches with artificial intelligence, the application will also have changes in the visualization of routes. One of the new features allows some buildings to appear transparently on the map, making it easier to see the route and helping drivers anticipate curves and changes in direction.
Where and when?
Google reported that new features based on artificial intelligence will be released gradually. The first phase of launch takes place in the United States and India, where the “Ask Maps” feature is already beginning to appear for users of the application on mobile devices.
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The company did not release a detailed calendar for global expansion, but stated that the news should reach other markets in the coming weeks, as implementation is expanded.
According to the company, the update is part of the strategy to expand the use of artificial intelligence to offer faster responses and reduce the number of interactions necessary during navigation.
