Google has been gradually integrating AI into its suite of services, starting with its chatbot, Bard, and extending to Search and Google Chrome. Now, the tech giant is bringing AI capabilities to its widely-used Google Maps. This new feature aims to facilitate natural conversation-style searches for places.
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With the latest update, users can simply ask Google Maps for specific places, leveraging data from over 250 million locations and insights from 300 million contributors. Initially available only to select Local Guides in the US, this feature will eventually roll out to all users.
The process is straightforward: users can ask for places with specific characteristics, such as a “vintage vibe in SF,” and Google Maps will display relevant options like record stores and flea markets. Users can also ask follow-up questions, such as “how about lunch,” to refine their search further.
This functionality would have been beneficial during a recent trip to Sri Lanka, where the inability to find a beachside café for a sunset view led to a missed opportunity. The newly introduced AI feature could have significantly aided in locating the ideal spot.
Although currently limited to a select group in the US, Google plans to expand access to all users soon. The company views this as just the beginning of enhancing Maps with generative AI, promising further advancements in the future.
