Today, Google Maps is fundamentally changing what a map can do. By bringing together the world's freshest map with most capable Gemini models, they are transforming exploration into a simple conversation and making driving more intuitive than ever with a biggest navigation upgrade in over a decade.
Ask anything about any place
Google is introducing Ask Maps, a new conversational experience that answers complex, real-world questions a map could never answer before. Now you can ask for things like, “My phone is dying — where can I charge it without having to wait in a long line for coffee?” or “Is there a public tennis court with lights on that I can play at tonight?” Previously, finding this information meant lots of research and sifting through reviews. But now, you can just tap the “Ask Maps” button and get your questions answered conversationally, with a customized map to help you visualize your options.
Ask Maps is uniquely helpful — tapping into Maps’ fresh information about the world to show you everything you need to know before you go, personalizing responses to you, and making it easy to turn plans into action.
So if you’re planning a trip, just ask: "I’m headed to the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and Coral Dunes — any recommended stops along the way?" You’ll get clear directions, ETAs, and insider tips from real people, like how to find a hidden hiking trail or get a free entry ticket. To build your itinerary, Maps analyzes information from over 300 million places, including reviews from our community of more than 500 million contributors.
Your results are personalized based on things like places you've searched for or saved in Maps to help you get the most relevant recommendations. So when you ask, “My friends are coming from Midtown East to meet me after work. Any spots with a cozy aesthetic and a table for 4 at 7 tonight?” Ask Maps already knows you like vegan restaurants and finds convenient midway spots with vegan options.
Once you have a place in mind, Ask Maps makes it easy to turn plans into action. You can book restaurant reservations, save places to a list or share them with friends. Get directions and navigate to your destination with just a few taps.
Ask Maps starts rolling out now in the U.S. and India on Android and iOS, with desktop coming soon.
Take the guesswork out of your drive
Beyond giving you new ways to explore, Google is also reimagining how they help you get to your destination. They are giving the driving experience in Maps its biggest update in over a decade with Immersive Navigation – a complete transformation of the navigation experience, with redesigned visuals and more intuitive guidance. This update helps you stay focused and informed on the road, with fresh, real-world information and natural directions that prepare you for the drive ahead.
Now, your map comes to life with a vivid 3D view that reflects the buildings, overpasses, and terrain around you. When it’s helpful, Maps will highlight critical road details like lanes, crosswalks, traffic lights, and stop signs to help you make that turn or merge confidently. This spatial understanding of your route is made possible with help from Gemini models, which analyze fresh, real world imagery from Street View and aerial photos to give you an accurate view of things along your route, like landmarks and medians.
But this is more than just a visual update. Google is also adding new functionality to make your drive as stress-free as possible:
- See more of your route to prepare for your next move: To help you know what’s coming up, the map now gives you a broader view of your route. Smart zooms and transparent buildings help you look ahead to prepare you for tricky turns and lane changes well in advance. We’ve also updated voice guidance to be more natural, like a friend navigating with you. So if you’re getting off the highway in two exits, you’ll hear, “Go past this exit and take the next one for Illinois 43 South,” alongside helpful visuals that clearly highlight your next step.
- Understand tradeoffs for alternate routes: Things are constantly changing on the road — in fact, every second, Maps incorporates over 5 million updates to traffic around the world. We’re always working to find you the best route behind the scenes, and now, Maps will also inform you about tradeoffs for alternate routes, like a longer trip with less traffic or a faster one with a toll. We’ll also alert you to real-time disruptions along your route, like road construction and crashes — powered by our community of drivers, who provide more than 10 million of these contributions every single day.
- Master the final stretch of your drive with helpful guidance: Before you head out, you can preview your destination and its surroundings with Street View imagery, and get recommendations for where to park. As you approach, Maps will highlight the building’s entrance, nearby parking, and which side of the street to be on — so you can go from the last turn to the front door with confidence.
Immersive Navigation starts rolling out today across the U.S. and availability will expand over the coming months to eligible iOS and Android devices, CarPlay, Android Auto and cars with Google built-in.
Source: Google Maps