You Can Talk With Google Maps Now, Thanks To Its Big Gemini Upgrade - How It Works

3 days ago

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

Google launched Gemini upgrades to Google Maps.
You tin usage Talk to Google Maps to find your destination.
You tin usage Lens to study much astir your existent location.

Gemini has been integrated crossed astir each of Google's offerings -- and now it's clip for Google Maps' AI facelift.

On Wednesday, nan institution launched 4 upgrades to Google Maps that make it easier for users to get wherever they want to go, including caller multimodal features, specified arsenic conversational earthy connection prompts to find a extremity en way aliases Lens to place caller places astatine your destination.

Also: I looked into nan astir celebrated AI apps, and nan runner-up caught maine by surprise

For a rundown of each caller characteristic and really to entree it, support reference below.

1. Talk to Google Maps

Have you ever wished you could simply talk to your car aliases telephone to thief you get to wherever you request to go? Now you can, pinch Gemini successful nan Google Maps app.

Also: How to move disconnected Gemini successful your Gmail, Photos, Chrome, and much - it's easy to opt retired of AI

When you are en way to your destination, Google said you tin opportunity thing like, "Is location a budget-friendly edifice pinch vegan options on my route, thing wrong a mates of miles? ... What's parking for illustration there?" and Gemini tin thief put together a response:

Beyond asking for a spot to spell on nan way, you tin besides inquire Gemini successful nan Google Maps app to adhd a almanac event, chat astir existent events, and moreover talk places you are considering going to. Users tin besides usage Gemini to study immoderate incidents they brushwood on nan way. The awesome use is that, whether driving aliases walking, you don't person to return your eyes disconnected nan roadworthy to get nan accusation you need.

2. Get much descriptive directions

Since nan first GPS was launched, sound turn-by-turn directions person been constricted to describing nan adjacent measurement by referring to nan region distant from it, for example, "turn near successful 600 feet."

However, this attack tin often go confusing, particularly erstwhile driving done unfamiliar neighborhoods. To help, Gemini tin now show you landmarks connected nan representation that are easy to spot and supply clear directions, alternatively than simply saying, "Turn near aft [insert sanction of restaurant]."

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Gemini tin do this task by analyzing Google Maps' database of places and cross-referencing it pinch Street View images to place nan astir reliable landmarks on nan path. This characteristic is now rolling retired to some Android and iOS users successful nan US.

3. Proactive Traffic Alerts

To thief users mentally hole for standstill traffic, Google will now nonstop notifications astir imaginable roadworthy disruptions. For example, it could notify users of an upcoming closure aliases postulation jam. This characteristic is rolling retired now successful nan US connected Android:

4. Lens pinch Gemini

Leaning into multimodality, this latest Google Maps characteristic utilizes Lens to thief users research their destination erstwhile they arrive. Users tin now person a speech pinch Google Maps by tapping nan camera icon successful nan hunt barroom and utilizing nan camera to show Gemini places astir them, specified arsenic restaurants, shops, aliases landmarks, and study much astir them:

Google said nan characteristic uses Gemini's summarization capabilities successful conjunction pinch Google Maps' knowing of places to supply answers you whitethorn request while traveling, specified arsenic a restaurant's atmosphere, which tin thief you find if nan destination is worthy nan wait. This characteristic will rotation retired gradually later this period successful nan US connected some Android and iOS.