Google Maps is heading in a new direction with artificial intelligence sitting in the co-pilot’s seat.
Published:FILE - In this Aug. 8, 2018, file photo, a mobile phone displays a user's travels using Google Maps in New York. Google Maps is heading in a new direction with artificial intelligence sitting in the passenger's seat.
Fueled by Google's Gemini AI technology, the world's most popular navigation app will become a more conversational companion as part of a redesign announced Wednesday.The hands-free experience is meant to turn Google Maps into something more like an insightful passenger able to direct a driver to a destination while also providing nearby recommendations on places to eat, shop or sightsee, when asked for the advice. “No fumbling required — now you can just ask,” Google promised in a blog post about the app makeover. The AI features are also supposed to enable Google Maps to be more precise by calling out landmarks to denote the place to make a turn instead of relying on distance notifications. AI chatbots, like Gemini and OpenAI's ChatGPT, have sometimes lapsed into periods of making things up — known as “hallucinations” in tech speak — but Google is promising that built-in safeguards will prevent Maps from accidentally sending drivers down the wrong road. All the information that Gemini is drawing upon will be culled from the roughly 250 million places stored in Google Maps' database of reviews accumulated during the past 20 years. Google Maps' new AI capabilities will be rolling out to both Apple's iPhone and Android mobile devices. That will give Google's Gemini a massive audience to impress — or disappoint — with its AI prowess, given the navigation app is used by more than 2 billion people around the world. Besides making it even more indispensable, Google is hoping the AI features will turn into a showcase that help gives Gemini a competitive edge against ChatGPT. Prodded by OpenAI's release of ChatGPT in late 2022, Google has been steadily rolling out more of its own technology designed to ensure its products continue to evolve with the upheaval being unleashed by AI. The changes have included an overhaul of Google's ubiquitous search engine that has de-emphasized a listing of relevant web links in its results and increasingly highlighted AI overviews and conversational responses provided through an AI mode. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Arrest warrant issued for Bell High player who struck Fernandina Beach player with helmetFamily shares safety warning after minibike crash lands man in hospital with serious injuriesClay County couple makes last-minute bid to save Marineland dolphin parkWeekend warm up before we're back to sweater weather early next weekJSO investigating deadly shooting in Mandarin areaLocals say SNAP funding disruption hampered ability to pay bills, partial funding not enoughKids Free November returns with family fun, districts across JacksonvilleRichard's Swing Makeover Pt. 6: Staining & sealing the slatsFurloughed federal worker steps in to help clean up neglected Northwest Jacksonville cemeteryJaguars fans buzzing over nail-biting overtime victory in Las VegasJAXBest 2025: Chenile’s Kitchen captures Best Taco titleMust watch: News4JAX reporter Caleb Yauger learns how to line danceHundreds fed at Jerome Brown BBQ for government shutdown reliefFlorida and Georgia fans talk about what makes the rivalry specialTeagan Rebane said 🗣️ ‘I’ll take that!’ — Pick 6 to the crib 🐝Jaden Weatherly with a 💣to Naeem Burroughs for the score!!Luke Toland knows Camden Tietze is down there for 6️⃣⬆️⬇️Perfect pass. Clean catch. Golden touchdown. 🦅 Eric Gentry drops a dime to Gavin Boysen 🎯Blink and you’ll miss him 👀 Speed kills 😤 Alexander Lee turns the corner and he’s GONE! 🦁Blink and you’ll miss him 👀 Speed kills 😤 Alexander Lee turns the corner and he’s GONE! 🦁Donato's chips in to help those struggling with food insecurity as shutdown nears one-month markLocal barbeque joint lends helping hand to community affected by potential SNAP cutsLatest: Man involved in deadly stabbing at Anheuser-Busch plant hid after committing violent actHalloween Forecast: Cooler temps call for costume layers tonightRichard's Swing Makeover Pt. 5: Time to rinse the grunge off now that rust is gone
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