Google has just introduced a new artificial intelligence feature on Google Maps called Ask Maps. This tool allows users to ask questions by voice or text to find information about locations, travel suggestions and nearby services.
The new feature is supported by the Gemini AI model, bringing a voice search experience right in the map application.
Instead of having to enter many different keywords, users can ask questions naturally as if they are chatting with a virtual assistant.
According to Google, Ask Maps can answer complex questions related to locations in the real world.
For example, users can ask about nearby cafes, suitable dining locations for their preferences, or suggest attractions when traveling.
Currently, this feature is being deployed in the US and India in English on both Android and iOS operating systems. Google said that in the near future, Ask Maps will support other languages, including Hindi.
One of the strengths of Ask Maps is its ability to take advantage of the huge amount of data from the Google Maps ecosystem.
This map platform currently stores information of more than 300 million locations worldwide, along with reviews and comments from more than 500 million user contributions.
Thanks to that, AI can synthesize the latest information to give answers that suit the needs of each person.
How to use Ask Maps is quite simple. Users just need to tap the "Ask Maps" button in the application, then ask questions by voice or text.
The system will analyze questions and provide information such as directions, compare travel time between cars and public transport, as well as suggest suitable locations nearby.
In many situations, this feature can help make planning faster.
For example, users can ask: "Is there any restaurant that serves delicious vegetarian appetizers to conveniently watch today's sports match?" Then, they can continue asking: "Which of these locations is the easiest to park?" AI will synthesize community reviews and information from the web to give appropriate suggestions.
Ask Maps also supports more complex search needs. For example, when relatives visit the city, users can ask about tourist attractions suitable for the elderly.
The system will propose easily accessible locations with short walks or convenient for sightseeing.
Another notable point is the personalization capability. Ask Maps can refer to locations users have searched for or saved in the application to give suggestions that are more suitable for personal preferences.
After receiving the suggestion, users can also book a restaurant, save a location in their favorite list, or start giving directions immediately.
Google said that integrating AI conversation into Maps is a step forward to turn the map application not only into a directional tool, but also into an assistant to help discover locations and plan journeys more effectively.
