The automotive world is undergoing a revolution driven by artificial intelligence, and now it's time for navigation systems to get a brain of their own. Google is releasing a major update to its Google Maps app that infuses the power of the Gemini model, completely rethinking travel and orientation. The end of monotonous and often misleading directions - a smarter, more intuitive and incomparably more convenient era for drivers is on the horizon.
We all know the dry, almost robotic phrase by heart: "Turn right in 500 meters." But how often do those "500 meters" turn out to be a vague landmark in the urban jungle? According to information from Carscoops, Google has finally solved this eternal problem. Thanks to Gemini, Google Maps will start navigating using visible objects as landmarks: gas stations, popular restaurants, monuments or iconic buildings.
From now on, instead of listening to impersonal commands, we will hear something like: "Turn right after Thai Siam" or "After passing the big red bank, change lanes." This feature is powered by artificial intelligence, which handles data on over 250 million locations and intertwines it with the visual richness of Street View to select the most striking and unmistakable landmarks along our route. It's a leap from the abstract to the concrete, which greatly facilitates drivers.
Gemini takes on the role of a local expert who rides next to you in the front seat. The integration makes navigation not only more accurate, but also deeply intelligent. We no longer need to limit ourselves to questions about directions. With a simple "Hey Google", drivers can ask any, even complex, questions: "Is there a budget restaurant with vegan dishes on the route?" or "What is the current parking situation in the city center?"
Gemini will filter the necessary information, suggest the most convenient parking spot, or even reveal which dishes are the hit of the day at a restaurant of your choice. Google itself admits that this is a fusion of data from Maps, Gemini, and verified web sources, which gives the user access to an unimaginable wealth of knowledge. In addition, drivers will be allowed to voice reports of road accidents or traffic jams, simply saying: "I see an accident" or "There is a traffic jam here."
Even when we are just driving around the city without a pre-set route, the new system will work proactively. Through proactive notifications, drivers will be warned about traffic jams, accidents or roadworks ahead. This is a feature that saves time and nerves, allowing you to avoid unwanted delays before they even occur.
The update does not bypass the Google Lens function. By clicking on the camera icon in the Maps search bar, the user can point the lens at a building or restaurant and instantly learn everything about it. Gemini will explain why a restaurant is so popular, what its specifics are and even convey the atmosphere inside. Lens Built With Gemini is initially launched in the US, and is expected to cover other regions soon.