Certain U.S. Google Maps users will be testing the apps' AI makeover starting this week

Certain U.S. Google Maps users will be testing the apps’ AI makeover starting this week،

Today, Google is introducing a new way for Google Maps users to search for places using generative AI. Google's Large Language Models (LLM) will analyze the detailed information Maps has for more than 250 million locations as well as reviews and recommendations from more than 300 million contributors. Thanks to this immense database, Google Maps will be able to tell you where to go.

Google Local Guides will be the first to experience this new feature this week. They are, in the words of Miriam Daniel, Vice President and General Manager of Google Maps, “…some of the most active and passionate members of the Maps community. Their insights and valuable feedback will help us shape this feature so we can make it available to everyone over time.

So how can generative AI help you find places using Google Maps? An example the company gives shows you in San Francisco scouring the city for “unique vintage finds.” So you would ask Maps to find “places with a vintage vibe in SF.” Maps will then analyze information about nearby businesses, supplemented by the use of photos, ratings and reviews from the Maps community to provide suggestions that users can trust.

Using AI in Google Maps to Find Vintage Places in San Francisco

The results can be divided into different categories such as clothing stores, vinyl stores (what you might call a “record store”) and flea markets. Review summaries and photo carousels will show you why a specific store might be just what you're looking for. You can follow up on your initial request by asking, “How about lunch?” ” and Maps will search for dining experiences with a vintage ambiance that Google says would include an “old-fashioned restaurant.”

All the places recommended by Maps can be put into a list to organize yourself, or to share with friends, or to refer to when you return to town at a later date.

If the weather turns bad, you can quickly find suitable activities nearby

The new Google Maps feature can come in handy if the weather changes unexpectedly. If it starts to rain, you can ask Maps to show you “rainy day activities” and be directed to nearby movie theaters, bowling alleys, museums, and more with photos and reviews from contributors who have visited these places.

Google says: “This experimental feature introduces a whole new way for users to more easily discover places and explore the world with Maps. This is just the beginning of how we're powering Maps with generative AI, and we're excited to get started with our passionate Local Guides community as we shape the future of Maps together.