Gemini AI Transforms Google Maps into Smart Travel Guide

If you like what you see, Ask Maps will go one step further and book a table for you with just a single tap. "It's personalized for you and lets you turn those plans into action," Duchi said. "Less scrolling, more strolling." The responses Gemini spits out will rely solely on data from Google Maps and not any information from other Google apps, like Gmail, said Miriam Daniel, VP and general manager for Google Maps.

When responses are personalized, the information will be based on previous searches within Maps or Google Search that are relevant to locations users have saved in Maps or places they have favorited or added to lists, she said. Asked whether Google plans to allow businesses such as restaurants or hotels to pay for prominent placement in AI-generated itineraries or recommendations, Duchi deflected, saying he couldn't speculate about long-term monetization plans. He did say that currently paid placements won't influence which locations appear in Ask Maps recommendations.

The feature is launching this week in the US and India on both Android and iOS devices, with desktop support planned for the near future. In addition, Google is using Gemini to change the look of Maps itself. The company announced its new "Immersive Navigation," describing it as "the largest upgrade to the Google Maps navigation experience in more than a decade." When you start a navigation, the map will now feature refreshed colors, detailed 3D buildings, elevated roadways, realistic terrain, and even greenery.