Alphabet Inc. has given the most-significant new look to Google Maps in over a decade, integrating its Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) assistant to remake the world’s leading navigation app into an interactive chatbot.
The redesign, highlighted by an Ask Maps feature, transforms the platform from a static utility into a conversational assistant. It leverages data from more than 250 million locations and two decades of user reviews, allowing the app’s two billion monthly users to pose complex, natural-language queries that go far beyond simple address searches.
During a briefing, Google executives demonstrated how the AI can handle nuanced requests. Instead of searching for “EV charging,” a user might ask, “My phone is dying—where can I charge it without having to wait in a long line for coffee?” The system personalizes results by analyzing user signals such as saved locations and past preferences. For instance, if a user frequently visits plant-based eateries, a request for a “cozy dinner spot for four” will prioritize restaurants with vegan options.
“Google Maps is fundamentally changing what a map can do,” the company said in a blog post Thursday. “We’re transforming exploration into a simple conversation.”
Beyond the chatbot, Google is introducing an Immersive Navigation experience, which provides a 3-D view of terrain, buildings, and overpasses, bringing the interface closer to the aesthetic of Apple Maps. To make driving more intuitive, the app will now highlight specific road details — including lanes, crosswalks, and stop signs — and use landmarks for voice guidance rather than relying solely on distance markers.
The rollout is a strategic move by Alphabet to defend its territory against OpenAI’s ChatGPT. By embedding Gemini into its most ubiquitous products, Google aims to showcase its AI prowess to a massive global audience.
AI hallucinations remain a concern in the industry, but Google insists that built-in safeguards will prevent the app from providing inaccurate driving directions.
Despite its massive reach, Google Maps has historically been one of Alphabet’s under-monetized assets, according to Morgan Stanley analysts. While the company confirmed it is not currently running ads within the Ask Maps feature, executives did not rule out the possibility of future sponsored placements.
The update began rolling out Thursday in the U.S. and India for Android and iOS users, with a desktop version expected to follow shortly.
