Some Google products have already incorporated support for Generative AI technology, with Google Maps now introducing a new feature that enables users to engage in a more conversational interaction with the app, receiving detailed responses and personalized suggestions beyond standard search results.
Google Maps, a leading navigation app, boasts a significant user base, with over 67% of mapping users opting for Google Maps and a user count surpassing one billion as of late 2023. The integration of generative AI within Google Maps is poised to further enhance its appeal and utility.
Miriam Daniel, Google Maps’ vice president and general manager, highlighted the new capability in a blog post, illustrating how users can now interact with Maps in a conversational manner to enhance their search experience. By simply asking specific queries like “places with a vintage vibe in SF,” users can leverage the AI models to analyze a wealth of information on local businesses, including photos, ratings, and reviews, to receive tailored recommendations.
The results generated by the AI will be categorized into relevant sections such as clothing stores, vinyl shops, and flea markets, accompanied by visual carousels and concise summaries derived from AI-generated reviews to provide insights into why a particular place aligns with the user’s preferences.
Users have the flexibility to ask follow-up questions to delve deeper into their searches, mirroring a chat-like interaction similar to ChatGPT. This allows for a seamless exploration of various options based on specific preferences or requirements.
Powered by its large-language models (LLM), Google Maps leverages data from over 250 million saved places and reviews contributed by more than 300 million users to deliver this generative AI feature. Initially available as an early access experiment for select Local Guides, the feature is set to be gradually introduced to a wider audience in the future.
