Google is rolling out a new series of features in Maps powered by artificial intelligence. The company explained that the updates are designed so you can plan trips with confidence, make sustainable decisions and quickly discover more things to do. The latter, perhaps, is most relevant: Google has made Maps more like its search engine.
One of the new features is the Immersive view for routes, which had been previously announced at this year’s I/O. It is a continuation of the Immersive View of places, in which they already used artificial intelligence to show emblematic places. The new option offers you a preview of the route, from start to finish, in improved multidimensional images.
The feature will be available this week for Android and iOS users in 15 cities. Included Barcelona, Dublin, London, Miami, New York, Paris and Tokyo. The technology company explained in a release that you can now, for example, use the “time and time” slider to plan your departure time based on practical information: including, a traffic simulation and weather forecast.
Using artificial intelligence and historical driving trends, the app will also simulate how many cars could be on the road at any given time. Google will also launch photorealistic 3D tiles on the Maps platform this week, so developers can create their own immersive experiences. Every day, Google Maps offers directions for routes equivalent to 20,000 million kilometers.
The usefulness of Lens in the immersive view of Google Maps
Google is changing the name of its augmented reality feature: Search with Live View now it’s called Lenses in Maps. By tapping the lens in the search bar and pointing the camera, you can find information about nearby train stations, cafes, ATMs, or places of interest. Lenses in Maps is now available in 50 more cities, including Austin, Las Vegas, Rome, São Paulo and Taipei. This option is now available in Barcelona and Madrid.
The general navigation of Google Maps is being renewed. There are new colors, more realistic buildings and more traffic data. The changes will arrive in 12 countries in the coming months, the company said, without detailing the full list. And in Europe, data on speed limits is being extended to 20 countries.
Starting this week, in cars with Google built in, EV drivers on Android and iOS will now see More information about charging stations. They will be able to know, for example, if a charger is compatible with their vehicle or if the available chargers are fast.
Google Maps more similar to the search engine
This is how Google explains it: Maps is “evolving to give you even more answers to your questions, help you discover things to do, and find inspiration in a whole new way.”
If you’re on vacation in Tokyo, for example, you can search for “things to do.” Google Maps will offer you photo suggestions of places of interest. These results are based on the analysis of billions of photographs shared by the Google Maps community, all performed with artificial intelligence and advanced image recognition models.
You can write specific questions, much like you do in the search engine. How to inquire about a particular type of coffee shop. Tapping a photo will give you more information and directions to get there.
This new way to search on Google Maps is rolling out this week in France, Germany, Japan, the UK, and the US. It will expand to more countries later. “Artificial intelligence continues to play a critical role in showing how we are creating innovative experiences for people around the world,” Google noted.