Google is preparing a raft of artificial intelligence features in Maps, giving users better search, suggestions, and navigation. Not only will Maps be able to analyze the content of photos in listings, it'll be able to organize search results to direct you to activities and events that are nearby. Google also plans to vastly expand access to some of its most innovative features that have been limited to a handful of cities, but you still might not have access.
In the coming days, users in the US, UK, France, Germany, and Japan will find their Maps search experience much smarter. You can search for specific items or products instead of locations. Maps will use AI image recognition to search for uploaded photos that match your search. In the example below, Google shows a search for "animal latte art." You can tap around to look at the caffeinated art, and if one looks good, you can tap to see the full listing and navigate there.
If you don't know where to go, the new Maps experience can help with that, too. In the coming weeks, the Android and iOS apps will gain the ability to search for "things to do." This search will return a list of suggested activities, for example, "art exhibitions" and "anime." Of course, you'll see different things when you search because it's based on what's happening in your area. The "thematic activities" results can be saved for later if you're not ready to head out the door just yet.
If these search options direct you someplace new, enhanced Maps navigation could make your destination easier to find. Google plans to add more realistic buildings to Maps, which can help orient you in an unfamiliar area. There will also be improved highway lane detail so you don't miss your exit. This feature will come to 12 countries over the next few months, including the US, Canada, France, and Germany. In the US, Maps will additionally point out HOV lanes. In the EU, Google will expand AI-powered speed limit information to 20 countries. For EV owners, Maps will build on existing charger listings, showing compatibility, charging speed, and the last time someone successfully used the charger.
Finally, Google announced two of its richest Maps experiences will expand to new cities. Immersive View for Routes lets you preview directions with a combination of AI and computer vision. It's like playing a game of SimCity, except you're flying over a real metropolis as Maps highlights your route. This feature will be added to Amsterdam, New York, Miami, London, San Francisco, and more. Live Search View is another AI-powered feature, this one designed to highlight points of interest in an augmented reality view. It's expanding to 50 new cities, including Austin, Las Vegas, Rome, São Paulo and Taipei.
