Google Maps today announced Ask Maps to answer “complex, real-world questions that a map has never been able to answer before.”
“Immersive Navigation” is the biggest Google Maps update in a decade
“Ask Maps” is accessed as a button below the search bar. It brings you a chatbot-like page that offers “Ask about anything, anywhere”. After the greeting, you will see the suggested prompts. you can ask detailed questions like:
- “My phone is dying – where can I charge it without waiting in long queues for coffee?” — Google may suggest a library
- “I’m going to the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Loop and Coral Dunes – any recommended stops along the way?” — It returns “open destinations, ETAs, and insider tips from real people like how to find a secret hiking trail or get a free entry ticket.”
- “Is there a public tennis court with lights that I can play tonight?”
- “My friends are coming from Midtown East to meet me after work. Any places with a casual aesthetic and a table for 4 tonight at 7?”
Answers use digestible bullet points and have full support for follow-up queries. When planning a trip, you will get accidents every day. Answers show a “customized map to help you visualize your options,” while internal listings include key details and images. You can quickly start navigation and bookmark places.
Personalized recommendations can take into account places you’ve searched or saved on Google Maps. In the case of restaurants, there is internal ordering.
Google uses “fresh information about the world to show you everything you need to know before you go,” saving you from checking reviews. It includes 300 million location listings and over 500 million participant reviews.
Ask Maps is now available in the US and India on Google Maps for Android and iOS, with desktop support “coming soon.”
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