Google Integrates AI Chatbot Gemini into Map Applications

On Thursday, Alphabet’s Google announced a suite of features that integrate its artificial intelligence chatbot, Gemini, into its mapping applications.

Having lost its early lead in AI development to competitors such as Microsoft-backed OpenAI, Google is making efforts to catch up by incorporating research advancements into existing applications with large user bases.

Google Maps serves as a key example of this initiative, surpassing 2 billion monthly active users, as noted by CEO Sundar Pichai during a recent quarterly earnings report, where he highlighted that investments in AI are “paying off” for the company.

The announcement introduced a new category of search results designed to better address open-ended queries. Previous versions of Google Maps offered more generic responses, while the updated app will provide more tailored options, such as recommendations for speakeasies or live music venues.

With new updates in @GoogleMaps, you can:

– Ask Maps for inspiration curated with Gemini
– Take the stress out of each step of your drive
– Explore more places, including college campuses, with Immersive View’s biggest expansion yet

And more ↓ https://t.co/Dai74c73sM

— Google (@Google) October 31, 2024

Miriam Daniel, a vice president for consumer experiences at Google Maps, stated that Gemini can more effectively understand contextual details like the time of day or season, explaining, “It’s not just ‘What’s near me?’ It’s actually ‘What can I do tonight?

Also Read: Google introduces new update to Bard chatbot

Similar to the AI Overviews in Google’s search tool, the AI-generated results in Maps will not replace existing location listings but will be displayed above or below them.

Users can also pose questions to Gemini about specific places, with the software analysing existing user reviews to provide answers.

Google has faced criticism for inaccurate AI search results, which have included biased responses and even a pizza recipe that listed glue as an ingredient. To mitigate such issues, known as hallucinations, in Maps, responses from Gemini will be cross-referenced with real-world data that Google has collected.

Additionally, Google unveiled new AI capabilities in other tools such as Google Earth and the vehicle navigation app Waze. These include chatbots to assist developers and urban planners in analysing map and geographic data more efficiently, along with a feature in Waze that enables drivers to report road incidents using voice commands.