Google Maps is getting supercharged with generative AI

Looks like Google wants to integrate its LLM-based Generative AI in just about anything. The latest to add to the wagon is Google’s flagship navigation product aka the Google Maps. Users in the US will soon get their hands on supercharged Google Maps with generative AI taking their queries and pushing relevant results. This would make Google Maps more than just a navigational product but rather a powerful search engine with a super-engine based on generative AI.

What does that mean to users like you and me though? When you search for something on Google Maps, let’s say thrift stores, you get stores and locations that are relevant in terms of their names, tags by the 300 million plus community of contributors, and a few other factors. With large-language models (LLM) in the works, you should be able to get exactly what you are looking for as Google Maps will look for every reference on thrift stores, ratings, reviews, photos, and beyond to find matches for your queries.

Google will scour through 250 million places, and analyse the information and insights provided by a pool of contributors in its Local Guides program to find you a perfect spot. As Google Maps is using generative AI under the hood, you should be able to find anything such as restaurants with XYZ retro looks, stuff to eat, thrift stores with vintage collections, and just about anything. To be honest, your imagination is the limit although reaching there would still take some time.

As it is a Generative AI, you should be able to refine your searches by adding follow-up questions. This helps narrow down the searches such as “thrift stores with 1980s theme vintage collections” or “parks with roller coasters” followed by “for kids”, etc. Of course, these are just examples at the moment although there’s simply too much generative AI can do at the moment and we are just starting up.

The supercharged Google Maps will drop by users in the US and selected areas as usual. Early access is usually given to test out new features and refine them before marking a mass release. It means other users should get their hands on Google Maps generative AI soon but there’s no confirmed timeline as of now.

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