Google Maps Gets an AI Edge
The upgrades would make it easier to search for specific things near one’s location
Artificial intelligence (AI) will provide users with much better image-related options of finding out things to do in any new location. Google Maps is integrating AI into a slew of new updates that help better explore one’s surroundings. These new features would take some time to land in India as the company has limited its initial rollout to the US, UK, France, Germany and Japan.
In a blog post penned by Chris Phillips, VP and General Manager of Geo, the company says “Google Maps provides over 20 billion kilometers of directions every day. And with AI, we’re reimagining how you plan your trips before you go. At I/O this year, we announced Immersive View for routes, an entirely new way to preview every step of your journey — whether you’re driving, walking or cycling.”
The company is also rolling out navigation interface updates for electric vehicles that provides drivers with information around charging stations and expanding some of the existing features into more cities and countries. Immersive View for routes starts rolling out in a clutch of cities that includes, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dublin, Florence, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paris, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Tokyo and Venice.
How does AI enhance user experience?
So, if a user wants to travel around the waterfront in Mumbai on her way to the JJ School of Arts, all one needs is to request for walking or biking directions and tap Immersive View to see the route in a multidimensional format. This allows preparing for each turn with simulated traffic and weather conditions added to it.
What’s more, Google Maps is also updating its search feature to make it easier to find specific stuff near the user. Searching for a restaurant could throw up a slew of photo results shared in the past by other users via Google Maps. Using AI, the search engine throws up images using recognition models that potentially simplifies choice making.
Live View helps acclimatize to a new location
The rollout includes features that help map users better understand their surroundings in a new location. So, while exiting a metro station, one doesn’t need to reorient oneself. Just use the Lens in Maps (formerly Live View) feature to let AI and augmented reality help find the right spots around the location with a slew of options thrown in for checking in.
So, finding the nearest ATM or a restaurant, a coffee shop or a convenience store could become far more easier as Google rolls out the feature in 50 new cities across the US, Europe, Latin America and Chinese Taipei. Of course, it goes without saying that the Maps navigation interface will show more realistic buildings to help users orient themselves while driving.
Electric vehicle drivers on both iOS and Android would now receive additional data around the charging stations springing up on their map interface. This includes factors such as compatibility of the charging network with their vehicle as well as their capacity to charge fast. One could also get inputs about when the charger was used last to know for sure that it actually works.
“Since roughly 25% of all chargers in the U.S. are down at any given time, you can also see when a charger was last used to help you avoid wasting time heading to a broken charger. These updates start rolling out globally on iOS and Android this week wherever EV charging station information is available,” Phillips says in the blog.
