Google Ask Maps: the new AI-based feature replacing Q&A

On 3 November, 2025, Google Maps began to replace the Q&A section with Ask Maps, a powerful AI-based tool. Currently only available in the US, this feature is due to be launched internationally, although to date, no official announcement has been made. Partoo takes a closer look at this new feature set to replace the Q&As.

What is Ask Maps?

Ask Maps is an artificial intelligence tool designed to provide real-time, highly relevant answers to questions users ask on Google Maps. It analyses search intents and contexts (such as times and the location) to give users a personalised answer.

This new feature has been integrated into two sections of the Google Maps interface:

1. Ask Maps is integrated into the Google Maps search bar: the user searches for establishments according to specific criteria

The user can tap in a natural-sounding query in the Google Maps search bar. For example, if a user wants to find “A good place to celebrate Halloween near me”, Ask Maps will display an ultra-relevant and targeted selection of establishments on the map.

When deciding what to display, Ask Maps’ AI will prioritise Google profiles that are fully completed and up-to-date. For example, the tool can detect visual elements, such as a Halloween event photo or mentions of a Halloween event the establishment plans to hold.

2. Using Ask Maps via a Google Business Profile: the user searches for precise information about an establishment

In this case, the user chats with the AI tool on an establishment’s Google listing to obtain specific information.

For example, a user after info about a beauty salon could ask: “Do you do facials for sensitive skin?” and then continue with other naturally-worded questions such as “What products do you use?”, “Are they organic?”, or “Can I book online?”

Ask Maps’ AI relies on three crucial data sources to ensure it provides reliable, accurate answers:

• The company’s  Google Business Profile listing: it will crawl services, categories, attributes, opening hours, etc. This is the most important data source.
• Customer reviews: The AI will analyse customer feedback (positive and negative) to expand the answers it displays.
• The company’s website and trusted external sites (such as local directories, comparators or high authority media): AI checks the consistency of information across the web.

We all know that optimisation, consistency, and continually updating these three pillars are the key to a solid online presence. And these three criteria are even more important if you want to be listed by Ask Maps.

Good to know

Some categories (such as healthcare or highly regulated facilities) are not affected by this change due to compliance and data sensitivity issues.

Some categories (such as healthcare or highly regulated facilities) are not affected by this change due to compliance and data sensitivity issues.

Why is Ask Maps replacing Q&A?

Launched in 2018, the Q&A section integrated into Google profiles allowed users to ask questions while browsing an establishment’s listing.

However, it had its drawbacks: while the listing’s owner could reply, so could any other user. This lack of verification gave rise to the appearance of inaccurate, contradictory or even obsolete information. What’s more, questions often went unanswered because the profile wasn’t being moderated or checked regularly.

With Ask Maps, AI taps into verified data sources, ensuring that every question asked will be answered and reliable information provided.

Ask Maps: one more tool in Google’s AI arsenal

Alongside features such as AI Overviews or AI Mode, Ask Maps once again confirms that artificial intelligence is at the heart of Google’s latest tech. For companies, this does not require implementing new strategies, but rather maintaining good practices by doing the following:

• Standardising data across the web,
• Collecting and managing customer reviews,
• Ensuring information is fully completed on Google listings and the website, for example, by using a Store Locator.

Learn more about Store Locator

An invaluable website tool, a Store Locator is an interactive map that centralises a complete local database (addresses, opening hours, services, photos, etc.) which internet users can consult and which helps AI algorithms generate answers.

An invaluable website tool, a Store Locator is an interactive map that centralises a complete local database (addresses, opening hours, services, photos, etc.) which internet users can consult and which helps AI algorithms generate answers.

The arrival of Ask Maps (and Google’s other AI tools) means local businesses will need to tweak their approach: it’s no longer just about getting clicks on a listing, but about feeding artificial intelligence with finely-tuned data so it can give users precise answers to their questions.