Google Maps is transforming the user experience with generative AI

Navigation and local search are at a turning point. AI is increasingly woven into the fabric of Google Maps, reshaping how users explore and get around every day. What are these AI features — and how can you make the most of them?

Partoo explains all.

A new way to discover businesses on Google Maps

In 2024, Google announced a new Google Maps feature designed to help users find places that match their specific preferences, powered by AI. This follows the tech giant’s experiments with Search Generative Experience (SGE) in Google Search results.

The feature is designed to help users plan outings and activities that meet their exact needs — taking into account factors such as dietary requirements, location preferences, or pet-friendly options.

Using it couldn’t be simpler: within the Google Maps app, users simply describe what they’re looking for — for example, “vintage-vibe spots in San Francisco” — and receive tailored recommendations in return. Results are organised by category and accompanied by photos, ratings, and reviews to help users make the right call.

Users can also refine their search by asking follow-up questions such as “Where can I have lunch?” or “What options are there for kids?” These AI-powered suggestions adapt to changing circumstances — recommending indoor activities on a rainy day or family-friendly options when needed.

Having a well-optimised Google Business Profile is essential to making the most of this new way of searching on Google Maps. Services, attributes, and secondary categories are key to giving Google everything it needs to understand your business and help you appear in search results.

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Smoother, smarter navigation on Google Maps

The updates don’t stop there. In late 2025, Google rolled out new AI-powered features to help users make the most of their journeys. For Google, this is a significant step forward: “Google Maps navigation gets a powerful boost from Gemini” — for smarter, easier trips.

Among the new features, users can:

• Navigate and get things done at the same time

The Gemini assistant lets users manage complex tasks by voice while on the move — such as asking for specific recommendations (for example, a vegan restaurant with nearby parking), adding events to a calendar, or reporting traffic incidents, all without taking their eyes off the road.

• Experience simpler navigation with real-world landmarks

Google Maps now uses recognisable real-world landmarks — such as restaurants, bakeries, and other local businesses — to make directions easier to follow. Instead of the familiar “turn right in 150 metres”, the voice assistant might say “turn right after Petit Bao Asian restaurant.”

• Get ahead of traffic before you even set off

Traffic alerts now warn users about road closures and unexpected congestion in advance, allowing them to adapt in real time. For now, this feature is only available in the United States.

• Learn more about a place with Google Lens

“Lens with Gemini” helps users explore places by identifying them and answering questions about them. Simply tap the camera icon in the Google Maps search bar, take a photo, and ask Gemini anything about the location — “why is this place so popular?”, “what are the best dishes at this restaurant?” By drawing on the information in the Google listing and customer reviews, the AI can deliver a personalised answer in an instant.