Google Maps Introduces ‘Ask Maps’ AI Feature for Complex Queries

Google has announced a major update to its Google Maps platform, introducing new artificial intelligence capabilities powered by its Gemini technology. The update includes a chatbot-style feature called “Ask Maps,” designed to help users ask complex questions directly within the navigation app.

With Ask Maps, users can interact with Google Maps using natural language to discover places or plan routes. The tool can suggest nearby locations to charge devices, identify cafes with shorter waiting lines, or help build detailed itineraries for road trips involving multiple stops. The system draws on Google Maps’ extensive data ecosystem, which includes information on more than 300 million places and insights from over 500 million contributors who have submitted reviews, photos, and ratings over the past two decades.

Google said the Ask Maps feature will initially roll out on the Google Maps mobile app for Android and iPhone users in the United States and India. The company plans to expand availability to desktop platforms and additional countries over time.

Alongside the conversational feature, Google also introduced a new navigation tool called “Immersive Navigation.” The system uses AI-generated 3D visuals to display landmarks, road medians, and surrounding terrain, giving drivers a clearer sense of their surroundings while navigating. The update reflects Google’s broader strategy to integrate its Gemini AI models across major consumer products as competition in the artificial intelligence sector intensifies.