Google Maps AI-powered feature will recommend places to visit

Google Maps (NASDAQ: GOOGL) has announced an integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) into its offering to improve its recommendations to users based on their preferences.

The new AI-powered feature will make personalized recommendations to Google Maps users for places and events. Using large language models (LLMs), Google Maps will be able to scan through a trove of information to make suggestions to users instantly.

“Today, we’re introducing a new way to discover places with generative AI to help you do just that—no matter how specific, niche, or broad your needs might be,” said Google Maps General Manager Miriam Daniel.

Apart from merely issuing recommendations, the new feature allows users to narrow down their searches, scanning information from nearly 300 million places. The AI recommendations come with accompanying images, reviews, photos, and ratings.

Results are categorized to allow users to make informed decisions, supported by summaries from previous users. The feature will enable users to save and share their AI-generated suggestions with friends or revisit them in the future.

Google Maps users will be able to use the AI feature spontaneously to match weather changes and options for kids. The option to continue the conversation with the generative AI via follow-up questions offers users the ability to narrow down suggestions further.

Google Maps says it will adopt a measured approach for the rollout of the AI feature, starting with the most active users in the United States. Based on gathered insights and feedback, Google intends to launch the feature to a larger audience before the end of 2024.

“This experimental capability introduces a whole new way for people to more easily discover places and explore the world with Maps,” said Daniel. “This is just the beginning of how we’re supercharging Maps with generative AI, and we’re excited to start with our passionate community of Local Guides as we shape the future of Maps together.”

Google is all-in on AI

Google has been incorporating AI across all of its offerings in recent months, with Search
and Advertising receiving a chunk of the upgrades.

In mid-2023, Google introduced concise summaries via AI-backed Search experience (SGE) while revealing another offering for programmers to find answers to programming questions.

“With our new updates, segments of code in overviews will now be color-coded with syntax highlighting, so it’s faster and easier to identify elements like keywords, comments, and strings, helping you better digest the code you see at a glance,” read a company statement.

The company has been at the intersection of integrating emerging technologies
into finance, security, and health via its expansive range of AI offerings.

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