Google Maps uses AI to enhance discovery

Image Credit: TechCrunchGoogle Maps has revealed that it is integrating an artificial intelligence layer to improve the process of discovering new places. The new feature utilizes key languages (LLMs) to analyze over 250 million locations on Google Maps and inputs from more than 300 million Local Guides to offer personalized recommendations. For instance, if you are seeking a shopping mall in San Francisco, you can search for “places with a cool vibe in SF,” and Maps will generate shopping suggestions organized by categories along with “carousels of photos and frequencies,” the company explains. The experience of this new feature is expected to resemble an interview rather than a standard search engine. If you follow up with a question like “How about lunch?” The AI will take into account your previous interests and suggest restaurants that match your criteria, such as old school food. The company states that the feature will offer recommendations for the best options or specific inquiries. The initial testing phase for this feature will take place this week in the US and will initially be accessible to select Local Guides, a community of Google members who submit reviews, information, and photos on Maps to assist other users in learning more about various locations. The feature will be made available to other users in the near future. The company has not yet disclosed which other countries will receive this feature. In October, Google transformed Maps into a search tool, introducing various AI-powered capabilities including image results and the ability to pinpoint specific locations by asking simple questions like “what to do.” The new AI features appear to be the next stage in the evolution of Maps from solely a navigation tool to a platform for discovering new places. “This is just the beginning of how we promote Maps and artificial intelligence,” Google stated in a blog post today.

Author: OpenAI