Google Maps Ask Maps: Everything You Need to Know About the New AI Feature

TLDR

• Google launched “Ask Maps,” a new AI chatbot feature inside Google Maps powered by Gemini.
• Users can ask complex, conversational questions beyond basic navigation, like finding a charging spot or a lit tennis court at night.
• Results are personalized based on past searches and saved trips within the app.
• The rollout begins Thursday in the U.S. and India on Android and iOS, with desktop coming later.
• Ads are not part of the feature at launch, but Google has not ruled them out in the future.

Google has launched a new feature in Google Maps called “Ask Maps,” which uses its Gemini AI to let users ask complex, everyday questions inside the app.

The feature works like a chatbot. Instead of just searching for a destination, users can type questions like “Where can I charge my phone without waiting in a long coffee line?” or “Is there a public tennis court with lights on tonight?” Google Maps then pulls together an answer based on the user’s location, past searches, and saved trips.

Miriam Daniel, a vice president at Google Maps, announced the feature in a blog post on Thursday. She described it as the biggest navigation upgrade for Google Maps in over a decade.

Ask Maps is rolling out Thursday in the United States and India. It is available on both Android and iOS. A desktop version is coming soon.

Google Maps has more than 2 billion monthly users and turned 20 last year. It is the world’s most-used navigation app.

How Ask Maps Works

The feature sits inside the existing Google Maps app as a new button. When tapped, it opens a chat interface where users can type in natural language questions. Answers are pulled from Google’s mapping data and shaped by Gemini, the company’s AI model.

Personalization is a key part of how it works. The app uses a user’s prior searches and saved places to tailor answers. Google says this makes it easier to move from research to action without leaving the app.

Tech journalist Glenn Gabe, who tested the feature ahead of launch, described it as powerful. He compared it to having an AI mode built directly into Maps.

What This Means for Local Businesses

Google has confirmed that ads are not included in Ask Maps at launch. Andrew Duchi, a director of product management at Google, said the focus right now is on user experience.

However, Google did not rule out ads in the future. Analysts and observers have pointed out that Ask Maps is a natural fit for local business advertising, given how users are asking intent-driven questions about nearby places.

Google Maps earns money primarily through advertising and promoted listings. It also charges businesses for access to its Maps API and location data.

Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Nowak has previously told CNBC that Maps has historically been one of Google’s most under-monetized products. The division has been working on new revenue streams, including licensing mapping data to companies building tools around renewable energy.

From a tracking perspective, Google said standard Maps impressions will still apply. Ask Maps activity will not be broken out separately in Google Business Profile reporting, at least at this stage.

Google has not announced a timeline for when the feature will expand beyond the U.S. and India.

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