Google is expanding its artificial intelligence capabilities in Google Maps with a new feature called “Ask Maps,” powered by its Google Gemini AI models.
The feature introduces a conversational chatbot that allows users to ask complex questions beyond standard navigation requests. For example, users can ask where to charge a phone nearby or find public sports facilities open at specific times. Google said responses will be personalized based on a user’s previous searches and saved locations within the app.
Ask Maps is rolling out initially in the United States and India on Android and iOS, with desktop support expected later. The update reflects Google’s broader strategy to integrate Gemini across its product ecosystem as it competes with other AI platforms for consumer engagement.
With more than two billion monthly users, Google Maps remains the world’s largest navigation application. Google said the new conversational interface is part of its effort to transform maps into an interactive discovery platform while improving navigation and trip planning experiences.
The expansion also follows wider deployment of Gemini across Google’s productivity suite, where the company recently added AI capabilities to Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive to help users draft documents, analyze data, and generate presentations using information from files, emails, and the web.
