Google Maps to be Upgraded with Gemini AI, Here’s Why!

Google is integrating artificial intelligence, Gemini, to Maps in India to make the app more effective. The AI integration was launched in the US, to add more value to the app, by giving more safety alerts and extra information about the routes. It will give hands-free assistance and also provide contextual suggestions while navigating places of interest. 

Speaking about the efforts of the team involved in the integration, Miriam Daniel, vice president and head of Google Maps, said the employees had to work on localisation.

Localisation in India includes how the people inquire about routes, how they identify the places,  the geopolitical places, the names of streets, apart from the various languages. Gemini in Google Mapswill be available to Android and iOS users in the next few weeks.

Initially, Gemini will support Google Maps in nine Indian languages. The team is working with the local authorities to give audio and video alerts about accident-prone sites to the drivers when they pass through those places. This feature will be rolled out soon for Android users in Gurugram, Cyberabad region in Hyderabad, Faridabad and Chandigarh. 

Google Maps drew criticism in India after three men died in UP last year with their vehicle falling off a bridge whose construction was yet to be completed. 

Responding to the incident, Anal Ghosh, senior program manager for Google Maps, said real-time situations can be changing continuously. He urged the motorists not to rely completely in Google Maps but keep checking the road while driving the vehicles. 

Google Maps is partnering with National HighwayAuthority of India (NHAI) to inform users about road construction, near real-time updates about highways and repairs. Information about various other amenities like public restrooms, restaurants and fuel stations will also be provided. The app will also inform users about traffic disruptions, diversions and delays on various routes even when they are not using them. This feature is being rolled out for Android users in New Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai.

The app will also display speed limits during navigation. This feature is available to Android and iOS users in nine cities: Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Hyderabad (including the Cyberabad region), Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Noida.