Google Maps’ latest upgrade expands on the company’s ongoing experimentation with generative AI. However, there is one caveat: these new features are now only available to a restricted set of “select Local Guides” in the United States.
Google has stated that the input and comments from the selected set of Local Guides will play an important part in developing this feature before it is made available to a wider public, thereby making it a closed beta at this stage.
The app now adds generative AI into Maps, supporting users in their search to discover destinations personalised to their specific likes and needs.
Users can simply express their search criteria in normal language, and Google’s language models will look through Maps’ vast places.
According to one of Google’s samples, you could just type a term like “places with a vintage vibe in San Francisco,” and you’d get a lot of information on surrounding companies and venues.
This complete data set will include images, ratings, and reviews submitted by the Maps community. The findings are organised, illustrated by photo carousels, and complemented with review summaries.
These summaries are intended to offer light on why a specific location may pique your interest, all based on your initial inquiry.
What’s especially useful is that following your initial query, you may effortlessly continue the conversation with a follow-up inquiry without having to repeat any facts.
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