Google is rolling out Gemini-powered navigation feature in Google Maps across India, enabling consumers to have a hands-free conversational driving experience.
The feature comes just a day after it was introduced in the United States and is expected to be available on Android and iOS devices in coming weeks. After this update, users will be able to ask for places along their route, such as “the nearest petrol pump,” get quick answers about their destination, like "What's parking like there?", and make multi-step requests, like asking to find a restaurant, and then saying, “OK, let’s go there” to navigate there.
One can also choose to connect Google Maps to other apps. For instance, they can say, “Can you add a calendar event for this meeting tomorrow at 5pm?” following which Gemini can connect to the user's Gmail and Google Calendar, to automatically add the place.
Lalitha Ramani, General Manager, Google Maps India said Gemini connects trusted information from the web, reviews from the Maps community, and rich geospatial data that includes everything users may want to know about a place, such as opening hours, nearby parking, outdoor seating availability, and price range, among other details, to offer this experience.
Gemini-powered local tips
Gemini will also proactively analyse and summarise Maps reviews and web content to give users helpful, pointed and practical tips about a place while they are viewing it on Maps.
For instance, if a person is planning to visit Delhi’s Dilli Haat, Maps will now give them tips like “the momos in the Nagaland Stall are highly rated” or remind them to not miss the famous musical clock at 12 pm while visiting the Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad.
One can also ask specific questions on Google Maps to receive answers from Gemini, which acts as a reasoning engine, sifting through information such as reviews, photos, and place details in Maps along with relevant content from the web. For example, while searching for Dilli Haat in New Delhi, one can ask “does it have parking?” or “what are some must-visit stalls?”
"Our approach in India has always been to combine our leading AI technologies with a deep, local understanding. Today, Maps takes a significant leap forward with the power of Gemini, enabling a conversational, intuitive, AI-powered assistant to make everyday journeys smarter and easier," Ramani said.
New safety and disruption alerts to consumers
Google Maps is also launching Proactive Traffic Alerts, which will automatically notify users when there is a major disruption or delay on the road ahead, even if they are not actively navigating. India is among the first markets where the company is rolling out this feature to Android users in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, covering highways and major roads.
Google is also introducing Accident-Prone Area Alerts, a new feature designed for India and developed in partnership with government authorities.
The feature will alert users visually and through voice as they approach such areas, based on authoritative data provided by city authorities. It will be available for Android users in Gurugram, Hyderabad's Cyberabad region, Chandigarh, and Faridabad.
Maps will also display the official speed limit for the road being used, based on speed limit data from local traffic authorities. It will be available to Android and iOS users in nine cities including Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad (including Cyberabad), Gurugram, Noida, Lucknow, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Jaipur.
"By integrating data such as Speed Limits and Accident-Prone Area Alerts, we are influencing the choice architecture of the drivers with subtle nudge towards road safety. We look forward to continuing this work to explore further data-driven solutions that enhance road safety for everyone in Gurugram," said Rajesh Kumar Mohan, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Gurugram.
Google said it has also struck a new partnership with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to get access to near real-time data on road closures and repairs. This partnership will also enable Maps to surface information for amenities like toilets, eateries, and petrol stations, it added.
"We are happy to partner on this journey with Google Maps, a critical daily companion for millions that has consistently demonstrated a commitment to building for India's unique needs. This collaboration, powered via API Setu, allows us to deliver our authoritative, and fresh data on national highways directly to the public as they use Google Maps," said Vishal Chauhan, Member - Admin, NHAI.
New voice navigation for Flyovers
Google Maps is adding new voice support for flyovers in the navigation experience in India, nearly a year after it introduced flyover callouts into the navigation experience to help users in the country see upcoming flyovers along the route.
The company said this feature will be especially useful for two-wheeler drivers who can hear the flyover instructions without having to view their mobile phones. The feature will be available in nine Indian languages to Android and iOS users in the coming weeks.
Android users will also have the option to save metro tickets purchased through Maps directly to Google Wallet and access them from Maps whenever needed.
Google Maps currently offers option to book metro tickets in partnership with government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and Namma Yatri. The feature is available in Indian cities such as Bengaluru, Delhi, Kochi, and Chennai, with plans to add support for Mumbai soon.
Two-wheeler riders can also personalise their navigation icon by choosing from different two-wheeler types such as classic motorbikes, sports bikes, or scooters, and picking from eight vibrant colors. Called Navatars, the India-first feature will be rolling out to Android users in the country.
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