Google Maps Just Made Walking In A New City A Whole Lot Easier

Whether you're traveling to a new city for work or sightseeing, Google Maps can help you get around. It's not just about using the app while you're driving. Google Maps is especially useful for public transportation and walking, as it can help you find popular places to visit and restaurants that match your preferences and can be more convenient than exploring a new region by car. The problem with using Google Maps while walking is that you still have to type on your phone while also trying to figure out where you are. But Google may have fixed this issue by bringing Gemini support to walking and biking modes in Google Maps.

Google announced the new feature on Friday, confirming that both Android and iOS will support the functionality. The feature is rolling out worldwide and should be available in your region as long as Gemini is available. Once Gemini support arrives, you'll be able to interact with it via voice inside Google Maps when walking or biking. You won't have to bounce between Google Maps, the standalone Gemini app on your phone, and a browser where you may be looking for information. Instead, you can call Gemini using your voice and ask it to pull up information about points of interest on the map or add a new stop to your route.

In the video example Google shared, the user asks the AI to provide a summary of the nearby attractions. Gemini proceeds to describe the neighborhood and some of its attractions, including restaurants and tourist spots. The user then asks Gemini to add one of the points of interest in the summary to their trip, and the AI does it.

Using Gemini in Google Maps while walking may reduce the time people spend looking at their phones and allow tourists to focus more on their vacation instead of interacting with a gadget. Gemini can also come in handy while biking. Users can dictate to the AI text messages for friends and family, and ask Gemini for information about the trip, like the estimated arrival time.

These features are similar to the Gemini in Google Maps experience the company announced in November for driving. Google demonstrated several use case examples at the time, including a user asking Gemini for restaurant suggestions while they were driving with Google Maps turned on, as in the video above. The AI gave them suggestions and added a stop to the Google Maps route based on the user's selection. 

Gemini can also improve the turn-by-turn navigation experience, as it's able to integrate visible landmarks into the dialogue instead of the traditional "turn right in 100 feet" instructions you may hear from navigation apps, which can make it easier for drivers to figure out when to turnThe November update also brought Gemini support to Google Lens in Google Maps, letting users ask the AI questions about a place they may want to visit by pointing the camera at that location without leaving the navigation app. The feature should also work well with the new Gemini features on Maps for walking, especially when visiting a new city and trying to find a place to eat.