Google Maps Gets AI-Powered Discovery for Local Recommendations. Expanding its push into generative AI, Google is now infusing Maps with futuristic technology to assist users in discovering personalized recommendations for places to visit. Dubbed AI-powered discovery, the new capability allows you to query Maps in conversational language about your interests and preferences to surface relevant nearby venues and businesses.
For now, the feature is being tested with a limited group of Local Guides in the US before potentially expanding to all Maps users. Those part of the early access program can describe in natural terms what they are looking for, such as “places with a vintage vibe in San Francisco,” and Maps will analyze its extensive database to provide tailored results.
The AI-generated recommendations include rich information like photos, ratings, and reviews from the Maps community to highlight why a particular place matches what you asked for. Results are neatly organized into categories with carousels of images and excerpts from reviews summarizing the key selling points, atmosphere, or dishes of an establishment.
You can then continue the conversation with follow-up questions without needing to rephrase your original prompt. So after searching for “places with a vintage vibe in San Francisco,” you may ask, “How about lunch?” to get AI-selected eateries fitting that same aesthetic in the area. This allows you to refine and pivot your discoveries easily.
The ability to save any number of personalized recommendations or share them with friends also exists. You are free to query Maps in numerous ways about your particular interests, needs, and budget. So whether you are looking for weekend getaway ideas, restaurants for an anniversary dinner, hotels that welcome pets, affordable shops to visit, parks for kids to play, and anything in between, the AI-powered discovery feature aims to help.
As one of Google’s army of Local Guides providing reviews, photos, ratings, and local insights to improve Maps, the early testers will be critical in shaping how well the technology works. Their real-world feedback on the quality and usefulness of the AI-generated place recommendations will allow Google to refine the algorithms before eventually unveiling the capability to all Maps users later this year.
The launch on Maps marks Google’s latest offering to tap into generative AI, a fast-progressing segment of artificial intelligence focused on creating original text, images, audio, video, and more from simple prompts. With substantial computing resources and troves of data at its disposal, Google is pushing to make the technology practical and helpful across many of its products. Early experiments on Maps look promising, and a wider rollout should make discovering local hidden gems increasingly effortless.
