AI at Hand #2: Find a tailor-made business with artificial intelligence, whether it's a cafe or a swimming pool

After two weeks, we welcome you to another installment of the AI at Hand series. As digital whales, we monitor developments in the field of artificial intelligence almost continuously, and we have already discovered many ways to use AI not only to speed up work but also to make many aspects of daily life more pleasant and easier. We select tips that you can use on your smartphone and that do not require knowledge of any language other than Czech. Do you have your own idea of how artificial intelligence can be helpful? Share it with us in the Community!

How many times in the last year have you opened a paper map to find a restaurant for Sunday lunch with your family? The question could be generalized to “How many times in the last year have you opened a paper map?” and the answer would probably not differ much.

Even my grandmother learned to use maps on her phone a long time ago. We use them not only for navigation and orientation on a nature trip but also when we want to find an interesting cafe, the nearest swimming pool, or that one last open stationery shop at seven in the evening. But what if I told you there might be an even faster and more convenient way to find a business nearby that perfectly matches your requirements?

Today’s search methods have their pitfalls

If we arrive in an unfamiliar city for a business meeting today and have a moment for a quick espresso beforehand, we usually open Google Maps, type “cafe” into the search bar, and wait to see what the app comes up with. We can use a similar approach after the meeting when we want to go for lunch.

However, complications can arise when we are not entirely sure what we want to find on the maps. Are you planning a vacation with your significant other on the other side of the country and don’t know what to do in the afternoon? With maps, you will usually spend a lot of time before finding something worthwhile. 

You might also encounter the opposite problem – you need to find something very specific. Google Maps typically won’t help you choose the ideal bar for a first date, a cafe without a children’s corner for undisturbed work, or a restaurant within walking distance of the train station that serves gluten-free pasta.

Thanks to AI, you’ll always find a business that meets your requirements

And precisely for these cases, it’s worth getting used to searching with AI. You can tell artificial intelligence in natural language everything you expect from a given business, and you’ll get much more relevant results than when working with a standard map application. 

Tip: use the Gemini app

Although other AI assistants, such as ChatGPT or Claude, will perform similarly well, for this specific tip, I will take the liberty of recommending Gemini, on which I will subsequently demonstrate the individual steps. There are three reasons:

1. Access to Gemini on Android is easy thanks to the option to activate it using the power button. This option is default on newer phones, so you don’t have to install or configure anything complicated. 
2. Gemini can directly connect to Google Maps, so it can take into account user reviews, opening hours, and other data from this platform and immediately offer to start navigation
3. In Gemini’s overlay options, you’ll now find a handy “Map” feature, which allows you to easily narrow down the selection area without having to specify it in words

Google Gemini

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Download (Free⁺)

Google Play

I will primarily use the aforementioned overlay, as it offers the fastest access to the chatbot. However, you can also search for businesses after opening the application itself, if that suits you better.

Practical part: How to find a business with AI?

You just need to phrase your request to the AI as if you were telling a friend. Imagine Gemini is a guide with years of experience who knows all the businesses in the city and can direct you to the best one. It just needs to know what you desire. If, on the other hand, you just want to explore and are not sure exactly what you want to find, don’t be afraid to admit it – it usually comes up with various tips, among which everyone will find at least one favorite.

Examples of queries:

• “I’m looking for a quiet bar in the center of Brno for a first date. I want a place where you can talk without loud music, with good cocktails, and not overly expensive. Suggest 3 options and for each, explain why it’s suitable.”
• “I need a cafe near Charles Square in Prague where I can work peacefully at two in the afternoon. Ideally without a children’s corner and with Wi-Fi. Exclude businesses that reviewers criticize for noise.”
• “I have an hour before my train. Find a restaurant within a ten-minute walk of Olomouc main station that offers gluten-free pasta. It must be open now.”
• “We are two adults and have a free afternoon in Český Krumlov, it’s around 12 °C outside and drizzling. What can we do indoors that isn’t just a museum? Include a cafe or a pub for the end.”
• “I’m looking for an indoor swimming pool nearby with an open lane after 8:00 PM on a weekday. I want one that also has a sauna.”
• “Find the nearest stationery shop that is still open for at least another hour.”

Once you choose one of the results presented by Gemini, simply type a command like “Start navigation to the second option” and the assistant will immediately switch you to Google Maps. You don’t have to retype anything or search again.

For finding places in a specific area, it’s definitely useful to use the aforementioned Map feature. After activating the overlay, simply click on the plus icon and select “Map” from the top menu. Once the map opens, you can adjust the size of the circle or move it with two fingers, depending on which area you want to include in your search. Once you’re done, click the “Explore this area” button. This will “attach” the selection to the chat, and Gemini will know to take it into account.

Conclusion: Please don’t delete maps from your phone

Gemini will certainly not completely replace your map application – if you don’t know where the sports facility found by artificial intelligence is located, you’ll still have to start navigation. However, the ability to search for places themselves with AI is invaluable. It can save a lot of time and ultimately increase your chance of truly enjoying your visit to an unfamiliar cafe or restaurant and not ending up in a place that doesn’t suit you. 

If you came up with a query that Gemini handled better than you originally expected, or if you have a different experience, share it with us in the Community. The next installment of the AI at Hand series awaits you in two weeks.

Did Gemini or another AI help you discover an interesting place?