Google Maps get a huge update! Gemini will help with navigation and finding places

Google has just unveiled a major upgrade for Google Maps. The navigation app, used by billions of people, is getting the AI assistant Gemini. According to Google, it’s the “first hands-free conversational navigation” designed to act as a “knowledgeable friend in the passenger seat”.

Hands-free navigation: ask without touching your phone

The biggest new feature concerns voice control during navigation. Instead of searching for a restaurant, gas station, or EV charging point while driving, you just need to ask aloud. Gemini will process even complex queries like: “Is there an inexpensive restaurant with vegan dishes on my route, ideally within two kilometers? What’s the parking like there?”

And if the place suits you, you say: “Okay, go there.” Gemini can also add an event to Google Calendar on request – for example, “Add event football practice tomorrow at 5:00 PM.” You can also ask about popular dishes in a restaurant or get informed about yesterday’s match results, all without taking your hands off the wheel.

Furthermore, Gemini in navigation is designed to facilitate reporting traffic complications. Simply say “I see an accident,” “It looks like a flood,” or “Watch out for slowdowns,” and the system will immediately report the issue to other drivers. This feature will begin rolling out in the coming weeks on Android and iOS, with Android Auto support coming later.

Landmark-based navigation

Who among us hasn’t heard the instruction “turn right in 500 meters” and didn’t know exactly where that was? Google is addressing this with an elegant solution: landmark-based navigation. Instead of distances in meters, Maps will now say “turn right after Thai Siam restaurant” and highlight the building on the map as you approach it.

To do this, Gemini uses a database of 250 million places and compares it with Street View images to select landmarks that are genuinely visible from the street. These include gas stations, restaurants, famous buildings, or unmissable intersections. This feature is rolling out now on Android and iOS in the USA.

Proactive alerts: know about traffic jams sooner

Few things are worse than getting stuck in a traffic jam you didn’t know about. Google Maps can now proactively alert you to traffic complications, even when you’re not actively navigating. If an unexpected road closure or heavy traffic occurs on your usual route, the app will notify you.

This feature is rolling out now in the USA, currently only on Android. It’s a logical improvement – Google knows your usual routes (if location history is enabled) and can predict when it’s worth taking an alternative path.

Lens with AI: “What is this place and why is it popular?”

The latest feature combines Google Lens with Gemini, allowing you to explore places around you using your camera and voice. Simply tap the camera icon in the search bar in Maps, point your phone at a restaurant, cafe, or landmark, and ask: “What is this place and why is it so popular?” or “What’s the atmosphere like there?”

Based on reviews and information from Maps, Gemini will tell you if the place is worth visiting. You can also ask about specific dishes – for example, “Do they have French butter croissants?” Google promises that the answers will be accurate thanks to “a powerful combination of Gemini’s capabilities and Google Maps’ knowledge of places around the world.” This feature will begin rolling out gradually in late November in the USA on Android and iOS.

When will it arrive here?

Google is currently launching all features only in the USA. When Gemini in Maps will arrive in the Czech Republic is not clear – Google remains silent on international expansion for now. It will likely be a gradual rollout during 2026, but it will also depend on language support and data quality for specific regions.

Are you looking forward to Gemini in Google Maps?

Source: Google Blog