TLDR:
– Google Maps has added generative AI to its app to help users discover new things to do or find restaurants within their preferences.
– The AI leverages more than 250 million places on Google Maps, as well as insights from 300 million contributors.
– Users can ask Google Maps for recommendations based on specific criteria and follow up with additional questions.
Google Maps has introduced a new feature that uses generative AI to help users find new places to go or restaurants to try. The AI incorporates data from more than 250 million places on Google Maps and insights from 300 million contributors. Users can ask for recommendations based on their preferences and follow up with additional questions.
With the new feature, users can ask Google Maps for suggestions based on specific criteria, such as “places with a vintage vibe in SF.” The AI will then recommend thrift stores, record shops, and flea markets based on that request. Users can also follow up on their original request, such as asking for lunch recommendations, and the AI assistant will keep the original criteria in mind when providing suggestions. This ability to follow up on requests makes Google Maps great at improvising and helps users find suitable places to go.
Google plans to trial the Maps AI assistant with “Local Guides” in the United States, a group of users who have heavily contributed to reviews and ratings on the platform. This AI infusion is still in early access, and Google hasn’t announced when it will be rolled out to all users.
This new feature is seen as one of the most practical uses of generative AI, as it eliminates the difficulty of finding a restaurant that works for everyone or choosing from a large number of options. It saves users time and reduces decision paralysis.
Key Takeaways:
– Google Maps has added generative AI to help users discover new places and restaurants.
– The AI incorporates data from millions of places on Google Maps and insights from millions of contributors.
– Users can ask for recommendations based on specific criteria and follow up with additional questions.
– The feature is being trialed with a group of heavily engaged users before being rolled out to all users.