AI agents designed to build projects, not just maps

Google Maps has long been one of the world’s most widely used mapping services. According to Google, more than 10 million websites and apps rely on Maps for location data, imagery, routes and place information. The latest update signals a major step towards turning Maps from a data source into a fully assisted creation environment, where AI agents handle much of the early design and coding work.

The new features are powered across the board by Google’s Gemini models. At their core are several tools intended to simplify how interactive map experiences are created and embedded into apps, websites and AI products. These include Builder agent, Maps Styling agent, the Code Assist Toolkit, Grounding Lite and Contextual View. Each sits at a different point of the development workflow, but all aim to reduce the time, effort and specialist knowledge usually required to work with geospatial data.

Builder agent brings prototyping down to a prompt

Builder agent is presented as the centrepiece of the update. It is a geospatial AI agent that turns natural language instructions into functioning prototypes. For example, a user can type “create a Street View tour of a city”, “create a map visualising real-time weather in my region” or “show pet-friendly hotels in the city”, then let the agent build an interactive map with the relevant data and code.

The system works by combining Gemini with Google Maps Platform APIs for Maps, Routes, Places and Environment. It produces a ready to test prototype along with the full source code and a written solution guide. Users can then export the code, drop in their own API keys, test it, and refine it further in Firebase Studio or their preferred development tools.

Google is positioning Builder agent as a way to collapse weeks of early scoping into just a few minutes. It is designed to remove the need for specialist geospatial experience, thereby potentially helping product managers, designers, researchers or smaller technical teams to move quickly from idea to working demo. Google says this reduces the learning curve, supports faster experimentation and increases confidence when deciding whether to invest development time.

A new approach to Map Styling for brands

The second major tool announced by Google is Maps Styling agent. This tool allows users to prompt the AI to create custom map styles that match a brand’s visual identity or highlight specific features such as landmarks, roads, lakes or points of interest.

Instead of editing style configurations manually, a user can ask the agent to apply a particular theme, colour palette or emphasis. This means a retailer could request a branded map that highlights store locations and access routes. A tourism app could ask for a theme that emphasises heritage sites and walking trails. A transport provider could request a clean map focused on stations, lines and interchanges.

These styles can be generated in Google AI Studio and used across mobile or web applications, giving designers more control without requiring in depth map styling knowledge.

Grounding Lite connects AI assistants to maps data

Google is also preparing to launch Grounding Lite, a feature that lets developers link their own AI models to up to date information from Google Maps using the Model Context Protocol, known as MCP.

This allows an AI assistant to answer practical location based questions such as “How far is the nearest supermarket?”, “What would my commute look like from here?” or “Where are the closest rooftop cafés?” using live map data rather than static or outdated datasets.

Google points to use cases such as real estate apps that can instantly surface commute times and nearby amenities, or travel apps that can offer personalised recommendations based on local geography. Grounding Lite is designed as a more accessible and cost effective version of the existing Gemini grounding tools for developers who want accuracy without having to fully adopt Gemini themselves.

Contextual View adds interactive maps inside AI responses

Another feature launching globally is Contextual View, a low code component from the new Google Maps AI Kit. It lets developers embed interactive map elements directly into AI generated answers.

This means that if an AI assistant is asked for things to do in a city, it can now respond with a written list alongside a 3D visual display of each area. If a user asks about hiking routes, the assistant can show a map that highlights the trails, terrain changes and surrounding points of interest.

The aim is to give AI products a much richer, more visual response layer, using familiar Google Maps interfaces rather than custom built ones.

Code Assist Toolkit brings Maps knowledge into developer tools

Google has also released a Code Assist Toolkit that connects AI coding assistants to the latest Google Maps documentation using an MCP server. This means a developer can ask, inside their coding environment, how to use a particular Maps API feature or which method is required for a specific task. The AI then responds using verified documentation instead of outdated or generic information found elsewhere.

The toolkit also links into Google’s command line interface for Gemini, allowing developers to pull Maps examples, patterns and instructions directly into their workflow. Google says this reduces debugging time and encourages consistent, accurate use of Maps APIs.

Businesses and users

For businesses, the upgrades are likely to reduce development overheads and shorten experimentation cycles. For example, a property company could use Builder agent to create a neighbourhood exploration tool that combines Street View tours, local schools and air quality layers before refining it into a full feature. A retail brand could produce custom styled maps for store finders across its digital properties without extensive engineering support.

Smaller companies may also find the barrier to entry reduced. Teams without specialist mapping knowledge can still prototype experiences, explore new concepts and present map based ideas to stakeholders. Agencies and consultancies may be able to validate client concepts far more quickly, with clearer early examples.

Gradually introduced

For everyday users, it seems these changes are likely to appear gradually. Google has already enabled hands free Gemini interactions within Maps in some regions, along with additional features such as incident alerts and speed limit information. As Grounding Lite and Contextual View are adopted, users may start seeing more AI driven maps embedded inside customer service chats, booking tools, property apps, travel guides or workplace dashboards.

For Google, the update could be said to strengthen its position as the default mapping layer for both traditional applications and AI integrated products. As AI assistants become more important in everyday digital experiences, Google is making sure Maps is the dataset these assistants rely on. This may deepen Google’s relationship with advertisers too, since visual mapping layers open up new possibilities for location based content, commercial listings and branded experiences.

Competitors will, no doubt, feel the pressure from this latest announcement. For example, companies such as Mapbox and HERE have already started offering AI supported design tools, but Google’s combination of vast location data, Gemini integration and low code components gives it a strong advantage at a time when many businesses are shifting their digital experiences into conversational interfaces.

Challenges and concerns

As with all AI updates these days it seems, there are still a few issues to address. Reliability remains one of the biggest challenges for AI generated maps and code. Even when grounded in live data, an AI model can misunderstand a prompt, misapply a parameter or generate code that seems correct but fails in practice. Teams will still need rigorous testing processes despite the convenience these tools offer.

Privacy concerns are likely to grow as well. Location based AI responses depend on user queries and contextual details passing through AI systems, raising questions about how this information is stored, processed and combined with other datasets. The use of MCP servers that directly connect AI tools to Google’s documentation and data may also attract regulatory scrutiny in regions where competition and data protection rules are strict.

Another concern is lock in. As businesses become more reliant on Gemini specific agents and Maps APIs, moving to a different provider could become more difficult. Google presents the new features as standardised and flexible, but the most powerful capabilities still sit inside its own platform and models.

Cost transparency will also matter to smaller developers. Prototypes may be quick to build, but AI grounding, Maps embedding and visual responses still consume API usage, which can add up quickly if not managed carefully.

For now, Google’s update highlights a move towards AI assisted geospatial design, where much of the early thinking, coding and styling work can be carried out automatically, and where map based answers become a standard part of AI conversations across industries.

What does this mean for your business?

These developments point to a future where mapping tools become more accessible, quicker to deploy and far more tightly integrated with AI products across every sector. The move from manual design work to prompt driven prototyping is already changing how teams test concepts and bring new ideas to the table. For UK businesses in particular, this could mean shorter development cycles, faster decision making and the ability to explore new digital services without relying on large specialist teams. It also lowers the barrier for smaller firms that want to experiment with location based features but have never had the resources to invest heavily in geospatial expertise.

There is a broader industry impact too. Google is strengthening its position at the centre of the mapping ecosystem, which places pressure on competitors and gives advertisers new formats to work with. This creates opportunities for brands that want richer, more contextual digital experiences, but it will also invite questions about how much influence Google holds over the frameworks that developers rely on. Regulators, privacy groups and consumer advocates are likely to monitor how these tools handle data, how AI responses are grounded and how transparent the wider system becomes.

The real test now lies in how reliably these tools perform at scale and how responsibly they are used. AI driven code, even when backed by accurate map data, still needs careful oversight. Businesses will want confidence that outputs are dependable, users will want clarity about how their information is being processed and competitors will look closely at whether the integration of AI and Maps creates any unfair advantages. Google’s latest update opens new possibilities for innovation across apps, services and AI assistants, yet the next phase will depend on trust, governance and the ability of organisations to put these tools to work in a secure and transparent way.

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ChatGPT Search Launched 

The search landscape has long been dominated by Google. However, with the October 2024 launch of ChatGPT Search, OpenAI has clearly entered the search market, promising to upend the way we find and interact with information online.

Uses a Blend of Conversational AI with Data Retrieval 

ChatGPT Search, integrated directly into OpenAI’s ChatGPT platform, marks a significant evolution from traditional search engines by blending conversational AI with dynamic, real time data retrieval. Offering timely answers drawn from various web sources, the new search function introduces what OpenAI describes as a more intuitive, engaging way for users to gather information, perhaps challenging Google’s stronghold with a model that focuses on usability, accuracy, and a distinctly humanlike interaction.

What Is ChatGPT Search and How Does It Work? 

ChatGPT Search builds on the SearchGPT prototype OpenAI introduced earlier in 2024, introducing a natural language based search interface designed to provide rapid, precise answers accompanied by links to relevant sources. According to OpenAI, this tool harnesses the strengths of its advanced GPT-4o model, fine tuned with synthetic data and optimised to source information from both third party search providers and direct partnerships with news and data providers.

For users, this means that rather than combing through countless results, they can simply ask ChatGPT their query in a conversational manner. ChatGPT then retrieves real time information, such as sports scores, stock prices, or breaking news, and responds with a summary accompanied by links for further reading. By integrating search within the ChatGPT experience, OpenAI seeks to make online information more accessible and engaging for users. As OpenAI states, “Getting useful answers on the web can take a lot of effort… Now, chat can get you to a better answer.” 

Pam Wasserstein, President of Vox Media, a prominent American mass media company, is quoted on the OpenAI website praising ChatGPT Search’s approach, saying, “ChatGPT search promises to better highlight and attribute information from trustworthy news sources, benefiting audiences while expanding the reach of publishers like ourselves who produce premium journalism.” OpenAI is keen to get the message across, and perhaps establish a contrast between it and Google search, that ChatGPT Search goes beyond simply answering questions: it aims to connect users with high quality, verified content.

Who Can Access ChatGPT Search? 

Initially, ChatGPT Search was made available to ChatGPT Plus and Team subscribers on 31 October 2024, accessible through OpenAI’s website and mobile apps. Enterprise and educational users can expect access within weeks of the launch, with a broader rollout to all free users planned over the coming months. A browser extension also enables users to set ChatGPT Search as their default search tool on Chrome, further embedding it into users’ daily online activities.

It’s Integrated into the Normal ChatGPT Interface: You’re Using It Anyway 

ChatGPT Search is integrated directly into ChatGPT’s regular interface, so users can now interact with it as part of their usual experience with ChatGPT. This means that when you ask questions in ChatGPT, it will now search the web and retrieve up to date information if needed, providing responses with relevant, timely data and links to sources.

For users, this integration is seamless. ChatGPT decides to pull in web search results automatically based on the question, but users also have the option to trigger web search manually by selecting the web search icon. This design allows ChatGPT Search to feel like an extension of ChatGPT’s standard capabilities rather than a separate function, meaning users benefit from it naturally while interacting as they usually would.

Removing Traditional Search Barriers 

This integration also essentially changes how web searches are done: by removing the barriers of traditional search engine interfaces, and instead inviting users to have a more interactive, evolving discussion that yields targeted results without overwhelming them with pages of unrelated links.

Features and Benefits for Users

The primary benefit of ChatGPT Search lies in its integration of AI powered conversation with up to the minute web information. Whether users need the latest election results, the current weather, or trending stock information, ChatGPT can draw from multiple sources to provide concise, accurate summaries. It even includes a ‘Sources’ button beneath each response, allowing users to view detailed references and dig deeper if desired. This transparency fosters a more accountable, user centric approach to search.

As part of its focus on real time data, ChatGPT Search partners with a range of reputable news outlets and data providers. This should mean that users can trust that the information they receive is accurate, current, and attributed to reliable sources, thereby also helping to tackle the previous main problems the dogged ChatGPT: its ‘AI hallucinations’ where it occasionally gave false information which led users to mistrust it, and creating a need to verify key details. OpenAI has highlighted this news partnership by quoting Louis Dreyfus, CEO of Le Monde, on the OpenAI website, who said about ChatGPT Search: “We are convinced that AI search will be, in a near future and for the next generations, a primary way to access information, and partnering with OpenAI positions Le Monde at the forefront of this shift.” 

Another feature that distinguishes ChatGPT Search is its continuous evolution based on user feedback. Drawing insights from the initial SearchGPT prototype, OpenAI has already identified and prioritised improvements in areas like shopping and travel recommendations. Also, the newest o1 “reasoning” models enable more in depth research capabilities, allowing ChatGPT Search to go beyond factual retrieval and incorporate analytical insights.

OpenAI also plans to expand ChatGPT Search’s reach across multiple platforms and functionalities, including Advanced Voice and canvas modes, enhancing accessibility for users who prefer voice interactions or visual content.

Google Responds with New AI Driven Features in Maps 

In what looks like a response to ChatGPT Search’s launch, Google has announced a series of AI powered updates to its Maps platform. These enhancements focus on improving navigation, making trip planning more intuitive, and providing users with enriched, contextually relevant information on the go.

The standout feature, Immersive View for Routes, transforms how users plan trips, whether by car, bike, or on foot. Using AI to stitch together billions of Street View and aerial images, Immersive View offers a realistic, step by step preview of entire journeys. Users can view potential routes in a multidimensional format, complete with real time traffic and weather simulations. This enables users to anticipate conditions and make better decisions about when to travel, optimising both efficiency and safety.

“Say you want to bike along the water to the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. Just request cycling directions, then tap the Immersive View preview to see your route in a stunning, multidimensional view from start to finish,” Google explained in a recent blog post. This feature, which rolled out in late October, is now available across major cities, including London, Tokyo, and New York, with plans for further expansion.

Another key feature, Lens in Maps, provides augmented reality capabilities to help users navigate unfamiliar environments. Designed to aid orientation, Lens in Maps leverages AI and augmented reality to display nearby points of interest, such as ATMs, restaurants, and transit stations. The Lens icon in Maps’ search bar unlocks this feature, making it simpler for users to acclimate to new areas, which may prove to be an invaluable tool for travellers and city dwellers alike. In its latest expansion, Lens in Maps is available in over 50 cities globally.

For electric vehicle (EV) drivers, Google has enhanced its EV charging information within Maps, alleviating common “charging anxiety.” Now, EV users can view charger compatibility with their vehicles and find details on charging speeds, providing a seamless, informative experience that minimises wasted time and energy. As EV infrastructure continues to grow, this update positions Google Maps as a vital resource for sustainable travel, further solidifying its place as a go to app for daily navigation.

The Future of Search: OpenAI vs Google 

With ChatGPT Search’s launch, OpenAI has set a new precedent for search, offering a more conversational, user centric experience. It’s clear that Google recognises the challenge and has introduced a suite of AI based enhancements that emphasise visual engagement and real time data. It should also be noted here that in response to the evolving search landscape, Google has already introduced several AI driven enhancements to its search capabilities anyway, aiming to provide users with more intuitive and informative experiences. For example, a notable development is the integration of AI Overviews, which offer concise, AI generated summaries at the top of search results, distilling information from various sources to present key insights efficiently.

What Does This Mean for Your Business? 

The arrival of ChatGPT Search marks a new chapter in the ongoing competition between Google and OpenAI, one that has the potential to reshape the search market and redefine how users interact with digital information. Unlike traditional search engines, ChatGPT Search leverages conversational AI, offering users a more interactive and dynamic approach to information retrieval. For business users, this shift could be profound. ChatGPT’s ability to interpret context, generate relevant summaries, and provide conversational responses presents a tool which goes beyond keyword based searches. This could enable businesses to obtain more nuanced insights and find information faster, which could streamline decision making and enhance productivity. With ChatGPT Search, business users could experience a substantial boost in efficiency, as they will be able to engage in a dialogue to refine queries, receiving tailored information without needing to sift through pages of search results.

For Google, the rise of ChatGPT Search represents both a challenge and an opportunity. Google has long dominated the search market, but the conversational interface of ChatGPT could entice users looking for a more personalised search experience. In response, Google has already introduced AI powered features that categorise search results into relevant topics, making information more organised and accessible for users. This move is an attempt to keep users engaged on Google by providing a search experience that feels more intuitive and reduces the time needed to navigate complex information. For advertisers, however, a shift towards conversational search could impact the traditional search engine advertising model. As users spend more time within AI powered interfaces, there may be fewer opportunities to serve traditional ads, pushing Google and other companies to find innovative ways to monetise AI driven search experiences.

In addition to reimagining search, Google has made AI advancements in other areas, such as Google Maps. New AI features in Google Maps can offer users predictive insights, more accurate recommendations, and intelligent route optimisation. For users, this means quicker, more personalised travel planning, with recommendations that align better with their preferences and real time conditions. For businesses, AI enhanced Maps could provide opportunities to reach potential customers through highly tailored suggestions based on location and interests, which could drive foot traffic and engagement more effectively than generalised advertising.

The broader implications of ChatGPT Search’s emergence are equally transformative. With OpenAI’s entry into the search market, users could enjoy a more competitive environment that offers a diversity of search tools tailored to different needs, from in depth, conversational responses to structured topic breakdowns. This competitive pressure may drive all players, including Google and other search engines like Bing, to refine their offerings, improving search quality, speed, and user satisfaction. As AI continues to advance, search engines may shift from being passive tools that display links, to active digital assistants capable of guiding users through multifaceted tasks, with real time feedback and deep personalisation.

As the battle for search supremacy unfolds, the changes to come could impact not only users but also advertisers, forcing a rethink of engagement strategies and potentially creating more sophisticated, AI driven advertising models. In this evolving landscape, users stand to gain the most, as the competition fuels innovation and leads to richer, more intuitive tools that redefine the way we connect with and navigate the digital world.

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Google has announced that Google Maps Timeline data will be stored locally on users’ devices instead of in their Google account, in the cloud, from 1st December 2024. Timeline, formerly known as Location History, helps users track routes, trips, and places they have been, if Location History and Web & App Activity settings are enabled.

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What’s Good About Google Maps? 

Before we look at potential reasons for trying alternatives, it’s worth acknowledging why Google Maps, with 1.8 billion monthly active users worldwide, is the go to mapping and navigation service globally. The fact that it’s from tech giant Google with its vast reach, resources and data capabilities, it’s been around for 19 years, and it is preinstalled on Android devices which dominate the global smartphone market, all have a lot to do with its popularity. However, as anyone who’s used Google Maps will know, it’s also got some key features that make it a great app.

These include:

• Real time navigation and traffic updates, providing turn by turn directions and alerts about accidents and road closures, helping users find the fastest routes and avoid traffic jams.
• Street View provides a 360 degree photographic view of streets, allowing users to easily visualise their surroundings, which helps in better orientation and planning.
• Live View uses augmented reality to overlay ‘real world’ directions through the phone’s camera, simplifying pedestrian navigation and making it easier to follow directions accurately.
• Detailed information about local businesses, including hours of operation, contact information, and user reviews, helps users make informed decisions about where to eat, shop, or find services, ensuring they choose the best options available.
• Public transport information offers schedules, routes, and estimated arrival times for buses, trains, and other public transport, facilitating the planning of multi-modal trips and optimising travel, thus saving time, and reducing stress.
• Offline maps allow users to download maps for specific areas to use without an internet connection, ensuring navigation and location services are available, even in areas with poor connectivity.
• The ‘Explore’ tab suggests nearby attractions, restaurants, and points of interest based on user preferences and current trends, making it easier to discover new and interesting places.
• Custom maps and saved places enable users to create personalised maps and save favourite locations for future reference, which is useful for planning trips and keeping track of important spots.

There are many other features and several recent changes to Google Maps.  There are too many to list in this insight and not all may be attractive to all users.

Possible Criticisms of Google Maps 

We’ve acknowledged what’s great about Maps, but with Google adding more features to and updating and changing aspects of Maps in recent times, some have criticised aspects of it. Some of the less pleasing aspects of Google Maps for some users may be:

• Having too many distracting coloured pins and markers, some of which may not be relevant to the search, for example pink for hotels, orange ones for pubs and eateries, dark blue ones for shops.
• The lighter colour scheme introduced in November where roads are grey instead of white or yellow has been described by some as ‘colder’, with maps that may be more challenging for people with colour blindness to read.
• The Explore tab may appear too crowded with photos and user reviews.
• A more crowded layout can sometimes obscure or fail to show basic information such as the name of the street the user is looking at.
• Frequent changes and updates to the interface can confuse users who have become accustomed to a previous layout, making it harder for them to navigate the app effectively.
• Battery consumption is relatively high, especially when using features like real time navigation and live traffic updates, which can be a significant drawback for users on the go.
• Privacy concerns have been raised regarding the extent of data collection and location tracking, even when the app is not actively in use, which can be unsettling for some users.
• Some users find that the suggested routes and estimated travel times can be inaccurate, particularly in less populated areas or during unusual traffic conditions.

Ten Alternatives 

Google Maps is, of course, not the only mapping and navigation app. Whether you’re unhappy with Google Maps or simply want to take a look at or try similar apps, here are ten popular alternatives:

1. Waze

Waze has over 140 million monthly active users globally, making it one of the most popular navigation apps worldwide. Waze offers real time, community driven navigation, providing alerts about traffic, accidents, road hazards, and speed traps. Users can share live updates, which helps the app suggest the fastest routes based on current conditions. Waze’s popularity is further boosted by its integration with carpooling services: it’s not just a navigation tool but also a platform for shared commuting.

2. Apple Maps 

Not surprisingly, being integrated into the Apple ecosystem, Apple Maps is very popular with an estimated user base of approximately 74 million monthly active users. Apple Maps provides turn by turn navigation, real time traffic updates, and seamless integration with other Apple services. It also offers features like Flyover for 3D views of major cities, as well as detailed information on points of interest.

3. MapFactor Navigator 

MapFactor Navigator uses offline maps based on OpenStreetMap data, offering turn by turn navigation without needing an internet connection. It supports voice guidance, speed limits, and various routing options for different vehicle types.

4. HereWeGo 

HereWeGo provides detailed offline maps, public transport information, and route planning for various modes of travel, including driving, walking, and cycling. It also includes features like fare information for public transport and integration with ride sharing services.

5. TomTom GO Navigation 

Part of the company that was known for manufacturing standalone sat navs, and now transitioned from hardware to software solutions, TomTom GO Navigation offers offline maps, real time traffic information, and speed camera alerts, making it a reliable choice for navigation.

6. Citymapper 

Founded in 2011 by Azmat Yusuf, a former Google employee, Citymapper’s app is excellent for urban navigation, providing detailed public transport information, bike routes, and walking directions, particularly useful in cities.

7. Maps.me 

Maps.me, developed in Zurich and originally known as MapsWithMe, offers offline maps with turn by turn navigation, making it ideal for travellers and those in areas with poor internet connectivity.

8. Sygic 

The company is based in Bratislava, Slovakia, and the Sygic app is very popular, reportedly having more than 200 million users worldwide. Sygic provides offline maps, realvtime traffic updates, and speed limit warnings. It also integrates with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for a seamless in car experience.

9. Komoot

Developed by a German company, Komoot is tailored for outdoor activities like hiking and cycling, offering detailed topographic maps, route planning, and community generated content for various trails and paths.

10. OsmAnd  

OsmAnd is a highly versatile navigation app that uses OpenStreetMap data to provide offline maps and turn by turn navigation. It supports a range of features, including route planning for various modes of travel, detailed offline maps, and the ability to mark favourite locations and points of interest. This app is particularly useful for those who prefer open source solutions and need detailed offline capabilities.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

For some, recent changes to Google Maps may have made the app less appealing. Whether this is due to a busier, some would say more cluttered, interface with too many coloured pins, a colder colour scheme less friendly to those with colour blindness, or perhaps a more crowded layout that sometimes obscures basic information, these changes have made the user experience less intuitive and enjoyable for some users, leading to dissatisfaction.

For Google, such criticisms may represent challenges in balancing the addition of new features with maintaining a user friendly interface. While Google Maps continues to be extremely popular, to evolve and innovate, addressing these user concerns is crucial for retaining its vast user base and ensuring continued satisfaction.

For businesses and users considering alternatives, this landscape presents an opportunity. Trying other mapping and navigation apps can not only address specific user needs better but also foster competition and innovation in the market. Alternative apps like Waze, Apple Maps, and HereWeGo, each with their unique features, might offer a more tailored experience, particularly for users dissatisfied with recent changes in Google Maps.

As Google Maps continues to develop, it will likely focus on integrating more advanced technologies and enhancing its features to maintain its competitive edge. This includes leveraging AI for improving real time traffic predictions, providing more accurate estimated times of arrival, and enhancing route planning by analysing historical and real time data. Features like Live View, which uses augmented reality to provide on the ground navigation, show Google’s commitment to using cutting edge technology to enhance the user experience.

For businesses, staying informed about these developments is essential. Exploring various mapping and navigation tools can help optimise navigation and improve customer experience. Adopting the latest technologies can ensure businesses provide accurate, efficient, and user friendly services. This proactive approach can ultimately benefit both the business and its customers, ensuring that they stay competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

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Driving 

Since Google Maps can be extremely useful in the car, the first few tricks are for driving.

1. Set Departure or Arrival Times 

What it is: With this feature, you can plan a route based on your desired departure or arrival time.
Benefits: This is a great way to help with your scheduling by estimating travel time based on traffic predictions.
How: To use this feature, search for your destination and tap on “Directions.” Choose your mode of transport. Then, tap on the three dots next to the “Your location” field. Select “Set depart or arrive time” to choose your desired time, and see the estimated duration.

2. Smarter Driving with Google Assistant 

What it is: This is a helpful driving mode with messaging assistance.
Benefits: It reads messages aloud and provides you with driving notifications.
How: In “Navigation settings” enable “Google Assistant settings” and “Get messaging help while driving.” Adjust the message alert settings and activate “Driving notifications.”

3. Choosing The Fastest Routes Over Fuel Efficient Ones 

What it is: If time is really of the essence, Google Maps allows you to opt for the fastest route instead of the default fuel efficient one.
Benefits: Saves time and gets you there fast.
How: Disable “Prefer fuel efficient routes” in “Navigation settings” > “Route options.”

4. Smarter Searching Along The Route 

What it is: If you need to plan some stops along the way, this feature helps you to search for the kind of places you’re interested in along your current route.
Benefits: Finds your stops without the need for detouring.
How: From the directions screen, tap the three dot menu > “Search along route.” Next, type in the kind of thing you’re looking for along the way, for example restaurants, petrol stations or specific businesses.

5. Traffic Tracking 

What it is: This can be particularly helpful on UK roads because it allows you to view real time traffic information during navigation.
Benefits: Keeps you informed about traffic conditions so, hopefully, you can avoid the jams.
How: During navigation, swipe up on the time estimate panel > activate “Show traffic on map.”

Making Things Easier 

These next tricks offer ways to just save time and make things easier for yourself within Google Maps.

6. Glanceable Directions 

What it is: This offers an enhanced navigation view with detailed steps and ETA: everything you need at a glance rather than having to search within Google Maps.
Benefits: Easier navigation and a better route overview.
How: Open Maps, tap profile picture > “Settings” > “Navigation settings.” Activate “Glanceable directions.”

7. Live View for Walking 

What it is: This makes it much easier to know and see more of what’s actually around you while you’re walking along, especially if it’s somewhere you haven’t been before. Live View for Walking uses augmented reality to help with walking directions.
Benefits: Easier navigation in unfamiliar areas.
How: Start walking directions, and tap “Live View” near the bottom.

8. Spot Saving 

What it is: If you’ve just found a great parking spot and you’d like to remember where it was for future reference, this feature will save your parking spot or any location.
Benefits: Easy return navigation.
How: Tap the blue dot > “Save parking” and add details if needed.

9. Pinned Places 

What it is: If you need to visit the same places, it’s much easier to have these places saved somewhere so you can quickly pull them up rather than type them in anew each time. Pinned places does just that: it pins common trips for quick access.
Benefits: Simplifies starting navigation to frequent destinations.
How: Pin trips from the main Maps screen, “Go” tab at the bottom or from the directions screen.

Eating 

Google Maps now provides plenty of details for nearby places to eat. Here’s a helpful trick if you’re looking for your favourite type of food.

10. Better Restaurant Suggestions

What it is: This Filters restaurant searches by various criteria.
Benefits: Tailored dining options.
How: After selecting “Restaurants” you can tap the filter icon and apply filters to find just the kind of food you’re looking for in the area.

Sharing 

If you’re meeting up with people, or just to make things safer, it can be useful to let others know where you are. This next trick does just that.

11. Shared Places 

What it is: A way to share your real time location.
Benefits: Lets others track your progress.
How: Tap the blue location dot within the main maps screen > “Share location” or use “Share trip progress” during navigation.

Customising 

Customising a map can be a great way to make it simpler and faster for you to see what you need to see. This final trick helps with just that.

12. Customise Your Map with Labels 

What it is: You can add your own personal labels to locations for easier identification.
Benefits: This simplifies finding frequently visited places or marking spots of interest with custom names.
How: Search for a location or long press on the map to select a place. Next, tap on the location’s name or address at the bottom, then choose “Label.” Enter your custom label name and save. The label will appear on your map for future reference.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

With other popular mapping tools available, Google has tried very hard in recent times to add a variety of extra useful features to Google Maps in order to compete and to retain and engage its users. However, although many of us use Google Maps, we’re unlikely to have the time or the inclination to read up on the growing number of features and may only use Google Maps as and when, perhaps sticking to the same basic features each time. The hope is, therefore, that this collection of tricks may provide you with some useful tools and inspiration to get more value from Google Maps, perhaps saving you some valuable time and enhancing aspects of the journey on your next business or leisure trip.

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How? 

What Google means is that if users, for example, are visiting a town or city, they can simply tell Google Maps what they’re looking for and AI will find it. Google’s large language models (LLMs) analyse the information in Maps and then make suggestions for where to go based on the user’s question. Google says that the ability to suggest places on the fly using generative AI will benefit users if they are “feeling spontaneous or need to change your plans suddenly.” 

Example 

The US based example given by Google about how it works is: “Let’s say you’re visiting San Francisco and want to plan a few hours of thrifting for unique vintage finds. Just ask Maps what you’re looking for, like ‘places with a vintage vibe in SF.’ Our AI models will analyse Maps’ rich information about nearby businesses and places along with photos, ratings, and reviews from the Maps community to give you trustworthy suggestions.” 

Google says the results are displayed in “helpful categories.” 

Experiment: Local Guides First 

Google says that adding generative AI Maps is at the “early access experiment” stage and it is currently being tested in the US among “select Local Guides” These are members of its Maps community who give feedback on new Maps products and updates.

Search Updated In October 

This latest “supercharging Maps with generative AI” is the next step onwards from the addition of generative AI to Search in Maps back in October last year. That change meant that the generative AI overlayed photos of what users were looking for on the map. The photos, such as food or realistic pictures of buildings, came from photos shared by users and advanced image recognition models.

Other features introduced at the time also included information about charging stations on routes for EV drivers (Android and iOS) and, in the US, the addition of Lens in Maps. Previously known as Search with Live View, Lens uses AI and AR to show where there are nearby ATMs, restaurants, and more.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

Google says the addition of generative AI to Maps is “just the beginning” and it certainly provides incredible scope for adding more layers of value and augmentation of the Maps product.

Google, like Microsoft, has invested heaviy in AI and in December it introduced its “Gemini” model which it described as the “most capable and general model we’ve ever built” and which can understand, operate across, and combine different types of information including text, code, audio, image, and video. Also, like Microsoft, Google is keen to get its generative AI both incorporated into, and adding value to, its suite of products and, crucially, monetise it by packaging it into new products like Gemini Pro and Gemini Ultra.

The AI “supercharged” Maps is likely to provide more new opportunities for Google to expand its advertising revenue. It also highlights the importance, particularly for businesses with premises that attract customers in the local area such as restaurants and shops, of getting plenty of good reviews on their Google business profile. It also shows the importance of keeping this and their website up to date with their latest products and services, perhaps making sure they’re mentioned in their reviews so that AI can select their business when a person asks the AI in Maps for a specific product or service in the area. Google is, therefore, using AI to retain and reengage businesses with its products.

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