Hit the road, Assistant

Gemini is rolling out to Maps on Android and iOS, with Android Auto coming soon.

Credit: Google

Google is in the process of purging Assistant across its products, and the next target is Google Maps. Starting today, Gemini will begin rolling out in Maps, powering new experiences for navigation, location info, and more. This update will eventually completely usurp Google Assistant’s hands-free role in Maps, but the rollout will take time. So for now, the smart assistant in Google Maps will still depend on how you’re running the app.

Across all Gemini’s incarnations, Google stresses its conversational abilities. Whereas Assistant was hard-pressed to keep one or two balls in the air, you can theoretically give Gemini much more complex instructions. Google’s demo includes someone asking for nearby restaurants with cheap vegan food, but instead of just providing a list, it suggests something based on the user’s input. Gemini can also offer more information about the location.

Maps will also get its own Gemini-infused version of Lens for after you park. You will be able to point the camera at a landmark, restaurant, or other business to get instant answers to your questions. This experience will be distinct from the version of Lens available in the Google app, focused on giving you location-based information. Maybe you want to know about the menu at a restaurant or what it’s like inside. Sure, you could open the door… but AI!

While Google has recently been forced to acknowledge that hallucinations are inevitable, the Maps team says it does not expect that to be a problem with this version of Gemini. The suggestions coming from the generative AI bot are grounded in Google’s billions of place listings and Street View photos. This will, allegedly, make the robot less likely to make up a location. Google also says in no uncertain terms that Gemini is not responsible for choosing your route.

How far is 500 feet?

The robot will, however, get involved with the spoken directions. Currently, Google Maps and other navigation systems use vague instructions like “turn in 500 feet.” However, these announcements often arrive far too late to be useful, and can people accurately gauge 500 feet while driving? The Gemini-based solution is to give instructions with landmarks.

Instead of only using distances for turns, Gemini might use a gas station, restaurant, or recognizable sign to help you find your turn. Again, Google says its database of hundreds of millions of locations with accompanying Street View images helps ensure the directions are accurate. Gemini can also alert you to possible slowdowns along your route even if you don’t have Maps open.

Credit: Google

Google’s driving alerts for accidents and other traffic complications will also be tied into Gemini. So you’ll be able to just say “there’s an accident” or “traffic jam ahead,” and Gemini will make the report as if you used the multi-step reporting process manually. Gemini in Maps can also connect to other Google services, like adding events to your calendar. And that request can be lumped in with navigation or map-oriented instructions.

If you’re running Google Maps on your phone, Gemini could arrive in the coming days. For those using Android Auto or Google built-in, the rollout will begin “soon.” No, Google doesn’t have anything more specific on that, but that group will get Gemini sooner than Apple Car Play Maps users. Google says it’s still evaluating how to integrate Gemini’s hands-free features with Apple’s more limited platform.

Ryan Whitwam is a senior technology reporter at Ars Technica, covering the ways Google, AI, and mobile technology continue to change the world. Over his 20-year career, he’s written for Android Police, ExtremeTech, Wirecutter, NY Times, and more. He has reviewed more phones than most people will ever own. You can follow him on Bluesky, where you will see photos of his dozens of mechanical keyboards.