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The big picture: Following a multi-billion-dollar deal with Apple to integrate Gemini into Siri, Google has announced plans to bring its AI assistant to Google Maps by the end of the year. The company says the integration will enhance the app’s voice-activated navigation and provide a safer, more seamless hands-free driving experience.

According to Google, Gemini will be able to locate virtually any destination, including restaurants, hotels, and movie theaters, and automatically suggest the fastest route. It will also identify parking spots, report traffic incidents, check for nearby EV chargers, and perform a variety of other tasks using natural language commands.

Users will also be able to perform multi-step tasks with Gemini, such as asking it to find a budget-friendly vegan restaurant along their route and then navigate to that location if one is available. The assistant can even add calendar events for upcoming appointments, such as meetings or dinner dates.

In addition to Gemini integration, Google Maps will introduce easily recognizable landmarks, including gas stations, restaurants, and famous buildings. The app will use these landmarks for directions – for example, saying, “Turn right after the Thai Siam Restaurant,” instead of the less intuitive “Turn right in 500 feet,” which can be confusing in real-world navigation.

To enable more accurate navigation using local landmarks, Google analyzed updated information on 250 million locations in Maps and cross-referenced it with Street View imagery. The company says incorporating Street View data helps identify the most visually striking and well-known sites on each street, ensuring directions are both accurate and easy to follow.

Gemini will roll out globally on Google Maps for Android and iOS by the end of the year, with support for Android Auto coming later. Landmark-based navigation is already available in the US with the latest Google Maps update, though availability in other regions has not yet been confirmed.

Later this month, Gemini will enhance Google Lens integration in Google Maps, enabling users to identify landmarks such as cafes, monuments, parks, and other points of interest simply by pointing their camera. Users can also ask questions about a location, including “What is this place?”, “Why is it so popular?”, or “What’s the vibe inside?”, helping them decide whether the spot is worth visiting.