Google announced Thursday that Google Maps is introducing an “Ask Maps” chat feature powered by Gemini along with an updated “Immersive Navigation” experience that brings 3D view, street details, natural voice guidance and more to the app.
The new Ask Maps feature allows users to ask complex, real-world questions using natural language, such as “My phone is dying, where can I charge it without having to wait in a long line for coffee?” or “Is there a public tennis court with lights on that I can play on tonight?”
The tech giant says the feature can also be used to quickly plan trips. For example, you could ask, “I’m headed to the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Coral Dunes, are there any recommended stops along the way?” Maps will then give you directions, ETAs and tips from real people, like how to find a hidden trail or get a free entrance ticket.
Ask Maps personalizes its answers using signals, including locations a user has searched for or saved to their account, Google said. So if a user asks something like, “My friends are coming from Midtown East to meet me after work. Are there any cozy places with a table for four at 7 tonight?” Ask Maps may already know that the user prefers vegan restaurants and will suggest convenient options that offer vegan options.
Ask Maps is now available in the US and India on Android and iOS. The feature will soon be available on desktop computers, Google said.
As for the new ‘Immersive Navigation’ update, Maps gets a 3D view that reflects nearby buildings, overpasses and terrain, similar to Apple Maps. The app will also highlight road details such as lanes, crosswalks, traffic lights and stop signs.
In addition to the visual changes, Maps is getting more functionality designed to help drivers stay better informed on the road.
Techcrunch event
San Francisco, California
|
13-15 October 2026
Maps now gives drivers a wider view of their route through smart zooms and transparent buildings to help them look ahead and prepare for tricky turns and lane changes in advance.
Additionally, Google has updated the Maps voice guidance to sound more natural. For example, if you’re exiting the freeway at two exits, you’ll now hear something like, “Take this exit and take the next one onto Illinois 43 South.”
Maps will now also explain trade-offs for alternative routes, such as a longer journey with less traffic or a faster journey that includes tolls. The app will also notify you of real-time disruptions on your route, such as road construction and accidents. These features will use data from both the Google Maps and Waze communities.
Google also announced that before you head to your destination, you can preview it and its surroundings using Street View imagery and get suggestions on where to park. As you approach, Maps will highlight the building’s entrance, nearby parking and which side of the street it should be on.
“Our team set out to redesign the driving experience with the goal of taking the guesswork out of travel,” said Miriam Daniel, VP of Google Maps, in a briefing with reporters. “Immersive Navigation is a complete transformation of the navigation experience. It features redesigned graphics, fresh real-world information delivered to you in real-time, and more intuitive guidance.”
Immersive Navigation begins rolling out in the U.S. today, with availability expanding over the coming months to eligible iOS and Android devices, as well as CarPlay, Android Auto, and Google-enabled vehicles.
Thursday’s announcement comes as Google put Gemini on Maps late last year, allowing the AI assistant to answer questions about places along a route, provide information on topics like sports or news, and add events to a calendar. It also started using Gemini with Street View to improve navigation directions by reporting nearby landmarks like gas stations, restaurants or famous buildings instead of distances.
