Google is working to create a map service that does more than just tell users where to turn left, and will eventually offer everything from related content to ideas for future vacations.
The search giant this week teamed up with media outlets including The New York Times, Lonely Planet and The Infatuation to create lists of restaurants and attractions for specific travel destinations, starting with 40 cities in the U.S. and Canada. announced that it would be added. The company provided more details about how it will first bring generative AI to Maps, a program announced in February and currently in testing with some power users.
The update, previewed by Tech Brew at Google's travel-themed event in Manhattan this week, leverages AI, not just generated AI, to provide better recommendations from information about EV charging stations. Up until now, aspects of the map have been changed.
Tips for stylish travel
In addition to lists created by our publisher partners, Google Maps also identifies “trending” restaurants that are especially popular at a given time, as well as “steady risers,” “hidden gems,” or “up-and-coming” restaurants. It also generates a list of locations. I'm very interested,” Google Maps product director Andrew Deutch said on stage at the event.
When asked by another journalist who attended the event whether Google was going to include recommendations from other sources, such as travel bloggers, Deutch said, “We're going to work with the little people… that start surfacing. We're going to take a kind of cautious approach to that.” I'll use those first, but I'll try to find some great lists of these from the map community. ”
“We have some specific partnerships that we don't have with some of the big publishers,” Deutch told Tech Brew at the event. “We're not paying creators to create this content, but one of the things we're doing is, 'How do we make this useful?' We're trying to have a dialogue with them about this. How can I use this tool? ”
AI everywhere
Google is planning a broader rollout of its map-generating AI capabilities in the future as the tech giant continues to weave technology into all of its services. Duchi said the integration will make Maps more conversational, so users can ask Maps, for example, what to do in Chicago on a rainy day, and narrow down results through interactions such as asking for options for kids. He said he could.
The feature is currently only in the hands of Local Guides' top volunteers, and there is no “specific timeline” for when it will be available to all Maps users, Deutsch said.
This article originally appeared on Tech Brew, a subsidiary of Morning Brew.
