“Google Maps gets AI to help find interesting places
Google has integrated an AI algorithm into its mapping service to help users find interesting places using large language models (LLMs). The new feature in Google Maps will respond to requests for shopping and restaurant recommendations, using LLM “to analyze big data on more than 250 million locations and verified information from a community of more than 300 million members to quickly suggest places to go.”
For years, Google developers have been working to turn the company’s mapping service into a tool that allows you to search for and discover new places. The use of a generative neural network for this purpose seems to be a logical step. According to the available data, the new Google Maps location search function works very similarly to the AI version of the company’s search engine.
All the user has to do is indicate which place they might be interested in, for example, “places with a vintage atmosphere.” After that, AI algorithms will select suitable options based on the analysis of extensive information from Google Maps about nearby establishments, as well as process available photos, ratings, and user reviews. Eventually, the service will prepare several offers that best meet the criteria of the user’s request.
Google said that during the testing phase, access to the new feature will be open to members of the company’s expert community in the United States. This organization has existed since at least 2019, and its members write reviews, share photos, answer questions, edit descriptions of places, and check the accuracy of information on Google Maps.
After the testing phase is completed, AI location search in Google’s mapping service will be available to users in the United States. It is not yet known when this innovation will appear outside the home market
