Google Maps is
launching new updates that are intended to make finding travel inspiration and
local recommendations in your destination easier. Users will start seeing these
lists of suggestions popping up in Google Maps in more than 40 cities across the U.S. and Canada this week.
These updates will also be rolled out globally on Android and iOS mobile
platforms later this month.
With this trio of
updates, users can discover curated lists of local recommendations from other
users and esteemed websites, customize their own lists and access key insights,
making vacation planning a breeze and ensuring a seamless on-the-go experience.
To access the new features, simply search for a city in Google Maps and and
swipe up to see curated lists of places from people who know the city inside
and out. You’ll also see lists from such reputable sources as Lonely Planet,
The New York Times and OpenTable.
And, when away
from home, the question of where to eat is always top of mind. Now, whether you’re
a traveler or just want to find a trendy spot in town, you can use new restaurant lists created by
Google Maps. These lists will spotlight the eateries people are showing
interest in or rating highly on Maps at the time. Google has sorted restaurants
into three separate lists based on various criteria, creating indices for trending,
top-rated, and hidden gem locations.
- The Trending list is updated
weekly to spotlight places that experienced a recent spike in popularity
on Maps, making it ideal for discovering the latest hot spots.
- The Top list showcases the places that the
Maps community has consistently shown love for. Use this list to find a
neighborhood’s longstanding favorites.
- The Gems list is for places that are
considered an area's best-kept secrets, highlighting great restaurants
that still fly under the radar.
Creating Maps
lists allows you to organize places you’d like to visit and places you’ve
already been that you might wish to revisit. With the new lists format, users
will also be able to more easily arrange their selections for easy reference, as they can now
choose the order in which places appear. Simply move them up or down in whatever
order you prefer to have them displayed. Users can also link in content from
their social media streams, such as their own reviews of a certain venue.
Similarly, to give
users a good sense of each place at a glance, Google’s AI pulls key insights to
display from the Maps community. When you search a spot, you’ll see select photos
and reviews that encapsulate what patrons love about it. The AI function can
even help you identify the name of a particular dish and display helpful
information based on a restaurant’s menu.
New design updates
are also set to give Google Maps a fresh look, including a simplified home
screen and new pin colors that make places on the map easier to find.
Trip-Planning
AI
Google has also
just announced an update that’s coming to its Search Generative Experience (SGE),
which will enable users to create travel itineraries and compile trip ideas
using AI. This means that Google will be taking on other companies that are
already applying the generative AI’s capabilities to help travelers plan their
trips, such as Mindtrip and Layla.
To come up with its
travel recommendations, Google’s AI engine relies upon information from sites
across the internet, as well as photos, reviews and other specifics users have
submitted about any given place. Conversationally, users can ask the AI something
like “plan me a five-day trip to New York City that focuses on entertainment”
and receive a sample itinerary that includes local restaurants, attractions and
points of interest. Once you’ve constructed your ideal itinerary, you can
export it to Gmail, or
Google Docs or Maps.
This new capability
is currently only available in the U.S. (in English) to those who are signed up
for Google’s Search Labs program, which invites users to experiment with early-phase
Google Search functions. The company has not stated if or when this function
will become more widely available. According to TechCrunch,
Google is not only testing out new realms for using generative AI, it’s also
gathering data about consumers’ travel purchasing intent, which would support
its wider ad business.
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