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Google Maps is getting a slew of updates that will make the feature easier to use. The updates in question were announced at the Google AI event, where the company also revealed more details about Google Bard, its answer to ChatGPT.
Immersive View, a major new feature coming to Google Maps, combines Street View and aerial images to create 3D representations of specific locations. Maps is also improving Live View and navigation.
Here are all of the major Google Maps updates.
Immersive View for Google Maps is now available in select cities worldwide. As previously stated, this feature makes use of advances in AI and computer vision to combine Street View and aerial photos to create 3D versions of specific locations. On top of that, it includes information such as weather, traffic, and even how crowded a location is.
Google hopes that by allowing users to get a sense of their desired destination, Immersive View will make it easier for them to plan trips. For example, if you want to visit the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, you can virtually fly over it and see its entrances. A time slider can be used to see what it looks like at different times of the day and what the weather will be like when you arrive. The feature also indicates where a location may become overcrowded.
Starting today, five cities will have access to immersive view: Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, London, and Tokyo. These same cities received a preview of Immersive View in September 2022, but it should now be available to more people in those cities. Google has stated that Immersive View will be available in the coming months in Amsterdam, Dublin, Florence, and Venice.
You can also view other locations such as restaurants or cafes by gliding down the street from where you started, just like in regular Google Maps. Immersive View has the added benefit of allowing you to see inside a business to get a sense of what you’re in for. This appears to be a good way to determine whether you like the vibe of a place.
A Live View update will allow you to search for things like ATMs, restaurants, parks, and transit stops simply by lifting your phone while walking down the street. The technology in question employs artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) to overlay information over the real-world image displayed on your phone. If you’ve played augmented reality games like Pokemon Go, you’ll understand how this works.
Those who choose to walk, bike, or take public transportation can benefit from some of the navigation updates. This includes glanceable directions, which let you track your progress from your route overview or lock screen. You’ll get updated ETAs and directions without having to unlock your phone or open the Maps app. Glanceable directions is now available globally on Android, with iOS to follow in the coming months. It will work with Live Activities and iOS 16.1. Google is utilizing the capabilities of its Bard AI to help improve its popular Maps app. Even if you have reservations about AI-powered technology like this and ChatGPT, it’s difficult to dismiss these AI-powered Maps updates. The immersive view could be extremely useful for visitors who want to get a sense of where they’re going. Similarly, the AR-focused Live View updates should be beneficial to users.
It will be interesting to see how Google Bard is received and whether it functions as intended. We’ll keep an eye on this and ChatGTP, so stay tuned for more as it develops.