Google’s artificial intelligence-powered Gemini voice assistant is coming to Google Maps in CarPlay. The feature, which is rolling out now in the United States, enables iPhone users to ask natural questions while using Maps on CarPlay, and Gemini will offer relevant answers and potential navigation actions, without requiring the driver to take their eyes off the road.
The American tech giant showcased the new integration in a short video where the driver asks Gemini, “Where’s that park with the view of the skyline and the Space Needle?” The app replies with, “That is Kerry Park, located on Queen Anne Hill. Would you like me to navigate there?” Along with the voice response, Maps also showed the route to Kerry Park.
However, the big thing about Gemini coming to Google Maps on CarPlay is that drivers can ask several subsequent questions about their potential destination, like the weather forecast, whether the venue is crowded at the time of arrival, and if there’s a way to avoid tolls while getting there.
To use Gemini in Google Maps on CarPlay, drivers need to tap the Gemini icon on the car’s display. The move comes after the technology company deployed its “most significant update in over a decade” to its GPS navigation app. Back in March, Maps got a new Immersive Mode that includes a detailed 3D map with buildings, overpasses, crosswalks, traffic lanes, traffic lights, and stop signs.
Additionally, the overhaul brought Gemini into the mix via a feature called “Ask Maps,” but that’s only available when using Maps directly on an iPhone.
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