Google Maps Has A New Search Function For Oddly Specific Questions

Need to find a rest stop that has a vending machine loaded with Dr. Pepper? Ask Maps should know the answer.

Volvo XC90 Touchscreen

Photo by: Volvo

Jeff Perez

By: Jeff Perez

Mar 13, at 1:00pm ET

Add Motor1.com as a preferred source in Google

Comment

Love it or hate it, AI has already infiltrated nearly every aspect of daily life—now it’s coming to your navigation app, too. Google is rolling out a new feature for Google Maps called "Ask Maps," which uses the company’s Gemini AI to answer more complex questions while you’re planning a trip or already on the road.

According to a blog post from the vice president of Google Maps, Miriam Daniel, the feature will let users ask the app more specific questions. You could say something like, "My phone is dying—where can I charge it without waiting in a long line for coffee?" or "Is there a public tennis court with lights on where I can play tonight?" Maps should then surface relevant suggestions based on information already built into the platform.

Google Maps Ask Maps

Google Maps Ask Maps

Photo by: Google Maps

The goal, Daniel says, is to save users from having to dig through reviews, photos, and comments—which can be hugely distracting if you’re trying to find something while driving. Instead, Gemini AI scans the available data and pulls together the most relevant details for you.

Google also says the feature could be especially useful for long road trips. If you’re planning a drive to somewhere like the Grand Canyon, for example, Ask Maps should be able to build out a travel itinerary with recommended stops, attractions, or places to eat along the way.

Google is also introducing revamped visuals with an immersive navigation mode. So, rather than relying solely on a flat 2D map, the system combines mapping data, Street View imagery, and AI-generated modeling to create a more realistic look at the road ahead. That means drivers can see three-dimensional details like buildings, terrain, and landmarks.

What do you think?

View

Comments

The Ask Maps feature appears as a new button inside the Maps app. Google rolled out the feature out earlier this week in the US and India on Android and iOS devices, with desktop support expected to arrive soon.

Motor1's Take: When used well, AI can be a genuinely useful tool. In this case, Ask Maps seems like a smart way to quickly find specific things without digging through endless reviews or photos—especially when you’re behind the wheel.