Thanks in part to the growing and widespread use of artificial intelligence-based functions, Google Maps continues to evolve and be enriched with new features and options that are gradually making it a more effective and versatile tool.
Recently, there have been Waze alerts directly in Maps, indications of the presence of stairs along walking routes, an accident reporting system and various other new features, some of which will be available soon.
To improve Maps, Google is introducing new features and options that will enable the application to offer a clearer, simpler and more informed user experience. Starting with new options for driving in unfamiliar areas with multiple exits, lanes and junctions, which are now displayed more clearly on the map. This new feature is currently limited to around thirty cities, but will soon be available elsewhere, on both Android and iOS.
It is not yet available in the UK, only in the United States, for the moment, but the integration of Gemini, Google's artificial intelligence system, which draws inspiration to find ideas for places to visit and things to do as well as providing other information by answering the user's questions directly by voice in natural language, will be useful for this.
On the other hand, Google has already introduced other functions for staying informed, such as the option of indicating the presence of stairs along walking routes, or the ability to see and report flooded, unpaved, low-visibility roads and other disruptions caused by weather events. Real-time alerts from Waze (also a Google service) also arrive on Google Maps, enriching the navigation system with other useful information on the presence of accidents, roadblocks and other events. In this respect, options for reporting accidents and other problems on the route are also being deployed on Maps for Apple CarPlay, Android Auto (and Android Automotive).
In addition to these useful functions, Google Maps for iOS has also offered for a few weeks now the possibility of changing the car icon by choosing the colour and type: in addition to the red car, yellow SUV and green van already present, the icons for a saloon, compact car, SUV, Jeep and sports car have also been added. To change them, simply tap the blue arrow icon that appears during navigation and select the alternative icon of your choice, an option that will soon be available on Google Maps for Android.
Also from the US (and Canada in this case), a very useful new feature from Google Maps: the ability to book a car park directly from Google Maps (or Google Search) via SpotHero, a well-known online parking reservation service, also available as an app for Android Auto. There are also various filters (wheelchair access, charging stations, etc.) and the ability to choose preferred dates and times to make it easier to find and book a car park in advance.
The new roll-out phase function is also useful. Once you've arrived at your destination, it shows the building and entrance to the arrival location, as well as nearby car parks. Once you've parked, Google Maps also takes care of recording the location of the car park and, if you wish, offers you the option of walking to the entrance following the normal directions or using the augmented reality navigation option. And if you have to use public transport, the recently introduced delay alerts and useful details such as the entrance to underground stations are also proving very useful.
Google also recently announced an update to Immersive View, the option that uses artificial intelligence to immersively visualise certain locations, now available in new cities and locations - over 150 new metropolises, including London, Brussels and Frankfurt. It's a function that can be useful for taking a virtual tour of an unfamiliar route or place, but it's also invaluable when you're on holiday to discover a range of information in a simple and special way.
As always, we would like to point out that most of the new Maps functions introduced by Google are starting to be distributed on the US market. For availability in the UK and elsewhere, you may have to wait a few weeks or months, depending on the situation.