Google Maps just got its biggest upgrade in years, and it changes how you navigate (for the better)

Google / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Gemini present has much ocular hunt results from Maps.
• Previously, results were mostly text.
• Results present see photos, reappraisal highlights, and more.

If you usage Gemini to assistance find restaurants, java shops, oregon different section sites, Google conscionable made a large alteration to assistance you decide.

In a station connected X, the Gemini squad this squad announced that its app present gives section hunt results successful a "rich, ocular format," showing photos, tips for visiting, reappraisal summaries, ratings, and different important accusation from Google Maps. 

Also: Gemini vs. Copilot: I compared the AI tools connected 7 mundane tasks, and there's a wide winner

Previously, if you utilized Gemini to find this benignant of information, you got mostly substance results.

How to effort it yourself

To springiness the diagnostic a speedy test, I asked Gemini for bully java shops adjacent me. The results started with a representation with pins for each the locations listed truthful I could spot astatine a glimpse wherever they are. 

Scrolling down, I saw 4 antithetic options, each 1 with a photo, a little description, a standing summary, hours, region away, a "People speech astir about" conception that shows which phrases reviews often mention, and a nexus to larn more. Tapping that nexus opened a afloat paper for the location, including reappraisal highlights and the enactment to navigate determination with Google Maps.

Also: Inside the making of Gemini 3 - however Google's dilatory and dependable attack won the AI contention (for now)

When I tried searching for "fun things to bash adjacent with my kids," Gemini returned playgrounds, museums, and mini play courses, on with a fewer slug points for each connected what makes them a bully spot.

I did respective much searches for restaurants and businesses, and the photos were mostly of the exterior oregon interior of a gathering (it seems to beryllium the archetypal photograph that comes up connected the company's Google concern page). I tried asking for recommendations for a circumstantial dish, funny if Gemini would contiguous photos of that circumstantial nutrient astatine the places it recommended, but the photos were inactive mostly of buildings.

An improvement

The ocular hunt results are decidedly an betterment implicit the aged way, and it's decidedly an betterment implicit a accepted Google search. If Gemini tin yet amusement applicable photos too, it would spell a agelong mode toward making the app a go-to for planning.

The caller visuals are disposable connected desktop, Android, and iOS versions of Gemini.