Google officially debuted Gemini 3, marks a major overhaul of artificial intelligence models and the platforms that use them. New ways of thinking, new app features, and an overhaul of Google's ecosystem that could change the way people interact with Google products in everyday life.
Google Maps always managed to get me from point A to point B without drama, but with the latest update integrated Google's Gemini Artificial Intelligencenavigation has become much more interactive and flexible. Update adds context-aware detection and real-time suggestions that respond to what you do, not just where you go. AI reasoning is based on real location data, using information from business listings, reviews, images and traffic conditions to answer questions.
Discover the best coffee near you
I started with a walk to a nearby park. Along the way, I clicked the Gemini button where the Assistant button once sat and asked the AI to “find the best coffee shops along the way and tell me which one has the highest review rating.”
Almost instantly Google Maps showed several options with their ratings on the map, told me about the best of them and highlighted those that are closest to me at the moment. As I got closer to the park, I tried again and the map updated accordingly, all without ever leaving navigation.
When I chose one, it updated my routes and asked if I wanted to include a route from the cafe to the park, which really made for a very easy trip.
Route-based planning
So much for the immediate stuff, but what about long-term planning down the road? I arranged a ride from my house to an art gallery about an hour away and then drove off.
While I was driving, I asked Gemini at Maps to “recommend the three best scenic lunch spots on the way to your destination that aren't too expensive and easy to park.” This usually means either opening Gemini or doing a more traditional keyword search in Maps.
Instead, Gemini began describing three spots along the route with a brief explanation of why they were considered scenic, what food there was, and their star rating. None of them required significant workarounds. The twins seemed to understand that scenic was important only after considering the route and even what scenic meant, with mention of river views and popular terraces. He even offered suggestions such as “parking is easiest on weekdays.”
Traffic and amenities
Traffic updates are something Maps has always handled quite well, but I wanted to see how well Gemini could handle complex conditions and adjust plans in real time.
While on the road, I deliberately took a slower route to observe the reaction when I asked Gemini, “Tell me if there are any traffic slowdowns ahead, and suggest alternative, faster routes that also pass by a gas station or rest stop.” Gemini talked about the upcoming highway slowdown due to road work, which was standard, but then went far beyond that tradition by offering two alternative routes.
These options were not only faster in the current environment, but also met the additional needs I mentioned. One drove past a conveniently located gas station right at the exit, and the other drove through a small town with a rest area and a snack bar. What stood out was the way Maps combined multiple criteria into a coherent set of options. He balanced convenience and speed by providing estimated times and clearly marking amenities on the map.
Gemini is fully built into Maps, not just an update to Assistant. It's more like using Gemini with a map add-on than using Maps with an AI add-on. The casual language made it easier to use than the more traditional way of interacting with Maps, and the AI could remember what I had said earlier during the trip, so I didn't even have to repeat what I was looking for when asking for nearby lookout points or rest stops. It's more talkative, but also more decisive. It narrows the options instead of overwhelming you.
There were times when it took about 15 extra seconds for results to load, but nothing disrupted the journey. I didn't mind this when the results were as useful as they were. Gemini is advanced enough that, when combined with Maps data, it seems to get the gist of what you want and fill the rest with context. He also showed some reticence in making suggestions when they were relevant and remaining silent otherwise.
The update has changed the way I communicate with Maps, giving it more confidence when handling multiple requests. This is a real change and people will probably want to embrace it. And of course, encouraging people to travel towards Gemini and in other contexts is a destination for which Google would be happy to provide navigation.
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