Google Maps is gearing up for significant updates in January 2024, emphasizing its evolution driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR). The aim is not just navigation but to enhance user experience and relevance. In India, the updates are particularly tailored to cater to diverse mobility needs.
Key features include Google Maps adding landmarks to shared addresses, facilitated through any medium, such as WhatsApp. Integration of Google Lens allows users to use the phone’s camera for overlays showing nearby shops, restaurants, and other points of interest with details like business hours and ratings.
Walking navigation receives a substantial update, as does public transport, with new city additions like Mumbai and Kolkata for metro trains on the Where Is My Train app. Fuel-efficient routing, using upgraded algorithms, considers the best routing based on the fuel type and specific guidance for two-wheelers, initially launching in India and Indonesia.
Miriam Daniel, Vice President and General Manager for Google Maps at Google, highlights the focus on helping people truly experience a place, stating, “We’re also focused on catering to India’s diverse mobility needs, from sustainable journeys to public transport.” This reflects Google’s commitment to India as a springboard for global development in the realm of navigation apps.
