When traveling, if visiting an unfamiliar city, many people will pick up their phone and turn on the map. Google Maps Using navigation while walking or riding a bike, and having to type with your hands to look up nearby restrooms, coffee shops, attractions, and so on, is actually very inconvenient.
The good news is, earlier Google Google Maps now also supports pedestrian and cycling navigation Gemini And it’s pushed globally directly—as long as Gemini is available in your region, both iOS and Android will receive updates progressively.
Google Maps Upgraded Again! Now You Can Ask Gemini for Directions Hands-Free While Walking or Cycling
Google Maps’ Gemini navigation was already rolled out late last year, but it was previously limited mainly to driving mode. It has now finally officially expanded to walking and cycling.
This means that in the future, when you use either of these two navigation modes, you can ask Gemini any questions about your route without leaving the navigation screen or stopping to type. For example, you can walk and ask “What neighborhood am I in right now?” and then follow up with “What are the highest-rated restaurants nearby?” Gemini will respond using Google Maps’ locations and database.
If you discover a better new spot, you can also have Gemini directly change the destination.
Bicycles are even more convenient. With hands-free operation, you can just ask Gemini directly: “How much longer until I arrive?” or “What time is my next meeting?” If you’re running late, you can also use voice to send Sarah a message saying “I’ll be 10 minutes late” — all without having to stop.
You can refer to the official Google demo video below:
Since it’s powered by Gemini, you can even ask multi-part questions at once, like “I want to find restaurants within a few kilometers that are affordable and have vegan options,” then follow up with “Is parking easy to find there?”
It’s also very simple to use. Once navigation starts, tap the Gemini icon in the top right corner, or say “Hey Google” to activate it:
I tried it out for a bit, and I’m not sure if it’s because it just launched and there are too many people using it, but Gemini’s response speed is a bit slow:
However, it’s worth noting that according to foreign media testing, although Google officially stated that iOS and Android would get a simultaneous global rollout, Android may be rolled out in batches — 9to5Google tested several devices and they were still running Google Assistant.
This latest move by Google to fully integrate Gemini into Google Maps’ various navigation modes essentially confirms that Gemini AI capabilities will most likely be woven into various Google services and features going forward.
The TechCrunch report also mentioned that Google Maps has simultaneously updated the “Explore tab” and introduced a brand-new electric vehicle charging station availability prediction feature. The redesigned Explore tab allows users to find nearby popular spots more quickly, while the charging prediction feature enables drivers to see in advance how many charging stations may be available before reaching their destination.
Source: KOCPC Chinese