Google Maps is turning into more than a navigation app. The company announced new AI features this week. Maps can now order takeout, book hotels, and find event tickets, all without leaving the app.
The new powers are built into “Ask Maps,” the conversational AI tool Google added to Maps back in March. It used to just answer questions about nearby places. Now it can handle several steps of a task on your behalf, the kind of back-and-forth that used to mean switching between several different apps.
What Ask Maps can do for you
Ask something like “where can I order a vegan burrito near home.” Ask Maps will find restaurants that match, then let you add items to a cart and check out through the restaurant’s ordering platform. Google Maps chief Miriam Daniel said the tool can factor in your saved places and dietary preferences. Food ordering works through Square and Toast at launch, with Uber Eats support coming soon.
The tool also handles trip planning. Ask for a hotel near a conference with a gym and restaurants within walking distance. Ask Maps will compare prices and check availability, then hand you a shortlist. The same goes for finding a comedy show or concert nearby. Ask Maps pulls up events and gives you a direct link to buy tickets.
Ask Maps can also remember past conversations if your history settings are on. That means you can pick up trip planning where you left off instead of starting over.
Your Gmail and Calendar can plug in too
Google is also expanding a feature called Personal Intelligence. It lets Ask Maps connect to your Gmail and Google Calendar for more personalized answers. If you turn it on, you could ask something like “what time do I land in Denver.” Maps would pull the answer straight from your flight confirmation email.
This feature is off by default. Nothing gets connected unless you choose to turn it on in settings.
The food ordering, hotel booking, and event ticket features are rolling out in the U.S. now. Personal Intelligence and a new live transit widget are expanding to more than 150 countries and territories. That list includes Australia, Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, and Mexico. If you don’t see the new options in your app yet, they should show up soon.