Googles Victory Major Map AI Update Unveiled with 5 Exciting Features for Taiwan Users

Google Maps AI Major Update
Alphabet, Google’s parent company, announced its third-quarter earnings on October 29, stating in a release that the company’s AI investments are “paying off,” with sales in the cloud division soaring to $11.35 billion (approximately NT$363.2 billion), a 35% increase from the same period last year.
According to Bloomberg, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in a conference call with investors after the financial report that Google had successfully reduced the cost of implementing AI-generated results in its search engine by over 90% in 18 months, while also doubling the model for its AI chatbot Gemini.
Google’s investment in AI has shown remarkable results in Google Cloud, with the cloud division contributing about 15% of revenue in the third quarter. Bob O’Donnell, president of TECHnalysis Research, told Reuters, “Google Cloud can offset the decline in search engine revenue, highlighting the increasing importance of cloud revenue growth and Google’s continued diversification of revenue sources.”
For a long time, the industry believed that Google had missed the early advantage in developing AI, and despite massive investments to catch up with competitors like Microsoft and OpenAI, the results have been limited.
However, Google is attempting to enhance its competitiveness in the AI market by integrating AI into existing applications with a large user base, as seen in the latest case in Google Maps, which has 2 billion monthly users.
Gemini Makes Maps Smarter: What are the New Features?
At the Google I/O Developers Conference in May of this year, Google announced the integration of Gemini into the Google Maps Platform, combined with the Places API. On October 31, Google announced a series of new features to make more flexible use of Gemini in Google Maps.
Feature 1: Enhanced Open-ended Queries
In the future, Google Maps’ ability to handle open-ended searches will be improved. For example, asking Google Maps about “things to do with friends at night” will provide suggestions integrated with Gemini—such as going to a bar or attending a concert. Users can also refer to Gemini’s summarized reviews, inquire about specific locations, and ask questions to Google Maps.
However, this feature is currently only available in the US, and Taiwanese users cannot sync yet.
Through the integration of Gemini, Google Maps can provide recommendations for open-ended searches.
Feature 2: Explore Along Your Route
Before heading out on a trip, users can click “add stops” to explore popular landmarks, scenic areas, and restaurants along the route.
Feature 3: Enhanced Navigation
Google Maps will enhance lane displays, crosswalks, and other traffic signs, accurately guiding drivers in areas with multiple lanes, intersections, and exits.
Feature 4: See and Report Weather Disruptions
Users can view or report real-time weather disruptions along the route, including heavy rain or low visibility.
Feature 5: Updated Arrival Guidance
In addition to guiding users to the destination building and entrance, Google Maps will display nearby parking lots, provide walking routes from the parking location to the destination, and even offer street view or AR walking navigation.
In this update released by Google Maps, while the open-ended query functionality and lane markings of Gemini will be launched first in the US, the rest of the features can be experienced simultaneously by Taiwanese users and global users.
Although Google reported good earnings in the latest quarter, with OpenAI announcing the launch of ChatGPT search and aiming to challenge Google’s leading position in search engines, investors are still concerned about how Google will leverage its existing application base to support the development of AI services.
References:
Bloomberg, Reuters, Google Official Blog