Google Maps adds Gemini for hands-free navigation, landmark directions

Google will deepen artificial-intelligence features in Maps with the integration of its Gemini assistant, introducing a more conversational, hands-free experience for drivers, the company said. 

The upgrade is designed to allow users to issue natural voice commands to find restaurants along a route, check electric vehicle charging availability, and—on Android—share their ETA without touching the screen. 

With permission, Gemini can also add calendar events and answer follow-up questions about popular dishes or recent news, according to Google’s product announcement. 

To make guidance more intuitive, Maps will begin using real-world landmarks in turn-by-turn directions—e.g., “turn right after the Thai Siam Restaurant”—drawing on data from some 250 million mapped places and Street View imagery. 

Landmark-based navigation is now available in the United States on both Android and iOS. 

Proactive traffic alerts that warn of closures or heavy congestion will also debut, starting in the United States on Android, with broader Gemini-powered navigation to follow “in the coming weeks” wherever Gemini is available. 

Drivers will be able to report incidents by voice—such as “I see an accident,” “There’s flooding ahead,” or “Watch out for that slowdown”—to alert others about disruptions. Google says Android Auto support is “on the way.”