Google Maps is rolling out a suite of new, AI-powered features and critical road safety alerts for its users in India, marking a significant upgrade to the navigation experience. These updates, powered by Gemini AI, aim to make journeys smarter, safer, and more intuitive, solidifying India as a key market for Google Maps innovation.
One of the most prominent additions is the integration of Gemini AI for a hands-free, conversational navigation experience. This feature enables drivers to interact with Google Maps using natural voice commands, allowing them to ask for directions, find nearby petrol pumps or restaurants, inquire about parking availability, and even update travel plans without touching their phones. For example, users can ask questions like "What's parking like at Phoenix Mall?" or "Find a restaurant nearby and navigate there". Gemini can also assist with follow-up commands, such as adding reminders or calendar events linked to a location, with user permission to access Gmail or Calendar. This feature will be available to both Android and iOS users in the coming weeks and supports nine Indian languages.
Beyond navigation, Gemini AI will also provide proactive local tips by analyzing user reviews and web content to offer practical insights about places. For instance, when viewing Delhi's Dilli Haat, Maps might suggest "It's okay to bargain for prices" or recommend must-visit stalls. Users can also ask specific questions about a location, such as "Does it have parking?" or "What are some must-visit stalls?", with Gemini sifting through reviews, photos, and web data to provide relevant answers.
In addition to the AI enhancements, Google Maps is introducing several road safety features in collaboration with government departments and city traffic authorities. Proactive traffic alerts will notify users about major delays and disruptions, even when they are not actively navigating, initially on key routes in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Accident-prone area alerts will warn users as they approach stretches identified as high-risk zones, with visual and voice warnings encouraging safer driving. This feature will initially roll out in Gurugram, Hyderabad's Cyberabad region, Chandigarh, and Faridabad. Furthermore, Google Maps will display official speed limits sourced from traffic departments, shown next to the in-app speedometer, initially covering nine cities, including Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Lucknow, and Noida.
Google has also partnered with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to provide near real-time information on road closures, repairs, and services along national highways. This includes updates on rest stops, eateries, and other amenities, helping highway travelers plan more efficiently.
Other notable updates include the ability to book metro tickets directly through Google Maps in Delhi, Bengaluru, Kochi, and Chennai, with Mumbai support coming soon. Users can save these tickets to Google Wallet for easy access. Voice-guided flyover navigation in nine Indian languages has also been added, along with customizable two-wheeler avatars, an India-exclusive feature that lets riders personalize their in-app icons.
According to Lalitha Ramani, General Manager for Google Maps India, this suite of features marks one of the biggest AI integrations into Maps in India so far. These updates aim to provide a conversational, intuitive, AI-powered assistant to make everyday journeys smarter and easier while also rolling out new safety initiatives in collaboration with authorities. Google has tailored the service to match how people in India speak, search for places, and use street names.
