Joe Maring / Android Authority
TL;DR Google is working on a new Gemini feature that lets users attach a selected map area directly to their prompts.
The Maps UI allows zooming, exploring the current area, and using precise locations for local questions.
Gemini uses Google Maps to answer queries, and while it’s still buggy, we can now show you what the core experience will look like.
A few weeks back, we reported that Google was working on bringing a Maps integration to Gemini, turning it into a personal travel guide or local discovery agent. At the time, the feature wasn’t live, and the “Map” button we managed to surface in Gemini’s attachment menu was completely grayed out. All we had to go on were a few strings of code that hinted at how the feature might work.
Now, a fresh teardown of the Google app gives us our first real look at how Gemini’s Maps integration is shaping up, and it’s exactly as powerful as we expected.
In Google app version 17.6.58.ve.arm64, we’ve enabled the new Maps attachment feature inside Gemini. This will allow users to attach a specific map area directly to a prompt and then ask questions based on that location.
Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority? Set us as a favorite source in Google Discover to never miss our latest exclusive reports, expert analysis, and much more.
to never miss our latest exclusive reports, expert analysis, and much more. You can also set us as a preferred source in Google Search by clicking the button below.
Once a map area is attached, Gemini can suggest restaurants, tourist attractions, hospitals, and other nearby places, depending on what you ask. Functionally, the feature feels similar to Google Maps’ “Search this area” button. However, with Gemini’s conversational abilities, you can really do a lot more to explore the location and get more precise results.
... continue reading