GoKawiilKarandeep Singh / Android Authority
Google Maps’ new AI chat tool showed up just in time for my Mumbai trip. I had to plan long commutes from the northern side, where I stayed, to the south, and discover all the must-try places in between. It was the perfect opportunity to test out Ask Maps to its limits — because that’s what Mumbai does to you, too. I’m proud that I made the best of this handy AI feature, and I found some amazing ways to make it work harder for me.
Here are a few of those.
Have you tried Google Maps’ AI feature yet? 0 votes Yes, and I like it NaN % Yes, but it’s hit or miss NaN % I’ve seen it but haven’t used it NaN % I don’t have it yet NaN %
Optimize for effort, not just distance
Maps operates around mechanical numbers — distance and time — without weighing the hours you spend stuck in traffic or braving the sun. But AI understands those nuances. With access to vast amounts of data (from Maps and beyond), it can plan around your weather or commute, or any other preferences.
You can ask it to plan a half-day in Udaipur with minimal walking in the harsh sun, and it will suggest places close to each other or commute options that avoid the heat. In my case, I asked it to plan a slow evening at Marine Drive, staying late into the night, with a few eateries serving local dishes on the way back home that were open past midnight.
This way, the itinerary adapted to how I wanted to spend my time, instead of me matching their needs.
Time-shift popular spots
Karandeep Singh / Android Authority
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