GoKawiil
Tech News
Google is rolling out Gemini integration in Google Maps for Apple CarPlay, letting drivers ask multi-step questions, request route changes like avoiding tolls, and report traffic incidents by voice while navigating. The feature is accessed via a Gemini icon that appears during turn-by-turn navigation. It's live now in the US with a global rollout underway.
Google has started rolling out Gemini in navigation to the iOS version of Google Maps used through Apple CarPlay. A new Gemini icon now appears in the Maps interface, letting drivers ask conversational questions to find stops, report traffic issues, or get place information. The rollout began today for US and global CarPlay users, though Google notes it may take a few days to reach all devices.
Google has launched its Gemini AI assistant within Google Maps for Apple CarPlay users in the US, with a wider global rollout underway. Drivers can tap a Gemini icon on their car's display to ask multi-step, hands-free questions, like finding a place and then getting directions there while avoiding tolls, or reporting traffic issues.
Google is rolling out a 'Personal Intelligence with Gemini' feature for vehicles that pulls data from Gmail, Calendar, YouTube, Maps and Search history to personalize responses while driving. The feature launches today in Android Auto and will reach cars with Google Built-in in coming months, requiring users to opt in.
At a rally in Highland Heights, Kentucky, President Trump claimed he called Google and that the company 'kisses his ass' now, unlike during his first term. He cited this as evidence of his increased influence, referencing the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario on Google Maps.
Google blurs certain Street View locations at the request of governments, privacy groups, and individuals, covering military sites, secure government buildings, homes of wealthy or famous people, and properties blurred by mistake. In countries like the Netherlands and Germany, residents have a legal right to request their homes be blurred, which explains the high concentration of blurred properties there. Once a location is blurred, Google does not reverse the change.
Waze, the crowdsourced navigation app owned by Google since 2013, includes a 'Drive to friends & family' feature that lets users start directions to a saved contact's address without typing it in manually. The feature requires granting Waze access to a phone's contact list, which can later be revoked through device settings on iPhone or Android.
Google Maps allows users to set or edit a 'home' shortcut via the web or mobile app for faster navigation to their most frequent destination. The feature can be adjusted whenever someone moves or hasn't yet configured a home address.
Google Maps includes a feature allowing users to drop a pin on any spot on the map, even if it isn't a registered address or business. The pin can be used for navigation, sharing a meeting spot, or remembering a specific location like a parked bike or scenic viewpoint.
Google plans to enhance Ask Maps by enabling users to share conversations through links in a future update. This feature aims to improve the ease of sharing map-based discussions. The update is expected to roll out soon, according to reports from the development team.
Following President Trump’s directive to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America, Google and Apple updated their maps accordingly. The controversy has led to increased downloads of alternative map services like MapQuest, which is gaining traction among users dissatisfied with Big Tech’s map modifications. This shift highlights growing interest in non-mainstream mapping options amid privacy concerns and map label disputes.
Google has expanded its Maps platform to include AI-driven conversational ordering, trending restaurant exploration, and detailed user reviews to enhance dining decisions. These updates aim to position Maps as a comprehensive tool for finding, evaluating, and ordering food from local eateries.