Google Maps is undergoing its biggest transformation in more than a decade, rolling out new AI-powered features. At the centre is ‘Ask Maps,’ powered by Google’s latest Gemini AI models, allowing users to ask complex, natural-language questions about places and travel plans directly inside the Maps app. The feature is rolling out now on Android and iOS devices in the United States and India. Google CEO Sundar Pichai shared details on X about the integration. Users can tap the ‘Ask Maps’ button and interact through a chat-style interface, asking nuanced questions such as finding “the best three-hour family hikes with a place to stop for lunch.” The feature relies on a dataset including information from over 300 million places worldwide and insights from more than 500 million contributors. Users planning road trips can ask for suggestions along multi-stop routes, returning directions, estimated arrival times and suggestions. Once a destination is selected, users can book reservations, save places, share them or begin navigation. Alongside Ask Maps, Google introduced Immersive Navigation, described as the biggest update to the app’s driving and route guidance experience in over ten years. Powered by Gemini models, it generates realistic 3D views of roads and surroundings by combining Street View imagery with aerial photos and AI processing. Immersive Navigation is beginning its rollout.