Google Maps is tapping into the AI & AR universe to announce updates for Immersive view and Live view alongside new updates for EV drivers, Glanceable directions, etc.
These updates will help users make better decisions in finding places they love to visit.
According to Google, the updates coming to maps “reimagines how you explore and navigate while helping you make more sustainable choices”.
Immersive View
The immersive view feature is a new update coming to Google maps. This update uses AI and computer vision to merge street view and aerial view images to create rich digital models of places you want to go.
The immersive view feature has an AI engine that predicts how a place is going to look based on the weather, time, or even how busy a spot is, for example, a restaurant.
For example, when you plan to visit a restaurant and you search for the place with Google Maps, you will be able to use a time slider to change the view of the place at different times of the day or how the weather is going to look like at a given time to aid you to prepare well.
You can also use the 3D simulator to pan and zoom around buildings or check the next motel around whether it’s crowded or not.
According to Google, the Advanced AI technique they are using to transform these Streetview and aerial images into 3D representations is called the Neural Radiance Fields (NeRF), which “recreate the full context of a place including its lighting, the texture of materials and what’s in the background”.
Live View – Outdoors
The outdoor Live view feature allows you to search for places and things around you using AI and AR.
By opening your map and using the in-app camera while on the street, you can get helpful information on how busy a place is, whether it’s opened, or how it’s rated on maps.
Such information can help you make informed decisions when visiting a place.
Live View – Indoors
Similar to the outdoor live view, the indoor live view feature allows you to navigate unfamiliar places you’re likely to visit like terminals, airports, malls, etc.
The indoor live view uses AI-powered arrows to point you in the right direction so you can quickly find the nearest taxi stands, restrooms, and lounges.
Glanceable Navigation for users on foot or a bus
Google Maps is also introducing glanceable directions to help you navigate better while on foot, bike, or even public transport. You will be able to track your journey right in Google maps making it easier to track your trip.
Support for EV Cars
Whiles most car manufacturers are moving toward an EV future, Google has added support on maps for Electric vehicles. Maps will have EV charging stops integrated to make it easy for EV users to spot and charge their vehicles at the nearest charging stations.
Currently, you use the immersive view feature if you live in London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo. (Amsterdam, Dublin, Florence, and Venice will be added in the “coming months”).
The Live view outdoor feature will also be expanding to users in Barcelona, Dublin, and Madrid while airports, terminals, and malls in Berlin, Frankfurt, Barcelona, London, Madrid, Melbourne, Paris, Prague, São Paulo, Singapore, etc., will be seeing Live view indoors feature in the coming months.
Glanceable directions will be rolling out globally on Android and iOS in the “coming months” according to Google.
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