The Google Gemini app now highlights visual local search with integrated Google Maps, emoji pins, and review cards, rolling out on mobile and desktop.
© E. Vartanyan
The Google Gemini app has received a meaningful upgrade for local search. Instead of leaning on long text answers, the service now emphasizes visual context and puts Google Maps front and center right inside the chat.
Where queries used to come with a verbose response and a small map at the bottom, now everything starts with the map. It appears first, and the pins no longer look identical: the classic red markers have been replaced with emojis that instantly signal the type of place—café, park, restaurant, or another spot.
Each result is presented as a separate card with a photo, a rating, and a concise digest of reviews highlighting the most frequently mentioned strengths and features. It all shows up directly in the Gemini interface, without the need to open Google Maps manually.
The Gemini team says this approach should help people get their bearings faster—first assessing where a place sits, then digging into the details. It’s a practical shift that works just as well for planning a trip as it does for spur-of-the-moment searches nearby.
The update has already begun rolling out for English-speaking users and is available on both the mobile and desktop versions of Gemini. The Google Maps integration was there before, but it now feels cohesive rather than like a secondary add-on.