Gemini could read your messages and power message-based navigation in Google Maps—adding stops, avoiding traffic, and finding top-rated places along your route.
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Google is preparing a Google Maps update that could reshape how we navigate. At the heart of the next wave is integration with Gemini, an AI designed to analyze incoming messages and suggest dynamic changes to your route. The pitch sounds straightforward yet powerful.
According to a Google patent, a feature called message-based navigation assistance would let Maps understand relevant details from texts. For instance, if you’re heading home and get a note from a spouse asking you to stop by a store, Google Maps could automatically propose adding a stop. Beyond that, Gemini could look for places near your home, surface top-rated options based on reviews, or even scan menus to find a suitable match.
The tool would also handle everyday errands. If someone asks you to pick up milk on the way, Gemini would choose a shop along your route or suggest the one you visit most often. Likewise, if a friend flags a crash ahead, the AI would check traffic data and offer an alternative path.
In essence, any message carrying navigation-friendly information could prompt Google Maps to respond. Gemini is the linchpin: it extracts meaning from the text and passes it to Maps to fine-tune the route.
For now, it’s only a patent, so there’s no guarantee the idea will make it to a wide release. Still, with Gemini in the mix, it feels like a natural step for Google Maps to become a more proactive, truly smart navigator—ready to anticipate driver needs and suggest on-the-fly solutions, from finding standout restaurants to skirting congestion.