5 Things to Ask Gemini for Better Results on Google Maps

In March, Google announced its biggest update to Google Maps in years. Among the changes, the Maps experience has become much more similar to Apple Maps, making it easier to see highway exits, understand which lane you should be in, and more. However, what really sets Google Maps apart is deeper integration with Google Gemini thanks to the new Ask Maps feature which allows users to prompt the AI ​​to perform a number of different tasks.

Since you can use natural language with all of these prompts, you don’t need to do things a specific way, because Google can tailor the answers just for you, whether you’re with friends, in a new city, or trying to navigate hundreds of restaurants that look too similar. I’ve been using Ask Maps with Google Gemini for a few months, and while the AI ​​still has its flaws, it has proven to be very useful. Barring occasional hiccups, the Ask Maps feature can really improve your map results by leveraging the recommendations, reviews, photos, and other information that users have added to the platform over the years. From asking Google Maps to create a list of recommendations to having it plan your travel route with minimal effort, here’s everything you can do with the new Ask Maps feature.

Sometimes all you want is a hearty Japanese curry, a life-changing late-night pizza, or a nice brunch for your next Sunday morning with friends. If you’re organized enough, you already have a list full of pins in your favorite cities and regions, but if you’re like me and you’re sure you remember everything even years later, then you know how stressful it can be to find a great place to hang out with someone, eat something really good, or just relax with friends.

Let’s say you want to find a vegetarian place to have dinner with three of your friends at 7 p.m. between your workplace and the city center. Traditionally, you must first search for vegetarian restaurants in your desired location. This involves looking at reviews, prices, photos, and everything else. After circling a few options, you’ll need to check if they have an empty table around 7 p.m. However, with the Ask Maps option on Google Maps, you can shorten this process. You can simply describe your needs in natural language and Gemini will scour Google Maps to find places that match those filters exactly. When you finally have the list, you can take matters into your own hands and finalize the dinner location or ask subsequent questions to refine the recommendations even further.

This is one of my favorite Google Maps features that I use all the time with the Google Gemini app. For example, if I want to go thrift shopping, I can ask Gemini to create a list of vintage stores in a specific neighborhood, like Hackney, London, tag them, and add them to my Google Maps list. I can ask for specific stores, like those that are open on Sundays, that carry specific types of vintage clothing, etc.

While people can just do it the old fashioned way and Google vintage stores, search for a specific area, read reviews, and then open them manually, AI can make this process much simpler. You can simply ask the AI ​​about the best-reviewed options, the ones that people consider hidden gems, and, if you’re willing to browse through them, you can filter out the best ones and use Google Maps’ tag feature to save them for the future.

When you ask Gemini to pin locations, you can even ask it to explain its choices, take user reviews into account, or go beyond the usual recommendations to find places that other people have liked in the past. Whenever I want to find a new coffee shop, furniture stores, antique stores, etc., I use Gemini combined with Maps to better understand where to start.

Although you can choose between using the Google Gemini app or the Google Maps app, the new Maps platform can really help you plan a complete trip. For example, if you’re going on a long road trip, AI can find you a few hidden gems that meet your specific needs, like pet-friendly policies or outdoor seating.

Plus, if you add something like “Find a highly-rated local coffee shop along my route that has a drive-thru, opens before 7 a.m., and won’t add more than 10 minutes to total travel time,” the AI ​​can also cross-reference your route with real-time traffic to ensure you get to your destination on time. On multi-stop road trips, AI can also take a look at scenic viewpoints, electric vehicle charging centers, lunch breaks, and even change plans in case you need a playground for a restless child or an indoor option in case of bad weather. Just like other prompts, Gemini gathers and analyzes all data available on the platform and from other Google apps and services to ensure you have a travel itinerary based on your preferences.

If you open Google Maps, hotspots usually have a few bullet points with “Know Before You Go” information. These details can range from popular choices to what’s best to avoid, what time to arrive, or even something you wouldn’t normally know, like a hidden bar, a secret menu, or the perfect cocktail to order. Yet “Know Before You Go” bullet points aren’t the only thing you can use AI for to get honest opinions about a business, tourist attraction, and more.

Users can also use the Ask Maps or Google Gemini feature to select a few places and summarize their most important reviews so you can understand which places are best to visit at night, spend your day, or plan a special celebration. Although users have access to reviews, ratings, photos, and specific location information, Gemini can offer a more comprehensive overview of where you want to go. A similar feature is also available on other platforms, like Amazon, which now summarizes the most important reviews written by users so new buyers can make sure what they’re getting is exactly what they’re looking for.

Another useful thing you can ask Google Gemini to do is get specific information about a location. For example, instead of guessing whether “street parking” means lots of parking spaces or a localized nightmare, you can ask Gemini to look at recent visitor reports to better understand the location. You can check the lot size, valet requirements, garage height limits, or if it’s stroller and wheelchair accessible.

If you’re traveling through large complexes, multi-story centers, or historic neighborhoods, you can ask Gemini to identify the exact entry point or the best places to drop you off to get you to a location as quickly and hassle-free as possible. AI can also tell you about queue conditions, counter service speed, reservation policies, and standing room limits for popular places that are always busy. The usual information card doesn’t take into account how fast the queue is moving or if there is a way to get in faster. With Google Gemini, the AI ​​can try to get this information from recent reviews in that location.

Finally, if you like working in coffee shops, you might want to know the availability of outlets, noise levels during certain windows, and other minute details. You can ask Gemini to find a laptop-friendly cafe near you, but with specific information on accessibility of outlets, seats big enough for a business meeting, etc.