Google Maps is introducing an artificial intelligence (AI) upgrade that could significantly improve the experience for electric vehicle (EV) owners by optimizing search and navigation at EV charging stations. This new feature, announced yesterday by Google, aims to address one of the most important concerns among EV drivers: the availability and accessibility of charging stations.
Image Source: insideevs.com
The innovative upgrade uses AI to analyze multiple factors that influence charging station availability, including current usage, queue times, and specific station occupancy trends. It then integrates this data with real-time traffic information to recommend the best routes and charging stops. This AI-powered approach is designed to reduce the uncertainty and wait times that many EV drivers are currently facing.
This update is part of Google’s broader initiative to support sustainable transportation options and reduce environmental impact. It includes advanced features that not only guide users to the nearest available charging station, but also suggest the optimal time to charge, taking into account the expected length of the charging session and the potential demand at each station.
In addition to routing optimization, the AI upgrade provides personalized recommendations based on the user’s previous behavior and preferences. For instance, if a driver frequently visits fast-charging stations, Google Maps will prioritize similar stations in its suggestions.
Initial feedback from users who have tested the new feature has been overwhelmingly positive. “It’s a game changer,” says Eric Johnson, owner of EV in San Jose. “The app now directs me to the nearest charger and tells me if I need to wait to charge. Driving an EV takes away a lot of stress.”
The rollout of this AI-enhanced feature begins in major US cities where EV usage is highest, such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York, with plans to expand to Europe and Asia by the end of the year.
This upgrade underlines Google’s commitment to enhancing the user experience through technology, especially at a time when the adoption of electric vehicles is accelerating globally. By addressing some of the practical challenges associated with EVs, Google Maps is helping pave the way for a more sustainable future in transportation.
With the release of a major upgrade, Google Maps for Android will now provide weather and Air Quality Index (AQI) data overlays. This capability, which was previously limited to a few devices, is now being made available to a larger user base and offers useful information from within the Maps interface.
Improved Display of AQI and Weather Data
Image Source: lifewire.com
The most recent version of Google Maps for Android has a weather box that is conspicuously positioned in the upper-left area, directly beneath the search bar. When you tap on this box, a comprehensive card with more meteorological data—such as hourly predictions, temperature extremes, and an AQI section—is displayed. Users may easily navigate while remaining updated about environmental conditions by tapping on the AQI section to overlay air quality data right onto the map.
Compared with the iOS Version
The Android version of Google Maps provides more extensive information in a floating card, but the iOS version also has a weather box beneath the search bar. On the other hand, touching the box on the iOS version does not display any extra weather information. However, the map type and information part of both versions include AQI data.
Introducing the Features of Generative AI
Google recently announced the inclusion of new generative AI tools for Google Maps, in addition to weather and AQI data overlays. Currently in the testing stage, these capabilities are originally accessible in a few US locations. By offering carefully chosen destination suggestions in response to cues, generative AI is being used with the goal of improving user experience.
AI-Driven Suggestions
Based on user questions, Google Maps can now provide personalised suggestions for different activities and destinations thanks to the incorporation of generative AI. For instance, when users ask Maps for recommendations for indoor activities on a rainy day, it will provide things like comedy clubs and movie theatres. Additionally, customers may narrow down their search by adding preferences, like kid-friendly activities, and get recommendations that are specifically catered to their needs.
Although the new generative AI tools are now only available in certain US locations, Google intends to increase their accessibility in the upcoming months. The goal of these AI-powered improvements is to let consumers adjust their plans and make impulsive decisions based on preferences and situations that are relevant at the moment.
Users may anticipate increasingly sophisticated and customised experiences that are catered to their requirements and interests as Google develops and enhances its Maps platform. Even with the addition of generative AI capabilities and weather data overlays, Google Maps is still a useful tool for exploration and travel.
I am a student pursuing my bachelor’s in information technology. I have a interest in writing so, I am working a freelance content writer because I enjoy writing. I also write poetries. I believe in the quote by anne frank “paper has more patience than person
Immersive View for Google Maps has become available in five cities in the world, following its debut last year all over hundreds of excellent landmarks.
It integrates huge amounts of Street View as well as aerial pictures, letting people glide over neighbourhoods and afterwards drop back down to floor level for a deeper inspection at points of interest. The experience is equivalent to Google Earth, but there is the ability to explore in greater depth in Street View.
Image Source: cnet.com
Immersive View was first officially confirmed in May 2021 & grew to include 250 worldwide landmarks in September of the year before, which include Tokyo Tower as well as the Acropolis of Athens.
The feature is now accessible in London, New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, as well as Tokyo, also with Indoor Live View functionality broadening to thousands of airports, shopping malls and train stations.
Interactive View can be utilized to make trips to exhibitions, parks, and perhaps activities by virtually gliding atop black and white building structures to find entry points, verify near the area traffic as well as parking, and determine which regions are likely to draw the most throngs of people. A time slider is also available for viewing a destination at various times of day and under various weather conditions.
Users searching for near area eateries or food outlets can just use New interactive View to develop immersive walkthroughs by morphing pictures with neural radiance fields, NeRF, which is an AI-Based advanced technique and by mapping colour & light from numerous still photographs from widely different angles, it develops a three-Dimensional constructed spectacle.
With the help of NeRF, Google can “accurately recreate the full context of a place including its lighting, the texture of materials and what’s in the background,” according to a blog post. “All of this allows you to see if a bar’s moody lighting is the right vibe for a date night or if the views at a cafe make it the ideal spot for lunch with friends.”
Source: engadget.com
In the meantime, Search On google has Live View, as well as Indoor Live View, which will be expanded to even more places in the following months. The firm also offered a quick glimpse at its forthcoming Search chatbot known as Bard.
I am a student pursuing my bachelor’s in information technology. I have a interest in writing so, I am working a freelance content writer because I enjoy writing. I also write poetries. I believe in the quote by anne frank “paper has more patience than person
Google Maps brought in a new feature in India which is one of the major add-ons to the services. It introduced brand new features of the street view at the Google I/O administered this year. With this street view feature, Indians will experience a 360- degree outlook of the different small regions like landmarks, streets, and regions that were not shown on the map like residential areas or any other location. This feature will provide great help to those who want to know about or explore different unpopular regions in India before investing money or time. Also, it shows local cafes and cultural hotspots. It will enhance the whole tourism experience In India.
“Street View will help people navigate and explore new corners of the country and the world more visually and accurately, enabling them to fully experience what it’s like to be in these places, right from their phone or computer”, Google said.
Source: www.indiatoday.in
Street
View will be accessible in India on Google Maps with the latest
imagery licensed from local collaborators. It will cover about
1,50,000 km over ten cities in India. Google maps proposed this deal
back in 2016 but was rejected by the government of India because,
according to their policies, it is not allowed to retain imagery data
of the country. Although, a new policy, the new National Geospatial
policy, 2021, is introduced which allows such features on the
condition that the foreign firms won’t own the imagery data.
Genesys International and Tech Mahindra played an important role in
bringing this feature to India.
Image source: www.howtogeek.com
Google
maps collaborated with an advanced mapping solutions firm, Genesys
International and Tech Mahindra to provide a more thorough and
detailed look at any location. This tech Giant has announced to
extend this feature to 50 cities in India by 2022. For Now, it will
be introduced in the following cities:
Bengaluru,
Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Pune,
Vadodara
and Nashik. It is already available in Bengaluru.
Google
has confirmed its partnership with the traffic authorities and
collectors to provide help to people in above right cities and make
them aware of travel decisions and avoid overcrowded areas with
information about different road closures and incident zone.
It has also collaborated additionally with CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) to provide knowledge and details about travel decisions in provision with authoritative air quality details. Everyone can get access to this information by tapping into layers and selecting the ‘Air Quality option.
How to use this feature:
To
use this street view feature, search for a place you need
information about, set the pin, select an area for a place marker,
or you can use the street view layer.
Search
for a region, and place the pin.
On
Your android device, phone or tablet, open the Google Maps
application.
Hold
the place to drop the pin
In
the end, add the place name or address
Scroll
down and tap on the photo with the label “street View” or you
can select the thumbnail with a street view icon 360 images.
After
you’re done with all this, tap on back at the top left twice.
Now
click on the place marker.
How to view the street view layer:
On
your android device, smartphone or tablet, open the Google Maps app.
Click
on the Layers shown at the top and then the street view
Street
View coverage is shown by a blue line on the map. Tap on any blue
line to enable the street view.
This feature will bring many great, revolutionary, and innovative changes to India. It will be a great experience for all the explorers and travelers. Brace yourself for a whole new experience.
I am a student pursuing my bachelor’s in information technology. I have a interest in writing so, I am working a freelance content writer because I enjoy writing. I also write poetries. I believe in the quote by anne frank “paper has more patience than person
Yes, we can run ads on Google maps like PPC campaigns which can help our business to expand as well as grow more. But, for that, we should consider a few important things about Google map ads.
1. How are Ads on Google Maps
changing?
Google map ads are specially designed to aid businesses to be more apparent at times when customers are searching online on their mobile phones for somewhere to eat or shop.
Google has various things that make it more useful as well as effective at the same time that is Google maps ad Formats, features, and many more that are designed to get the more easy drive to your physical location.
It also has something included in Google which can promote pins of brans as well as logos, in-store promotions, in business promotions, customizable business pages, and local inventory search.
2. Where will the modern ads be
shown?
Google’s new
ads will show in the Google maps, on every mobile, desktop as well as tablet
site and on Google.com that can expand Maps outcomes.
Any
advertisement on Google maps app will show on the top results with its label
and other necessary things.
3. Why is Google performing these
modifications?
Google is
adding new things in Google maps ads which can increase the value of Google
maps which can reveal some statics things that can make all marketers stand up.
Following are the mind-blowing mobile stats that will demonstrate why you must connect the gap to the physical world:
About
90%of all sales will appear in stores, as engaged to online.
Approximately
a third of mobile searches are linked to location.
Location-linked
researches have been developing 50% faster than mobile searches.
Billions
of people are using Google maps right now.
Google
searches lead customers to 1.5 billion addresses every year.
84%
of customers manage searches in local ways.
By
using their phones various people end up visiting nearby stores every
day.
It is very
essential for every business to have a physical location so that people can
find you online and the business can grow more.
4. How does Google Maps determine
which ads to show?
Google
includes variety, of signals that is:
Location.
Interests.
Query context.
Search/browsing history.
Time of day.
Behaviors.
Demographics.
Time of day.
5. What more is evolving with Google
Maps?
Google maps are getting more advanced which can make your business high as well as gain traffic on your store. When anyone taps on your ads on Google maps they will provide all the information about your business as well as how they will reach you also. The advertiser can customize your page on Google maps. The page will include all the necessary things such as phone numbers, driving directions, address and store hours, and many more details.
It will
highlight your business offers that are unique as well as good for promoting
your locations and permit them to search for different items in your store
6. How can we display on Google
inventory?
There are dozens of people who avoid visiting the store because they have no idea where the specific product is available. That’s why people use local information from Google so that they can search for accurate products nearby them.
Now Google has changed its plan to show the details of the store. Now they will provide the specific things according to cost-per-click Google maps advertisement.
These clicks include:
Get
directions.
Get
location details.
Click-to-call.
8. When will the latest search
advertisements roll out?
The local advertisement is currently in every site of Google maps. Google hasn’t announced a specific date when the advertisements will become more broadly available on sites, however, it’s a secure bet they will begin working out to more advertisers within the few months.
9. What businesses need to do on
location-based business?
Throughout
you expect access to the new advertisements of any store on Google; there is a
twosome of things that you can take now.
Front, and
most significantly, you must approve location expansions. Only advertisements
with location extensions approved will be qualified to show. Location
extensions are determined to absolutely influence your execution of the store.
You can
promote on Google Maps immediately now. Just verify that all your information,
as well as details which you have provided in Google My Business, is complete,
correct, plus up to date. Any inexact information or details will make it that
much difficult for people to locate you when they’re able to purchase.
Conclusion
These are things that people should know about the Google maps ads. After this, they can easily run their business ads on Google maps.
Google is one of the world’s most recognized brands and is a tech-superstar due to its huge presence. We have all been helped by the search engine at some point in time in our lives. It answers everything from simple questions regarding words, to sports updates when we are stuck at work. Slowly, yet surely, the tech-giant has branched out into other ventures. With several highly successful applications like Google Maps, Google Keep and even their cloud-storage service Google Drive, the company has become an integral part of our lives. One major part of Google’s services is their voice assistant which helps us do tasks without actually touching the phone. We can use this assistant to run searches, open the camera or even call someone without lifting a finger. Since voice search is touted to be the next big thing in the years to come, Google has never spared any expense when it comes to developing its search interface.
Wonderful Marketing Strategy Behind Google Assistant
One seemingly brilliant way it has made the assistant more relatable and approachable is by replacing the usually robotic and monotonic voice, with the voice of someone we appreciate and love. Fans went crazy last year when Google announced that the new update would have the assistant upgrade to All of Me fame John Legend’s voice. However, the collaboration seems to have ended because the tech giant announced that the voice would be removed from March 23rd onwards. Here’s a look at how the unusual pairing came to be.
Unlikely Pairing
In case you got used to having John Legend pick up your chores and assist you in your everyday life, you might have to brace yourself for the news. The celebrity cameo will come to a stop on March 23rd, after almost a year of great service. News regarding John’s voice being added to the Assistant’s settings had come out last April, much to the delight of Google users around the world. Most people do not identify with or particularly like the robotic voice that is associated with voice assistants. John Legend, therefore, came as a whiff of fresh air to most users, but, unfortunately, the unlikely, yet successful pairing is coming to a close. But to be fair, Google had mentioned at the time of release that this would be a limited feature, though they had not specified the duration of the tenure.
The addition of Legend’s voice brought a lot of joy to the ears of users around the world, because it brought with it several Easter eggs, very specific to his personality. For instance, you could get a personalized Happy Birthday song, sung by Legend himself if you asked him to do so. Similarly, fans were greeted to a part of All of Me, anytime they mentioned or asked about Chrissy Teigen, who is his supermodel wife. However, it is not all bad news for users, since Google still offers comedian Issa Rae’s voice. But it would be best not to get used to her witty one-liners or sarcastic remarks because you never know when Google will take her off the list.
Special Surprises
While Google Assistant has featured celebrity voices for quite some time now, users might want to make the best of them while they still can. John Legend, however, will always be remembered for being the first celebrity to lend his voice virtually to a plethora of devices all around the world. The singer’s smooth voice, which is sinfully filled with emotion and grit was a huge hit with fans all across the United States.
Google announced the removal via a tweet that urged users to use Legend to the maximum in the time they have left and encouraged them to request more serenades from the crooner. However, though you might miss the Legend-ary voice, rest assured because the Assistant will continue to function the way it used to. The only problem being that you won’t be able to belt All of Me along with the singer himself without accessing YouTube. Also, let us hope that owing to the success of this new endeavor, Google keeps surprising us with new celebrity voices in the future.
Being a cinephile with a love for all things outdoorsy, Athulya never misses a chance to chase inspiring stories or poke fun at things, even when the subject is herself. Currently pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, she is someone innately interested in technical and scientific research. Music reviews and op-eds define her as they allow her to explore different perspectives. Though sometimes she thinks she makes more sense playing the guitar than she does while writing.
