Googles Win Major Map AI Update Unveils 5 Exciting Features for Taiwanese Users

Google Maps AI Major Update
On October 29, Google’s parent company Alphabet announced its third-quarter earnings, stating that the company’s AI investments are “paying off,” with sales in its cloud division soaring to $11.35 billion (approximately NT$363.2 billion), a 35% increase compared to the same period last year.
According to a report by Bloomberg, Google CEO Sundar Pichai mentioned in a conference call with investors following the earnings report that Google has successfully reduced the costs of integrating AI-generated results into its search engine by over 90% within 18 months, while also doubling the model size of its AI chatbot Gemini.
Google’s investments in AI have yielded impressive results for Google Cloud, which contributed about 15% of the company’s revenue in the third quarter. Bob O’Donnell, president of tech market research firm TECHnalysis Research, told Reuters, “Google Cloud can fill the revenue gap from the declining search engine income, highlighting the growing importance of cloud revenue and demonstrating Google’s ongoing efforts to diversify its revenue base.”
For a long time, the industry believed that Google had failed to capitalize on its early advantages in AI development. Even after making significant investments to catch up with competitors like Microsoft and OpenAI, the results have been limited.
However, Google is trying to enhance its competitiveness in the AI market by integrating AI into existing applications with large user bases, the latest example being Google Maps, which has 2 billion monthly users.
Gemini Makes Maps Smarter—What Are the New Features?
At the Google I/O Developer Conference in May this year, Google announced the integration of Gemini into the Google Maps Platform, in combination with the Places API. On October 31, Google announced a series of new features to make Gemini more versatile within Google Maps.
Feature 1: Optimized Open-Ended Q&A
In the future, Google Maps will have enhanced capabilities for handling open-ended searches. For instance, if a user asks Google Maps “What to do with friends in the evening,” they will receive suggestions integrated with Gemini, such as going to a bar or attending a concert. Users can also refer to summaries of reviews compiled by Gemini for more specific information about locations and can ask Google Maps further questions.
However, this feature is currently being rolled out only in the United States, and users in Taiwan cannot access it yet.



By integrating Gemini, Google Maps can provide suggestions for open-ended searches.
Image / Google Official Website
Feature 2: Explore Along Your Route
Before heading out, users can click on “Add Stops” to explore popular landmarks, scenic spots, and restaurants along their planned route.



Users can click “Add Stops” to explore other landmarks along the way.
Image / Google Official Website
Feature 3: Enhanced Navigation
Google Maps will enhance the display of lanes, travel lines, and other traffic signs, accurately guiding drivers on which lane to take in areas with multiple lanes, intersections, and exits.



Google Maps will enhance the display of road signs and accurately guide drivers on which lane to take.
Image / Google Official Website
This feature will begin rolling out next month in over 30 metropolitan areas, with plans for further expansion to more locations. This feature is currently available only in the United States, and users in Taiwan cannot access it yet.
Feature 4: See and Report Weather Disruptions
Users can view or report weather disruptions along their route, including real-time conditions such as heavy rain or low visibility.



Users can report the latest road conditions along their route in real time with one click.
Image / Google Official Website
Feature 5: Updated Arrival Guidance
In addition to guiding users to the destination building and entrance, Google Maps will also display nearby parking lots and provide walking directions from the parking location to the destination, even incorporating Street View or AR walking navigation.



Google Maps will show nearby parking lots and provide walking directions from the parking location to the destination.
Image / Google Official Website
In this update, aside from the Q&A feature and lane markings of Gemini, which will initially roll out in the United States, all other features will be available for users in Taiwan to experience alongside users globally.
Although Google posted solid earnings in the latest quarter, with OpenAI announcing the launch of ChatGPT search aimed at overtaking Google’s search engine dominance, investors remain focused on how Google will utilize its existing applications to support the development of AI services.
References:
Bloomberg, Reuters, Google Official Blog