Google Maps’ Ask Maps has officially confirmed available for the Malaysia market, albeit you have to wait for the updates which are still rolling out in stages. Ask Maps combines Gemini capabilities together with the world’s freshest map to get answers to real-world questions.
Ask Maps can assist people use Maps in entirely new ways from finding a restaurant where you can actually hear each other talk, to mapping out a scenic three-hour motorcycle ride. Apart from that, Ask Maps is even more helpful with new agentic capabilities, real-time information. The team at Google Maps also expanding it to over 160 new countries and territories, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, and New Zealand.
Order food, find the perfect hotel, and discover events
Ask Maps can now handle complicated tasks for you with new features. For example, if you want to order takeout before leaving the office, just say to Ask Maps, “order spicy pad kee mao with seafood for me to pick up on my way home.” It will find open restaurants along your route that serve what you want and consider your favorite places or dietary needs. After you choose a restaurant, Ask Maps will add your items directly to your cart for an easy review and order completion. This is made possible with partners like Square, Toast, and Uber Eats, and Google Maps will keep working with them to improve these services as we develop the Universal Commerce Protocol for Food.
With Ask Maps, you can also quickly find information about hotels and local events. Just ask: “For next week’s conference in downtown Miami, find me a fairly priced, top-rated hotel with a stylish vibe, close to a gym and restaurants.” Ask Maps checks real-time prices and availability to help you find the right hotel. If you’re looking for activities nearby, Ask Maps will show you options like concerts and comedy shows, along with links to buy tickets.
Get trusted, real-time information instantly
People use Google Maps for current information, and now Ask Maps is making it even simpler with a live transit board that updates automatically. When you ask, “Is there a ferry to Taronga Zoo with views of the Opera House? When is the next one?” you’ll see all your options quickly, along with live delay alerts. If you prefer to drive, Ask Maps will inform you of real-time disruptions on your route, such as accidents or construction. Want to avoid crowds? Just ask Ask Maps how busy a place is right now to time your arrival perfectly.
Contribute map updates and share tips conversationally
Insights from over 500 million contributors help keep Maps current and useful, and Google Maps making it easier to share updates. You can suggest changes in a conversational way right from Ask Maps and the Contribute tab. If you see that a store has new hours, tap the “…” icon in Ask Maps and choose “update a place” to make your suggestion. As always, Maps reviews these suggestions for accuracy and won’t post anything that breaks Google Map’s policies. You can upload a photo of a store sign, and Maps will detect the new hours from the image and confirm with you before your suggestion goes live. Besides making edits, you can share helpful tips, like saying, “Try asking the owner for personal styling advice.”
Real-time information, personalized responses, and remembering past conversations in Ask Maps are being rolled out everywhere Ask Maps is available. Features like food ordering, finding hotels and events, along with conversational contributions, are now coming to the U.S., with more countries to follow.