Google Maps Brings Gemini AI to Walking and Cycling Routes

The Buzz

■

Google Maps expands Gemini AI assistant to walking and cycling navigation globally on iOS and Android, per official announcement

■

Walkers get AI-powered tour guide features including neighborhood info and restaurant recommendations based on real-time Maps data

■

Cyclists gain hands-free voice access to ETAs, calendar queries, and messaging to keep both hands on handlebars

■

Launch signals Google’s strategy to embed Gemini across consumer touchpoints as AI assistant competition intensifies

Google just made its Gemini AI assistant a whole lot more useful for anyone not behind a wheel. The company’s rolling out conversational AI navigation to walkers and cyclists worldwide, expanding beyond the driving-only feature it launched last year. Now pedestrians can ask Gemini for restaurant recommendations mid-stroll, while cyclists get hands-free access to ETAs and messaging without letting go of their handlebars. It’s Google’s latest push to weave its AI assistant into everyday mobility, competing directly with Siri and Alexa for voice-first utility.

Google Maps is turning every walk and bike ride into an AI-assisted experience. The company announced today it’s expanding Gemini AI navigation – previously available only for drivers – to pedestrians and cyclists across iOS and Android devices worldwide.

The move comes as Google races to embed its Gemini assistant into every corner of daily life, transforming Maps from a simple routing tool into a conversational AI platform. According to the company’s blog post, the feature positions Gemini as “like talking to a friend in the passenger seat” – except now that friend walks and bikes alongside you too.

For pedestrians exploring unfamiliar neighborhoods, Gemini acts as an on-demand tour guide. Users can trigger the assistant with “OK Google, what neighborhood am I in?” and follow up with contextual queries like “What are top-rated restaurants nearby?” The AI pulls from Maps’ real-time business data, reviews, and location intelligence to serve up recommendations without breaking stride.

It’s a direct shot at Apple’s Siri integration in Apple Maps, though Google’s betting its superior local business data gives it an edge. The feature leverages the same large language model infrastructure powering Gemini across Search and Workspace, but tuned specifically for location-aware queries.