Google Maps, the preferred navigation app for many driving enthusiasts, just got a major makeover.
Google announced the all-new version of Maps for drivers on Thursday morning. The update, which Google calls Immersive Navigation, includes software and accessibility changes, encompassing the broader swath of technology being created at Google. No longer will Google Maps appear as a two-dimensional spread of the road ahead.
“Now, your map comes to life with a vivid 3D view that reflects the buildings, overpasses, and terrain around you. When it’s helpful, Maps will highlight critical road details like lanes, crosswalks, traffic lights, and stop signs to help you make that turn or merge confidently,” Google said in a press release.
The primary focus of this update is on increasing transparency. Engineers at Google said many drivers complained about difficulty preparing for secondary turns or merges, particularly when a first direction led quickly into another. Now, Google will give you a broader view of your route by implementing automatic “smart zooms” and transparent buildings, helping drivers prepare for the following direction. In practice, this means Google Maps will now zoom in and out sporadically to show more of the route ahead.
Other critical updates to Google Maps include refined routing choices. Google will now include trade-off attributes when it offers a route, underlining toll costs or the potential for traffic on any given route. Additionally, Google Maps can now preview a route to the driver, projecting street view photos and other landmarks to better prepare drivers. Of course, Google says that its Gemini artificial intelligence models are behind the bulk of these updates.
Immersive Navigation launches on Thursday in the U.S., and Google is adding a secondary feature to its navigational app, too. Known as Ask Maps, Google is integrating a conversational version of Gemini AI to help drivers plan their road trips. Tap the “Ask Maps” button, and Google Maps will answer your query conversationally while providing detailed navigation to its answer. It will even make restaurant reservations for you while en route.
“So if you’re planning a trip, just ask: ‘I’m headed to the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and Coral Dunes — any recommended stops along the way?’ You’ll get clear directions, ETAs, and insider tips from real people, like how to find a hidden hiking trail or get a free entry ticket,” the release said.
Artificial intelligence is seeping into every facet of our lives, and Google Maps is no exception. Certainly, these features take some of the adventure out of getting lost on the backroads. But the increased predictability of incoming directions is hard to fault, especially when the generated landscape behind it appears so accurately. Google’s newest version of Maps will undoubtedly be subject to some growing pains, but it may make your next driving adventure that much better, too.
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A New York transplant hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Emmet White has a passion for anything that goes: cars, bicycles, planes, and motorcycles. After learning to ride at 17, Emmet worked in the motorcycle industry before joining Autoweek in 2022 and Road & Track in 2024. The woes of alternate side parking have kept his fleet moderate, with a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta GLI and a BMW 318i E30 street parked in his Queens community.