We are not kidding, but it looks like Apple Maps might start showing ads pretty soon, maybe even next year. You know how, when you search for something in the App Store, some results are sponsored? Apparently, Apple’s planning to do the same thing in Maps. Restaurants and local businesses will be able to pay to show up higher when you search.
Now, Apple’s claiming they’ll do it differently. They’re saying they’ll use smart AI stuff to make sure the ads you see are actually useful and not just annoying junk, maybe even better than what Google Maps or Yelp does. We’ll see about that. *insert sus meme here*
Unsplash
This isn’t totally out of the blue. Apple’s already got ads in the App Store, News, and Stocks apps. They’re making billions from ads already, and it sounds like they want to turn that into tens of billions.
From privacy hero to ad seller?
Here’s the funny part: remember a few years ago when Apple made a huge deal about privacy with that App Tracking Transparency thing? It basically kneecapped companies like Facebook and Snap by stopping them from tracking you across apps. It made Apple look like the good guys, but it also conveniently cleared the path for Apple’s own ad business.
Apple swears their ads are still privacy-focused because they don’t follow you around the whole internet. But they do use your location, what kind of device you have, and what you do with your Apple account to show you ads. Kinda feels like they’re trying to have their cake and eat it too, right?
And honestly, a lot of people are already fed up. You pay a fortune for an iPhone, and then it feels like it’s constantly trying to sell you Apple Music, extra iCloud storage, or Apple TV+. Sticking ads in Maps, an app people rely on every single day, might just push people over the edge. It feels less like a premium device and more like a fancy billboard sometimes.
Unsplash
Is this a smart move or a big mistake?
Look, from a business perspective, this makes sense for Apple. It’s a goldmine for steady income, and it could genuinely help small businesses get noticed.
But… it feels risky. People love Apple because it’s supposed to be clean, simple, and elegant—not cluttered with ads. If they mess this up and Maps starts feeling like a commercial break, they could really tick off the same loyal customers who made them huge. Can they make ads that don’t feel gross? Maybe. But if they get greedy, they might just damage that special Apple feeling they’ve worked so hard to build.