Are you planning to get away this summer? Google is launching some new features in Google Maps that aim to help you plan your trip and figure out what to do once you get there.
These features draw on both the collective experiences of Google Maps users and curated lists of reputable sites, to give you suggestions for must-see places to visit, as well as hidden gems.
Additionally, Circle to Search is also gaining new capability and rolling out to new devices. This is what’s coming.
Recommendation lists
Three new recommendation lists will be implemented in Google Maps, which will appear when you start the application and select a specific city. A trending list will show places that have shown a recent increase in popularity, updated weekly; the Top list shows places that are consistently ranked highly by Google Maps users, and a Gems list will show up-and-coming places that haven’t yet been exploited by people who find them on lists of popular places to visit.
In addition to using data from Google Maps users, these lists will also use information from expert sites, such as the New York Times’ 36 Hours, Lonely Planet, and The Infatuation. If you find a list you like, you can save it and share it with friends.
These lists will initially be available for 40 cities in the US and Canada, including New York, Philadelphia, Toronto and San Francisco.
Create your own lists
While Google Maps already lets you create lists of saved locations, some new tools are being added so you can organize them better. An update rolling out globally this month for Android and iOS devices will let you change the order in which these locations appear in the list, so you can sort them in a way that suits you best.
Plus, you’ll be able to add links from your social media accounts, so if you had a particularly good meal at a restaurant, you can add it to remember why it’s on your list in the first place.
Translation from circle to search
Introduced in January, Circle to Search lets Google Pixel 7, Google Pixel 8, and Samsung Galaxy S24 users draw a circle around an item in a photo, and Google’s AI will identify the object and perform a search so you can discover What is it about. .
In the coming weeks, Circle to Search will get a new feature that will also let you translate text, whether it’s a menu, a sign, or anything else that’s in a language you don’t understand.
Circle to Search will also roll out to more Android devices this week, including the Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7a and Samsung Galaxy S23 series, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Samsung Galaxy Tab. S9 series; and soon on Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet.
AI knowledge and planning tools
Google is incorporating more artificial intelligence into Maps to help provide a concise summary of a particular place. From what the Google Maps community has said, you’ll be shown some key attractions in an area, what people like, the best places to eat, and photos showing identifying landmarks. If you’re looking for a restaurant, AI will identify Maps users’ food photos, so you know what the dish is called and if it appeals to your palate.
Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) is also getting a feature that will help you plan an itinerary, like “plan a 5-day trip to San Francisco that has to do with wine.” Here we go deeper: Google’s latest AI tool will help you plan your next vacation; Is that how it works.
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