Google Maps is transcending its original function as a mere mapping service. On Thursday, August 6th, the tool expanded the Ask Maps feature, known in Brazil as Pergunte ao Maps, enabling users to place food orders from establishments displayed on the map.
Ask Maps was initially implemented in March 2026 and operates based on Gemini technology. It allows the user to interact with Google Maps using natural language, unlike typing specific terms, such as asking 'where is the nearest cafe?' instead of just 'cafe'.
This update makes the artificial intelligence integrated into the service significantly more functional. In addition to checking menus or viewing dish photos, users can now use this dynamic to place orders directly through Ask Maps.
The capabilities go beyond that. If the user does not know exactly where to find a specific type of food, they can activate Ask Maps within Google Maps and issue detailed commands, such as 'order a spicy seafood pad kee mao [Thai noodles] for me to pick up on the way home,' as provided in an example by Google itself.
Upon receiving such a command, Ask Maps will search for restaurants in the route area that offer the desired dish, present options for selection, and subsequently allow the order to be finalized within Google Maps. It is important to note that these orders are mediated by partner platforms, such as Uber Eats.
Other added functionalities include the ability to ask Ask Maps to reserve hotels within a defined price range in a specific location, check events (concerts) near the workplace in the coming days, or inquire about the ideal time to head to the airport from the current location.
In practice, Ask Maps acts as an advanced AI assistant, elevating Google Maps beyond a simple geolocation and route planning tool. The feature already provides real-time information on traffic conditions or impediments on usual routes, such as construction on the commute to work.
With this expansion, the feature has also incorporated a public transport widget, which provides bus arrival predictions, alerts about subway line issues, and indicates which train to take for a specific destination, among other related actions.
The expansion of Ask Maps is already being made available in the United States and other countries where the feature is active, although gradually. Although Google announced Pergunte ao Maps for Brazil in June of this year, it is not yet accessible to all users in the region.
Google announced on Thursday (06) a new development phase for Google Maps, introducing features based on artificial intelligence. These tools aim to assist users with various tasks, such as ordering meals, finding accommodations, and discovering events.
This update enhances the 'Ask Maps' feature, enabling it to understand more complex requests. The innovation was presented by Google and combines Gemini capabilities with internal Maps data, resulting in more customized responses. The company stated that these new functions are already available in several markets, including Brazil, as well as other regions.
With this improvement, the application transcends its primary function as a mere location finder, starting to assist in executing specific steps of activities. This reduces the need for the user to constantly switch between different services during the planning process.
Among the additions is the ability to place food orders using natural language commands. The user can specify their preferences, dietary restrictions, and pickup point, while the system locates suitable restaurants along the route and compiles the order on partner platforms for the purchase to be completed.
The feature has also been expanded to accommodation searches. Instead of applying multiple filters manually, the individual can simply describe the desired hotel profile—such as location, price range, ambiance characteristics, and proximity to certain points—allowing Maps to find options that fit the criteria.
Additionally, the tool offers support in identifying nearby events and activities. Suggestions can take into account the user's declared interests, presenting options such as concerts and local attractions, including information on how to purchase tickets, when available.
According to Google, these functionalities represent a transformation in the operation mode of 'Ask Maps,' which now executes parts of the tasks instead of just providing answers. The technology processes the request, consolidates relevant information, and triggers actions in integrated services.
Another launched feature is 'Personal Intelligence,' which allows linking 'Ask Maps' to Gmail. This enables responses to consider data such as future appointments and travel reservations. This integration is optional and requires user authorization. When activated, the tool can use Gmail data to suggest activities near a stay, for example, or assist in planning travel related to appointments.
Google also mentioned plans to extend this integration in the future to other applications, such as Google Calendar. Furthermore, users who keep their activity history active can resume previous conversations held in Maps without having to restart the planning.
The update also brings real-time information about public transport. A new mechanism allows monitoring changes in bus, train, subway, and ferry lines, including potential delays or alterations during the journey.
Another novelty involves user collaboration in updating Maps data. Artificial intelligence now assists in sending suggestions about establishments, being able to extract information from images, such as times displayed on signs, before forwarding the change for analysis. Google emphasized that the contributions of hundreds of millions of users are crucial for keeping the service updated, and that all suggestions go through verification systems before being published.
Google made a new feature available in Google Earth this Thursday, the 30th. This tool integrates satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and three-dimensional models with image generation technology called Nano Banana 2. With it, users can generate customized visual representations of existing locations simply by providing written commands.
This feature is globally accessible on the web version of Google Earth and was designed to assist in visualizing spatial transformations, conducting historical reconstructions, and conceptualizing new projects. The process begins with selecting a point on the map and providing a detailed description of the desired scene.
Bryan Horowitz, Google Earth Product Manager, presented this initiative as a way to expand the planet's digital exploration capabilities. The core idea is to allow students, professionals, and curious individuals to observe different versions of the same location using artificial intelligence based on authentic geographical references.
The new capability allows users to virtually alter areas viewed in Google Earth through typed instructions. The system uses Nano Banana 2 technology to produce images that remain consistent with the real environment analyzed by the platform.
One example highlighted by Google is the ability to visually reconstruct past periods. Teachers can use this feature to show students what certain places were like in previous eras, such as transforming the ruins of Pompeii into a representation of a busy street during the Roman Empire.
Beyond the educational scope, the tool serves to enrich the understanding of tourist attractions and notable places, allowing for the creation of explanatory materials, such as personalized infographics, that add historical information related to these locations.
The tool was also developed to support professionals who need to present concepts before construction execution. Architects and urban planners can use artificial intelligence to simulate how vacant lots could be converted into new developments.
As presented by Google, an undeveloped space can be digitally transformed into a visual proposal for a commercial district, including open areas and planned structures. The goal is to simplify the assimilation of potential outcomes by clients and teams involved in the projects.
Additionally, the technology allows for the visualization of residential constructions before construction begins. An empty lot can receive a representation of a house or another architectural project inserted into the existing context, offering a preview of how the construction would integrate with the surroundings.
In addition to practical applications, the feature was promoted as a tool geared towards creativity. Users have the freedom to completely modify the appearance of known locations, creating futuristic or fantastical interpretations of certain regions.
Google exemplified this by virtually modifying its own campus in Mountain View, transforming it into a futuristic metropolis filled with elements such as illuminated walkways, glass structures, aerial vehicles, and vegetation integrated into the buildings. This demonstration illustrates how the technology can be applied to imagine changes in established spaces.
With the global release of the tool for Google Earth on the web, the company ensures that any user can select a point on the map and experiment with new ways of visualizing real environments through artificial intelligence.
