Google Maps AI Plans Your Day, Mostly

Google Maps AI Plans Your Day, Mostly

Google is testing a new way to plan your days using artificial intelligence in Google Maps. The idea is simple: tell the AI what kind of day you want, and it will create an itinerary for you. It sounds amazing, but early testers are finding some frustrating limitations.

Imagine you want to spend a perfect day exploring a city. You tell Google Maps’ AI, and it crafts a route, suggesting places to visit, coffee shops, and even transit directions. It’s like having a personal tour guide that knows your preferences. This feature is powered by Gemini, Google’s advanced AI. The goal is to make planning spontaneous outings or detailed trips much easier.

However, the system isn’t quite perfect yet. One of the biggest complaints is that the AI doesn’t seem to remember where you’ve already been. If you ask it to plan a day in your own city, it might suggest places you visited just last week. This is surprising because Google Maps knows a lot about your past movements. Your location history, if you let it track it, is quite detailed. It’s a bit unsettling to realize how much data Google has on where you go.

To get better suggestions, testers found they had to really push the AI. After some effort, it did manage to come up with a few new spots. The AI can create a full itinerary, complete with a map showing your route and shortcuts for transit. It lays out a clear plan for your day, which is the core promise of the feature.

Exporting Your Plans is a Problem

The most significant hurdle right now is exporting these AI-generated plans. Users report that they can’t easily save or share the itineraries. This is a basic function that many would expect from a planning tool. It’s like getting a great idea but having no way to write it down.

This issue mirrors similar frustrations with Gemini in other applications. People have asked Gemini to put information into a Google Doc, only to be told it’s not possible. Even when the AI clearly has access to your other Google services and data, it can’t always connect them. This lack of integration feels like a missed opportunity for Google.

Who Should Care About This Feature?

This AI planning tool in Google Maps is for anyone who enjoys exploring new places or wants to make their trips more efficient. Tourists planning a vacation will find it useful for quickly mapping out their days. Locals looking for new experiences in their own city could also benefit, provided the AI can offer fresh suggestions. It’s especially helpful for those who find trip planning time-consuming or overwhelming.

The AI’s ability to map out routes and include transit information is a strong point. It aims to simplify the logistics of getting around. However, the current inability to export plans limits its usefulness. If you want to save your itinerary for later or share it with friends, you’re out of luck for now.

What’s Next?

Google is likely working on improving the AI’s memory of your past visits and adding export capabilities. The integration with other Google services also needs attention. For now, the feature is in an experimental phase, and its full potential is yet to be realized. We’ll be watching to see how Google addresses these early criticisms.

Specs & Key Features

• AI-powered itinerary planning within Google Maps.
• Utilizes Gemini AI for suggestions.
• Provides route mapping and transit directions.
• Currently struggles with remembering user’s past locations.
• Lacks easy export functionality for generated itineraries.

Availability and Pricing

This feature is currently in an experimental stage and is not widely available. Pricing details are not yet public, but Google Maps is a free service.

Source: Google Maps AI plans day #vergecast (YouTube)