Google is entering an experimental Google Maps feature that uses AI to help users discover local businesses that meet specific needs.
AI-powered discovery
The new feature uses large language models to analyze Google Maps’ database of over 250 million places, photos, ratings, reviews and more.
After you enter a conversational search query, Google Maps will suggest personalized recommendations for businesses, events, restaurants and activities in the area.
For example, you can ask Maps to recommend “places with a vintage vibe in San Francisco,” and it’ll return suggestions like clothing stores, record stores, and flea markets.
Results are sorted with photos and review highlights to explain why they meet your criteria.
You can refine your search by asking follow-up questions like “How do you like lunch?” which will give you recommendations for restaurants with a vintage feel. Suggested sites can also be saved to lists for future reference.
According to Google, the technology is useful for managing spontaneous or changing itineraries. You can order “rainy day activities” and immediately get indoor options tailored to the current climate and location.
The feature also takes into account group dynamics. Families can request “kids options” to see curated suggestions for kid-friendly places like children’s museums, arcades, and indoor playgrounds.
Early access experiment with Local Guides
For this early preview, Google is soliciting feedback from a select group of Local Guides. Your input will help shape the AI technology ahead of wider deployment.
The launch represents Google’s latest effort to integrate generative AI into Maps and transform the way users find and explore local businesses. By combining large language models with Maps’ extensive database, Google aims to provide ultra-personalized recommendations to meet any need or interest.
Implications for local search
The implications for local search and customer discovery could be significant, potentially driving more qualified traffic to niche businesses or lesser-known attractions and events.
As Google continues to refine its AI capabilities, businesses may need to optimize online information in new ways to rank for conversational searches and take advantage of the technology.
Featured Image: Screenshot from blog.google/products/maps/google-maps-generative-ai-local-guides/, February 2024.
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