Google Maps Can Now Order Your Dinner and Track Your Train Delays

Google has introduced advanced capabilities to its Gemini-powered "Ask Maps" assistant within the Google Maps application. This new feature, "Ask Maps," can perform multi-step tasks, such as ordering meals while on the way home. Users can simply ask, "Order spicy pad kee mao with seafood for me to pick up on my way home," and the assistant will locate open restaurants along the user's route, allow them to select a restaurant, and add the desired dish to their cart for review and checkout.

The food ordering feature is currently available through partners like Square and Toast, with integration from Uber Eats expected soon. Additionally, Ask Maps can provide information on hotels and events when users are traveling, comparing prices in real time, and checking hotel availability, offering suggestions for nearby activities. The assistant will also offer up-to-the-minute transit updates, including delays for bus, train, subway, and ferry rides, through a transit widget.

Furthermore, a new Personal Intelligence option allows Ask Maps to connect to Gmail to factor in upcoming plans without requiring specific instructions. This feature can remember prior conversations for context when history settings are enabled. Users can also suggest new details for the Ask Maps feature through a conversational edits option, sharing insider tips with the community.

Google is expanding Ask Maps to Australia, Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, and Mexico, in addition to over 150 additional countries and territories in English. Live transit widgets, personalized responses, and conversation memory are rolling out globally for all available regions. While food ordering, hotel and event discovery, and conversational contributions are initially available in the U.S., more countries will be added later. Ask Maps can be accessed via web and the Google Maps app for iOS.