Google is finally providing Google Maps with a long-sought-after upgrade. Google has made the Google Maps 2025 update more intelligent and user-friendly. They are launching the inaugural hands-free conversational driving experience with Google Maps, developed with Gemini, and their extensive knowledge of the real world. It feels like having an informed companion in the passenger seat who can help you reach your destination with confidence.  

Below is an overview of 4 new updates coming to Google Maps Gemini.  

Accomplishing tasks while navigating with the Google Maps 2025 update has become more straightforward and convenient  

We are introducing Gemini, your AI assistant, into our hands-free driving experience within the Google Maps application. This enhancement makes it even easier to locate destinations along your route for available EV charging prediction on Android. Share your estimated time of arrival with friends. No need for fumbling — you can simply ask.  

You can receive assistance with multi-step inquiries, such as, “Is there an affordable restaurant with virgin options along my route within a couple of miles?” “What is the parking situation like there?” followed by, “All right, let’s head there.” You can even inquire, “Oh, on my way, could you also schedule a calendar event for soccer practice tomorrow at 5 pm?”  

With your consent, Google will connect to your calendar and automatically add the event. You can request more specific information, such as which dishes are popular there, or even catch up on last night’s game or the news, all while keeping your hands on the wheel.  

Assisting drivers is a fundamental aspect of what makes Google Maps, Gemini, AI features dependable. So, we are enhancing the process of reporting traffic disruptions. Simply state: “I see an accident; it appears there is debris ahead,” or “Be cautious of that slowdown” to report disruptions immediately. Gemini in navigation will begin rolling out in the coming weeks on Android and iOS, with Android Auto to follow.  

Navigate to your destination with Google Maps Gemini using recognizable landmarks.  

We have all experienced the phrase “turn right in 500 feet while driving” and questioned the actual distance it represents with Gemini. In addition to indicating traffic lights and stop signs, we will also display landmarks such as gas stations, restaurants, and notable buildings that are easily identifiable along your journey. You will receive clear instructions, such as “turn right after the Thai Sam restaurant,” with the location highlighted on your map as you approach it.  

Gemini achieves this by leveraging Google Maps’s up-to-date, extensive data on 250 million locations and cross-referencing it with Street View images to select the most relevant landmarks visible from the road, ensuring navigation is both precise and beneficial. Landmark-based navigation is currently being introduced in the United States on Android and iOS.  

Avoid Traffic Before You Encounter It  

There is nothing more frustrating than being caught off guard by an abrupt halt. Currently, Google Maps can alert you in advance, even if you are not actively using navigation. It informs you of any disturbances on the route ahead, such as an unforeseen road closure or a significant traffic jam. Proactive traffic notifications are being introduced now in the United States for Android.  

What’s New in Google Maps 2025  

Discover the latest insights with Lens powered by Gemini. Upon arrival, you can continue to depend on Gemini for exploration. Have you ever wished to learn about the top-rated dishes at a restaurant, or whether that bakery you just passed offers French butter croissants? Now you can engage in a brief conversation with Google Maps to uncover this information.  

Simply tap the camera icon in the search bar, then hold your phone up to recognize locations such as restaurants, cafes, shops, or notable landmarks within your view. When you notice pins, tap the microphone to inquire about the location, as you would with a friend, and ask, “What is this place?”, “What makes it popular?” or “What is the atmosphere inside?” The robust synergy between Gemini’s features and Google Maps’ extensive knowledge of global locations provides you with the information you need, helping you determine quickly whether a location is worth your time. Lens, powered by Gemini, will begin its gradual rollout later this month in the U.S. on both Android and iOS.  

Google is implementing an update that introduces several new features, including the capability to verify the Google Maps EV charger forecast. The app already showed the locations of EV chargers, but not whether they were available. In other words, it was entirely possible to roll up to a charging station only to find a line of EVs waiting for juice.  

The enhanced tool will soon display the estimated number of chargers likely to be available upon your arrival. This feature uses a blend of AI and real-time charger availability to forecast how many chargers are expected to be open and available at a given moment. Google asserts that this will help users avoid queues and save time. The charger tracker is set to launch next week, but it will only be available through Android Auto and vehicles equipped with Google built in.  

The Explore tab has undergone a redesign, simplifying the discovery of curated lists from local influencers and businesses, such as OpenTable. All you need to do is swipe up to view trending and popular restaurants, activities, and attractions in your vicinity. The revamped Explore tab will be released globally this month, on both Android and iOS.  

Users have the option to submit pseudonymous reviews under a nickname, along with a profile picture. When using the Google Maps 2025 update, confident that Google Maps privacy will safeguard them with enhanced privacy. This feature is accessible on both Android and iOS.  

India first features  

The Google Maps 2025 update is introducing new functionalities in India. These features encompass voice navigation for flyovers in nine regional languages, customizable two-wheeler Navatars, and the option to store metro tickets in Google Wallet. Additionally, proactive traffic alerts and accident-prone area alerts are accessible in certain Indian cities.