Widely perceived to have relinquished an early lead on AI development to rivals like Microsoft-backed OpenAI , Google has attempted to catch up by incorporating research advances into existing apps and devices with large user bases.
Google Maps is a prominent example. The product surpassed two billion monthly active users, CEO Sundar Pichai said on Tuesday during quarterly earnings where he touted investments in AI as paying off for its top line.
Thursdays maps announcement showcased a new category of search results that can better process open-ended search queries, such as things to do with friends at night in Boston or fun autumn activities in Seattle.
Past versions of the Google Maps app respond to such queries with more generic results that are not as accurate. In the past, it displayed a wide range of tourist attractions in Boston including some that are closed at night, whereas the updated app will show more tailored options like a list of bars or live music venues.
Consumers can also ask Gemini questions about a specific place and the software will analyse existing user reviews to answer the question.
