Google has not been shy about introducing artificial intelligence into its various applications and services, and it seems that the useful Google Maps could be the next to receive an integrated AI chatbot.
The code hidden in the latest beta version of Google Maps for Android, discovered by Android Authority, makes several mentions of conversations within the application, including the phrase “you are talking to a chatbot,” which in a way gives us a hint.
However, so far, only a few lines of related code have been seen, so we don’t have much more information about this chatbot in terms of what form it will take, what it is designed for, and how it will integrate with the rest of Google Maps.
How could an AI help Google Maps?
There is still nothing certain, and of course, Google could change its mind about the Google Maps chatbot, but given the company’s focus on AI in recent months, it wouldn’t surprise us to see this new feature in the application very soon.
Without anything official from Google, we are left to speculate about what an AI chatbot in Google Maps could do. As Android Authority points out, it could have something to do with submitting reviews and comments to Google Maps, perhaps through the Local Guides program.
The line of code that says “thank you for your contribution” certainly supports this. A chatbot may come into play when you have visited a place and ask you about your experience or what you thought of the service.
Another possibility is that the next bot provides travel tips: what to see in a specific area, where the best places to stay are, etc. This would be similar to the travel advice provided by the chatbot. It would be akin to the advice that Google Bard (now integrated with Google Maps) can already provide.
As a last option, AI could be used to respond to Google Maps users’ questions about restaurants and businesses, such as opening hours and facilities. This is something that agents and users currently do manually.
