Google Maps' Ask Maps Upgrade Adds Agent Interactions, Food Ordering and Hotel Booking for US Users

Google Maps announced Thursday a major upgrade to its Ask Maps feature, introducing intelligent and agent-interaction capabilities. Users can now order food, book hotels and find event tickets directly through the feature, which combines with the new "personal intelligence" service for a cross-app personalized experience. The upgrade aims to expand the scope of task handling within the map service, and the features have first been made available to users in the United States.

For smart food ordering, users can make specific requests through Ask Maps, such as "Help me find plant-based egg toast and oat milk latte near home." The system automatically filters suitable nearby restaurants. After selecting a restaurant, users click "order online," which adds items to the cart, and the order and payment are completed through partner platforms including Square, Toast or Uber Eats.

For travel and accommodation, users can enter complex requirements, such as "Find me a reasonably priced, highly rated hotel with an artistic touch for a conference in downtown Miami next weekend, walkable to a gym and restaurants." The system compares prices and availability, lists alternatives, and users click a link to a partner website to complete the booking. Additionally, users can look up comedy shows or live concerts near their workplace and obtain ticket links directly.

To safeguard privacy, the feature is off by default and must be manually activated by users.

Meanwhile, Google has launched a real-time transit widget within Ask Maps to display the latest route delays and traffic conditions. The "personal intelligence" feature and the real-time transit widget have been rolled out simultaneously across all markets where Ask Maps is supported.