{"id":17185,"date":"2026-01-30T10:24:41","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T10:24:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=17185"},"modified":"2026-01-30T10:24:41","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T10:24:41","slug":"google-maps-now-lets-you-access-gemini-while-walking-and-cycling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=17185","title":{"rendered":"Google Maps now lets you access Gemini while walking and cycling"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p id=\"speakable-summary\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google announced on Thursday that Google Maps users can now access Gemini hands-free while walking and cycling. The update comes a few months after Google Maps rolled out its Gemini-powered <a href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2025\/11\/05\/google-maps-bakes-in-gemini-to-improve-navigation-and-hands-free-use\/\">hands-free, conversational driving experience<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The announcement marks Google\u2019s ongoing efforts to <a href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2026\/01\/05\/google-previews-new-gemini-features-for-tv-at-ces-2026\/\">plug Gemini into more<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2026\/01\/08\/gmail-debuts-a-personalized-ai-inbox-ai-overviews-in-search-and-more\/\">parts of people\u2019s everyday lives<\/a>, while shifting Google Maps from static directions to real-time, conversational navigation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you\u2019re walking around and navigating with Maps, you can now ask Gemini questions like \u201cTell me more about the neighborhood I\u2019m in,\u201d \u201cWhat are some must-see attractions?\u201d or \u201cAre there cafes with a bathroom along my route?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google says that walking and typing can be hard, which is why it\u2019s rolling out the ability for users to ask questions without breaking their stride or leaving Maps\u2019 navigation screen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re cycling, you can ask Gemini questions while remaining focused on the road, Google says. You can ask questions like \u201cWhat\u2019s my ETA?\u201d or \u201cWhen\u2019s my next meeting?\u201d Plus, you could ask Gemini to \u201cText Emily I\u2019m 10 minutes behind\u201d so you can communicate with others while keeping your grip on the handlebars. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The feature lets you ask multiple questions in a conversation. For example, you could ask: \u201cIs there a budget-friendly restaurant with vegan options along my route, something within a couple of miles? \u2026 What\u2019s parking like there?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The update is now available worldwide on iOS wherever Gemini is available, and rolling out on Android.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-techcrunch-inline-cta\">\n<div class=\"inline-cta__wrapper\">\n<p>Techcrunch event<\/p>\n<div class=\"inline-cta__content\">\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"inline-cta__location\">Boston, MA<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"inline-cta__separator\">|<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"inline-cta__date\">June 23, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The move comes as Google recently <a href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2025\/11\/19\/google-maps-adds-gemini-powered-tips-section-ev-charger-availability-predictions-and-more\/\">updated Maps<\/a> with new features, including a Gemini-powered \u201cknow before you go\u201d tips sections that surfaces important information about places you\u2019re interested in. For instance, it might tell users the best way to book a reservation, reveal secret menu items, suggest the best place to park, and more.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Additionally, the navigation app also added an improved Explore tab and a new EV charger availability prediction feature. The updated Explore tab makes it easier and faster to find trending spots near you, while the EV charger feature allows users to see how many chargers will likely be available once they arrive at their destination.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thursday\u2019s announcement comes a day after <a href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2026\/01\/28\/chrome-takes-on-ai-browsers-with-tighter-gemini-integration-agentic-features-for-autonomous-tasks\/\">Google updated Chrome<\/a> with enhanced Gemini integration and agentic features for autonomous tasks, as it looks to compete with AI browsers from companies like <a href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2025\/10\/21\/openai-launches-an-ai-powered-browser-chatgpt-atlas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">OpenAI<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2025\/07\/09\/perplexity-launches-comet-an-ai-powered-web-browser\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Perplexity<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2025\/09\/30\/opera-launches-its-ai-centric-neon-browser\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Opera<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2025\/06\/11\/the-browser-company-launches-its-ai-first-browser-dia-in-beta\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Browser Company<\/a>. The tech giant also launched a persistent Gemini sidebar and a new \u201cauto-browse\u201d feature that can navigate websites on your behalf.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2026\/01\/29\/google-maps-now-lets-you-access-gemini-while-walking-and-cycling\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Google announced on Thursday t&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17186,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[249],"tags":[726,715,11119],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17185"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17185"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17185\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/17186"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17185"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17185"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17185"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}