AI set to revolutionise Google Maps in India with new features

The current era is brimming with technological advancements such as AI, Meta, 3D, and VR to AR. 

Everything is now encompassed within a wide spectrum of possibilities.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a pivotal role in driving technological progress in the digital age.

According to a report by Moneycontrol, AI is set to shape the future of Google Maps in India, adapting to the diverse needs of users across the country.

Miriam Karthika Daniel, Vice President of Maps Experiences at Google, highlighted the significance of scale in addressing the complexity and diversity of India. She stated, "For that, we will continue to depend on technologies like AI to reinvent and simplify the experience for our users and to make sure we are providing access to everyone in India."

AI enables the rapid localisation of global solutions to suit the Indian landscape, with Daniel noting that technology has allowed the mapping of millions of kilometers of urban and rural roads in India using satellite and Street View imagery.

Street View, launched in India in July of last year, has become an integral part of Google Maps, serving millions of users daily.

The technology has played a crucial role in mapmaking over the past decade, as Daniel explained, "Understanding the imagery, extracting map facts, putting it on the map, and processing it would not be possible without AI."

Google is leveraging AI to address urban challenges in India, particularly in managing traffic congestion.

Through Project Greenlight, the company analyses traffic patterns to optimise traffic flow at intersections in cities like Bengaluru and Kolkata.

Daniel emphasised, "Our AI models are helping cities model traffic lights and determine traffic light durations to reduce wait time and, subsequently, carbon emissions."

On December 19, Google introduced an India-first feature called Address Descriptors on Google Maps.

This feature aims to assist users in better understanding unfamiliar addresses by incorporating landmarks and places of interest into the mapping system.