It is now possible to use Gemini to get directions in Google Maps without using your hands. A minor yet very welcomed update.
Using a generative AI bot like Google Gemini can be quite unsettling, but the experience is much more efficient and natural with voice commands. According to Gemini’s latest release notes, Google has updated the voice commands of its chatbot to include auto-submission. This can save you time when using the Gemini app on your smartphone to ask for directions on Google Maps.
Gemini was already integrated into Google Maps navigation, but the latest update makes the process even smoother. As stated in the release notes, “Now, when you ask for directions, Gemini automatically starts the navigation with Google Maps. We have updated the voice commands to include auto-submission. No need to tap the ‘Send’ button anymore.”
In other words, there is a slight change in how Gemini operates once you have given it a voice command. Gemini provides you with the same information as before – a description of the route and a map preview. But now, Gemini triggers this action automatically after a short moment, without you having to do anything.
So, you can ask Gemini simple questions to guide you. Being a conversational chatbot, it can understand no matter how you ask. For example, “Take me from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Gare Montparnasse,” “How do I get to Gare Montparnasse from Charles de Gaulle Airport?” or “Drive me to Gare Montparnasse from Charles de Gaulle Airport, but take a slight detour through Villepinte.”
The generative AI will then display some general information about the route, the estimated time, the distance to travel, and the map, along with a link to the complete route on Maps.
You can continue the conversation by asking other questions about this journey, such as “What are the best restaurants to stop at along the way?” or “Which buses can I take if I opt for public transportation?”
This is not just about Google better integrating its AI across its apps. It could also bring you closer to a viable alternative to Google Assistant – until the latter is completely replaced by Gemini -. Unfortunately, Gemini still lacks some basic functions of Google Assistant for now, such as Routines and music control commands.
Gemini is constantly improving. Each update integrates it better with Google apps, although Google Maps itself offers its own hands-free experience and also has an experimental generative AI feature.
You can activate the Gemini mobile app via Google Assistant on Android. The Gemini app is currently only available in English for US residents and requires an Android smartphone with at least 4 GB of RAM, running on Android 12 or newer. On iOS, Gemini is available via a tab in the Google app.