Your new, improved, and chattier navigation app is finally here.
By
Chance Townsend
Assistant Editor, General Assignments
Chance Townsend is the General Assignments Editor at Mashable, covering tech, video games, dating apps, digital culture, and whatever else comes his way. He has a Master's in Journalism from the University of North Texas and is a proud orange cat father. His writing has also appeared in PC Mag and Mother Jones.
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Credit: Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Google Maps’ Gemini-powered navigation is officially rolling out more broadly, marking the next step in the overhaul Google first teased earlier this month. When Mashable first covered the update, we noted Google’s push toward a "more conversational and intuitive" navigation experience built on Gemini, including landmark-based directions and the ability to ask complex, multi-step questions.
According to 9to5Google, the feature is now beginning to appear for users across all navigation modes — not just driving. That means walking, cycling, and public transit directions also benefit from Gemini’s upgraded voice controls and contextual assistance. The outlet also reports that the traditional four-color microphone icon has officially been replaced with the Gemini spark — another indication that Google Assistant is nearing its death date.
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In practice, this means that you can now ask your phone anything you would normally ask it, directly through Maps while navigating. The rollout includes all the conversational queries originally highlighted in Google’s blog post — like finding “a budget-friendly restaurant with vegan options along my route” or asking "what’s parking like there?" — but 9to5Google notes that users can also issue practical commands such as "add stop," "avoid tolls," or "show alternative routes." The assistant can even handle general tasks, such as calling contacts, sending texts, or checking your next meeting.
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Google’s official support page confirms this expanded scope, explaining that users can "get info and get things done with Gemini while you drive, walk, or ride," activated either via the hotword or the microphone icon.
Assistant Editor, General Assignments
Chance Townsend is the General Assignments Editor at Mashable, covering tech, video games, dating apps, digital culture, and whatever else comes his way. He has a Master's in Journalism from the University of North Texas and is a proud orange cat father. His writing has also appeared in PC Mag and Mother Jones.
In his free time, he cooks, loves to sleep, and greatly enjoys Detroit sports. If you have any tips or want to talk shop about the Lions, you can reach out to him on Bluesky @offbrandchance.bsky.social or by email at [email protected].
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