Google Maps with the AI revolution

Google has introduced a new generation of AI features for Maps based on Gemini models. With tools like the builder agent, styling agent, and MCP server, developers can create interactive projects, customize maps, and connect AI to real-world data.

Photo: Google

Google Maps recently received advanced AI features, including a builder agent, styling agent, MCP server, and Grounding Lite. These features are based on Gemini models and allow developers to create interactive projects using data from Maps.

The Builder agent lets you describe your project in text, such as “create a Street View of a city” or “show a map with weather,” and then automatically generates a prototype. The project can be tested with your own API keys or edited in Firebase Studio. The Styling agent lets you customize maps based on color schemes or theme styles. Grounding Lite lets developers connect AI models to external data via the MCP protocol.

The new Contextual View feature provides visual answers to questions like “Where is the nearest store?”—in the form of a list, map, or 3D view. The MCP server connects AI assistants to the Google Maps API documentation. Google has also added extensions to the Gemini CLI to access Maps data.

On the consumer side, it enables hands-free navigation with Gemini AI, and in India, it provides incident and speed limit notifications, effectively making Google Maps even more useful.